Italy has added to its regional curfews by ordering bars, restaurants, cafes, gelaterias and other eateries to close everyday at 6pm across the country.
While the aforementioned venues must close to the public from 6pm, takeaway service is still allowed – as long as customers do not eat at or outside the premises. Food delivery is also permitted.
Update: restaurants in hotels are exempt from mandatory 6pm closure, but must only serve guests. Restaurants at motorway service stations are also exempt.
Cinemas, swimming pools and gyms must close according to the new rules, but shops and most other commerce shall remain open. Moreover, fairs, festivals, and public events are all banned, both indoors and outdoors.
In addition, the government has urged people to avoid unnecessary travel outside their home town or commune, and to avoid public transport wherever possible.
For the benefit of lorry drivers transiting through Italy, it is also worth knowing that wearing a mask is obligatory whenever you leave your home, at all times of the day everywhere in the country. Fines for not wearing one range between €400 and €1,000, with police patrols deployed to check that people are complying.
As of Monday October 26th, the regions of Lombardy, Lazio, Campania, Calabria, Sicily and Piedmont have declared nighttime restrictions on movement. In the case of Lombardy, the curfew is active between 11pm and 6am.
During the hours of the curfew, people will only be able to leave their home for reasons of health, work or ‚necessity’. Therefore lorry drivers who are working are exempt.
It goes without saying that the above restrictions are due to the increase in cases of Covid-19 in the country.
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