The government intends to make almost the whole of Italy a COVID-19 'red zone' from April 3 to 5, a period which includes Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, sources said Friday as Premier Mario Draghi's administration held talks with regional governments and other local authorities on new restrictions.
Draghi's government is set to impose a new regime of measures in force from March 15 until April 6, with COVID-19 cases rising sharply in Italy, the sources said.
Red is the maximum level in Italy's tired system of coronavirus restrictions.
In red zones, non-essential shops are closed, restaurants and bars cannot serve customers and pupils must have lessons via distance learning, among other things.
Health Minister Roberto Speranza told the meeting that low-contagion risk 'white zone's would be exempt from the Easter restrictions.
At the moment Sardinia is Italy's only white zone.
Emilia-Romagna Governor Stefano Bonaccini, the president of Italy's conference of regions, gave a "positive judgement" of the decree with the measures that the government is set to present, the sources said.
Bonaccini, welcomed the fact that the decree gives governors the ability to impose measures at the provincial level, if contagion is especially high in a specific area within a region.
"The virus is expanding and (we need) restrictive measures today to save the summer," Bonaccini said, according to the sources.
"The sooner we act the better.
"The utmost caution and prudence is needed".
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