UPDATE 1-Italy loosens COVID restrictions in five regions, including Lombardy

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ROME, 27 Nov. (Reuters) – The Italian government will ease anti-COVID restrictions from Sunday in five regions, including Lombardy, the richest and most populous in the country, the health ministry said.

Lombardy, Piedmont and Calabria will pass from red to orange zones, while Sicily and Liguria will pass from orange to yellow zones, which have fewer restrictions.

Friday’s decision follows a gradual decline in coronavirus hospitalizations across much of Italy over the past week, with the number of new cases also retreating from peak visas earlier this month.

Italy introduced a three-tier zoning system three weeks ago with curbs calibrated to a variety of factors, including infection rates and hospital occupancy.

Residents of the red zone can only leave their homes for work, health reasons or emergencies, while bars, restaurants and most shops are closed. In the orange zone, people can move freely within their cities and towns, but cannot travel anywhere else. Bars and restaurants are closed, but shops can open.

Abruzzo, Campania, Tuscany, Valle d’Aosta and the province of Bolzano will all remain in the red zone for now, while Basilicata, Emilia Romagna, Fruili, Marche, Puglia and Umbria will remain orange.

Italy was the first Western country to be hit by the virus in February, with the epidemic returning under control only after a national blockade that lasted months. After a summer break, infections rose again in October, forcing the government to slow down again.

As of Friday, 53,677 people have died from the disease in Italy, the second highest toll in Europe after Britain. It has also recorded approximately 1,538 million cases. (Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Gavin Jones)