New localized “red zones” were imposed in areas across Italy after the new variants were identified in them.
The restrictions in the red zone – which prohibit people from leaving home except for work or health reasons – came into effect on Monday in municipalities in the province of Perugia and six municipalities in the province of Terni, which are located in the central region of Umbria. .
They will remain in effect until February 21, the Umbria regional government said on Saturday.
Covid-19 variants from the UK and Brazil were detected in a sample of 44 cases recently analyzed by the Italian Institute of Health, the local government said on Saturday.
The report by the Italian Institute of Health states that it “leads to believe” that the presence of the variants contributed to the increase in positive cases in the provinces of Perugia and Terni.
On Sunday, the Tuscan city of Chiusi, located near the border with Umbria, also became a red zone after the South African and Brazilian variants were detected in the community, according to the city’s mayor. On Friday, Juri Bettollini said the restrictions will last for a week and that, en masse, voluntary examinations will be held in the city starting on Monday.
The autonomous province of North Bolzano (South Tyrol) was also placed under the red zone on Monday, a measure that will run until February 28, according to the local government.
The Bolzano government said in a statement on Saturday that it made the decision after the first case of the UK variant was detected in the province.
Red zone restrictions were also imposed on Saturday on three other municipalities in the Abruzzo region.
Most Italian regions are currently in “yellow zones”, the lightest in a three-tier restraint system.
The rest of Umbria, as well as Sicily and Puglia, are currently in the “orange zone”, where people are prohibited from leaving their city and region – except for work or health reasons – and bars and restaurants only offer delivery services and take away.