Conte announces: the Italian government is severely limiting travel during the Christmas period

With the tightening of travel bans until January 6, Rome wants to prevent the number of infections from rising again. The 60 million Italians must be prevented from leaving in large numbers for the Christmas holidays or visiting distant relatives.

Specifically, the government has decided to ban travel between regions of Italy from 21 December. People cannot therefore go to their holiday apartments on the coast or in the mountains. The ban is valid until January 6th. Exceptions are possible for work, for health reasons and in other emergencies. The return to the place of main residence is however allowed.

During Christmas and the New Year, Rome tightens the reins even more: on 25 and 26 December and 1 January 2021, people are expected to stay in their cities and communities. Again, there are exceptions for work or emergency situations.

Additionally, the head of government’s emergency decrees apply in the future for 50 days instead of the previous 30 days, as announced by the government on Thursday. There is currently a partial blockade in Italy with three corona risk zones. In the red zones, citizens must stay at home if possible. So far, however, people have been allowed to travel freely between the lower risk areas, the yellow zones. According to Health Minister Roberto Speranza, this type of classification should in principle be maintained. However, additional special arrangements are permitted during the Christmas period.

Speranza said in parliament Wednesday that Italy threatened “a third wave” in January and February without tightening Christmas restrictions. A new emergency decree with further regulations was still in the works in the center-left government. It was to take effect on Friday (December 4). Italy has officially counted more than 1.6 million corona infections so far.