New localized “red zones” were imposed in areas of Italy after the identification of new variants in them.
Restrictions on the red zone – which prohibit people from leaving their homes, except for work or health reasons – came into force on Monday in the municipalities of the province of Perugia and in six municipalities in the province of Terni, located in the central Italian region of Umbria.
They will be in force until February 21, the Umbrian regional government said on Saturday.
Covid-19 variants in the UK and Brazil have been detected in a sample of 44 cases recently analyzed by the Italian Institute of Health, the local government said on Saturday.
The report of the Italian Institute of Health said it “leads to believe” that the presence of variants has contributed to an increase in positive cases in the provinces of Perugia and Terni.
On Sunday, the Tuscan town of Chiusi, located near the border of Umbria, also became a red zone after South African and Brazilian variants were detected in the community, according to the mayor. On Friday, Juri Bettollini said the restrictions would last a week and that voluntary mass testing would take place in the city on Monday.
Also, the autonomous province of Bolzano (South Tyrol) was placed under a red zone on Monday, a measure that will be in force until February 28, according to the local government.
The Bolzano government said in a statement on Saturday that it had made the decision after the first case of the British version was detected in the province.
Red zone restrictions were imposed on three other municipalities in the Abruzzo region on Saturday.
Most Italian regions are currently in “yellow zones”, the easiest of a three-tier system of restrictions.
The rest of the Umbrian regions, as well as Sicily and Puglia, are currently in the “orange zone”, where people are forbidden to leave their city and region – except for work or health reasons – and bars and restaurants only offer delivery and delivery.