UPDATE: Italy announces further Covid restrictions in five regions as contagion rate rises
Italy's government has tightened restrictions, with three more Italian regions becoming higher-risk 'orange' zones and two regions declared red zones from Monday.
The health ministry has published an official ordinance declaring that the regions of Piedmont, Lombardy and Marche become 'orange' zones under Italy's tiered system of coronavirus rules.
Basilicata this week reported the highest contagion rate of any region, and has now been declared a red zone.
Molise, where there are already 33 municipalities in lockdown, was also classified as a red zone.
Sardinia meanwhile is set to become Italy's first lower-risk 'white zone'.
The changes come into effect on Monday, March 1st.
MAP: Which zone is your region in under Italy's coronavirus rules?
Italy in January announced the new white zone classification, along with red, orange, and yellow.
Regions classified under this band are exempt from restrictions in other zones, including the 10pm curfew and 6pm closing time for bars and restaurants.
However, the final set of rules in place in each region depends on the local authority.
In Sardinia's case, the regional governor signed an ordinance on Sunday stating that the curfew has been moved back to 11.30pm, and that restaurants must close at 11pm instead of 6pm. Bars must close at 9pm.
These measures are in force in in Sardinia from Monday March 1st until March 15th (excluding any towns covered by additonal mayors' ordinances).
In orange zones, bars and restaurants are closed and as people cannot leave their towns of residence unless for work reasons or emergencies.
People in the highest-risk red zones are told not to move around within their town except for work, study, health or other urgent reasons, while non-essential shops are also closed.
The changes are based on data from the weekly coronavirus monitoring report issued by Italy's health ministry and the Higher Health Institute (ISS)
READ ALSO: Where and how much are coronavirus cases rising in Italy?
Friday's report stated that the general level of risk nationwide had worsened for the fourth consecutive week.
Ten regions have an Rt (contagion rate) greater than 1, while Basilicata has an Rt over 1.25.
"Further mitigation measures are urgently needed across the nation, and timely mitigation-containment measures are needed in the areas of greatest spread to prevent health services being overwhelmed," the report stated.
It said a "drastic reduction in physical interaction between people" was needed.
"It is fundamentally important that people avoid all contact with people other than those they live with that are not strictly necessary, and stay at home as mush as possible," it said.
The number of regions where the number of Covid patients in intensive care was above the critical threshold and had increased from five to eight, data showed.
The report also found that the average age of people who had tested positive was falling, and is now at 44.
Italy on Friday was also awaiting for details of the measures to be included in a revised emergency decree, due by March 5th.
So far it looks likely that the regional tiered system will stay in place, along with localised lockdowns in dozens of towns and provinces affected by outbreaks of more contagious variants of the coronavirus.
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The health ministry has published an official ordinance declaring that the regions of Piedmont, Lombardy and Marche become 'orange' zones under Italy's tiered system of coronavirus rules.
Basilicata this week reported the highest contagion rate of any region, and has now been declared a red zone.
Molise, where there are already 33 municipalities in lockdown, was also classified as a red zone.
Sardinia meanwhile is set to become Italy's first lower-risk 'white zone'.
The changes come into effect on Monday, March 1st.
MAP: Which zone is your region in under Italy's coronavirus rules?
These measures are in force in in Sardinia from Monday March 1st until March 15th (excluding any towns covered by additonal mayors' ordinances).
In orange zones, bars and restaurants are closed and as people cannot leave their towns of residence unless for work reasons or emergencies.
READ ALSO: Where and how much are coronavirus cases rising in Italy?
Friday's report stated that the general level of risk nationwide had worsened for the fourth consecutive week.
Ten regions have an Rt (contagion rate) greater than 1, while Basilicata has an Rt over 1.25.
"Further mitigation measures are urgently needed across the nation, and timely mitigation-containment measures are needed in the areas of greatest spread to prevent health services being overwhelmed," the report stated.
It said a "drastic reduction in physical interaction between people" was needed.
"It is fundamentally important that people avoid all contact with people other than those they live with that are not strictly necessary, and stay at home as mush as possible," it said.
The number of regions where the number of Covid patients in intensive care was above the critical threshold and had increased from five to eight, data showed.
The report also found that the average age of people who had tested positive was falling, and is now at 44.
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