Coronavirus: Italy is “divided” into three parts. What does it really mean?
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signed the new Prime Minister’s Decree with measures to contain the effects of the coronavirus. Until March 8, Italy is substantially divided into three parts: the Red Zone (the ten municipalities of Lodigiano and the one in Veneto of Vo’ Euganeo), the Yellow Zone (which includes Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Veneto, the provinces of Pesaro and Urbino, and Savona) and the Green Zone (the rest of the country). Measures are foreseen for the whole national territory.
1. RED AREA
The measures applicable in the municipalities of the “Red Zone” (Bertonico; Casalpusterlengo; Castelgerundo; Castiglione D’Adda; Codogno; Fombio; Maleo; San Fiorano; Somaglia; Terranova dei Passerini; Vo’)
Prohibition of entering or leaving the municipal areas; suspension of events, events and all forms of meetings in public or private places, including those of a cultural, recreational, sporting and religious nature; closure of educational services for children and schools of all levels, as well as higher education institutions, including universities and institutions of high artistic, musical and choreutic training, without prejudice to the possibility of carrying out distance learning activities; suspension of educational trips in Italy or abroad until March 15; suspension of the opening services to the public of museums and other cultural institutes and places; suspension of public office activities, without prejudice to the provision of essential and public utility services, in the manner and within the limits indicated by the prefect; closure of all commercial activities, excluding those of public utility, essential public services and commercial establishments for the purchase of basic necessities, in the manner and within the limits indicated by the prefect; obligation to access essential public services and businesses for the purchase of basic necessities by wearing personal protective equipment or by adopting particular precautionary measures identified by the competent health company; suspension of freight and passenger transport services, including non-scheduled, with the exclusion of the transport of essential and perishable goods and without prejudice to any exceptions provided for by the prefects; suspension of working activities for businesses, with the exception of those that provide essential and public utility services, including veterinary activities, as well as those that can be carried out at home or remotely; suspension of the performance of work for resident or domiciled workers, even de facto, in the municipality or area concerned, even where they take place outside the area.
In the same municipalities, the prefect, in agreement with the competent authorities, can identify specific measures aimed at guaranteeing the activities necessary for the breeding of animals and the production of food goods and activities that cannot be deferred as they are connected to the biological cycle of plants and animals.
Finally, in the offices included in the districts of the Court of Appeal to which the municipalities of the “red zone” belong, until 15 March 2020, it is foreseen the possibility, for the heads of the judicial offices, having heard the administrative managers, to establish the reduction of the opening hours to the public, in relation to activities not strictly related to urgent acts and activities.
2. YELLOW AREA
Some of the measures applicable in the Emilia Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions and in the provinces of Pesaro and Urbino and Savona.
For these regions and provinces, the following is established: the suspension of sporting events and competitions of all types and disciplines, until 8 March 2020, in public or private places, unless they take place “behind closed doors”. Training sessions, always “behind closed doors”, are allowed; the ban on organized travel for supporters residing in the same regions and provinces of Pesaro and Urbino and Savona, to attend sporting events and competitions taking place in the remaining regions and provinces; until 8 March 2020, the suspension of all organized events of a non-ordinary character, as well as events in public or private places, including those of a cultural, recreational, sporting and religious nature, even if held in closed places but open to the public, such as, for example, major events, cinemas, theaters, discos, religious ceremonies.
3. GREEN AREA
For the green area, measures are applicable throughout the national territory.
Smart working, which provides for the possibility that the “agile work” method is applied, for the duration of the state of emergency, by employers to any subordinate employment relationship, even in the absence of the individual agreements envisaged.
Educational trips are suspended until March 15: educational trips, exchange or twinning initiatives and guided tours however named, scheduled by educational institutions of all levels and degrees, with the provision of the right to withdraw from contracts already stipulated.
Until March 15, medical certificate obligation after an absence from school. Yes to the telematic lessons for schools in which the teaching activity was suspended due to the health emergency, to activate, after hearing the faculty board and for the duration of the suspension, distance teaching methods also had regard to the specific needs of students with disabilities.
There must be disinfectant solutions for hand washing in public administrations and in areas of access to health service facilities and in all premises open to the public. Public transport companies, even long-distance ones, take extraordinary means of sanitizing vehicles. Assemblies are forbidden
The quarantine remains for those who enter Italy from countries at risk or from the municipalities of the red zone. Anyone who has entered Italy after having stayed in areas of epidemiological risk, as identified by the World Health Organization, or has passed through or has stopped in the municipalities of the “red zone”, must communicate this fact to their general practitioner, at paediatrician of free choice or to the competent public health services, which proceed accordingly, according to the protocol envisaged in detail.
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The provision incorporates and extends some of the measures already adopted for the containment and management of the epidemiological emergency from Covid-19 and introduces further, aimed at regulating the framework of the interventions in a uniform way and ensuring uniformity throughout the national implementation of prophylaxis programs. The decree takes into account the indications formulated by the specifically constituted Committee. The text distinguishes the measures on the basis of the geographical areas of intervention.
