Controls harden in 4 regions of Italy amid surge
Luxury boutiques, jewelry stores and most of Milan’s department stores were shuttered Friday, as the center of Italy’s vibrant financial capital fell into a gray quiet on the first day of a partial lockdown in four regions aimed at stopping the virus’s resurgence.
The new restrictions — which led to closures of a patchwork of nonessential businesses — allow a great deal more freedom than Italy’s neartotal 10week lockdown that started in March, but nonetheless brought recriminations from regional governments that feel unfairly targeted. The south, in particular, which was largely spared the pandemic in the first surge, chafed the most, despite concerns that its weaker health care system was especially vulnerable.
Under Italy’s complicated 21point formula, the northern regions of Lombardy, Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta and the southern region of Calabria, the toe of Italy’s boot, faced increased restrictions for the next 15 days, including the closure of all nonessential stores, takeout only for bars and restaurants, distance learning for students 12 and over and a ban on leaving hometowns except for work or health.
Sicily and Puglia, two other southern regions, fell into a second tier of restrictions, while the rest of the country maintained more freedom of movement but with a 10 p. m. curfew and restaurants closings at 6 p. m.
In Rome, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said the lockdowns were a necessity as the number of confirmed infections skyrockets and deaths reach highs not seen since the spring. He pointed to other European countries that are faring even worse as evidence of how the continent failed to stamp out the disease.