Table of Contents
With the virus that keeps running and the more and more popular variants throughout the country, Italy is moving towards new measures. A few days later it seems that the last Dpcm of President Mario Draghi – which came into force on 6 March with new restrictions and the introduction of the reinforced orange zone, which was added to the already existing ones (white, yellow, orange , red) – is not enough.
It is not confirmed yet but there is already talk of super red zone, a measure that would put the Italians in front of a temporary lockdown. New measures will come into effect as early as next Friday 12 March, taking into account the data of the new monitoring elaborated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità. Most of the Regions will be in the orange or red zone.
Currently there is a high rate of spread of the virus and of the much feared variants, much more virulent and affecting an ever younger population.
Super red zone, the hypothesis
The super red zone – which should go into effect next weekend – seems like a necessary option. Given the increase in infections and theevident worsening of the epidemiological picture of the country, the Draghi government is considering various hypotheses to strengthen the Dpcm which entered into force on 6 March.
It won’t technically be a lockdown, but it actually looks a lot like it. More than half of Italians will have to reckon with closed shops, limited (or even prohibited) movements within their own municipality and millions of children and students, from kindergarten to high school, will have to return to distance learning.
Meanwhile, on March 9, the Government gathered the control room to meet with the CTS experts. The meeting ended with some precise requests, proposals that arrive for a twofold reason: on the one hand to curb the increase in infections in a more drastic way, on the other to take advantage of them to give a boost to the administration of vaccines and ensure coverage for the majority of citizens.
At the moment it is not clear if the government will opt for a national super red zone or if it will establish temporary lockdowns, only during the weekend. In the meantime, let’s see, one by one, the others possible hypotheses.
Closed shops
The super red zone would technically include the closing of shops in all areas of Italy where the number of infections is such as to require the suspension of any commercial activity. Closure that would go hand in hand with that of schools of all levels. The diffusion of the variants, especially the English one, requires drastic measures that put a stop to the possibilities of gathering by young people.
Schools in DAD
The super red zone would also take a step forward as regards the organization of schools. With the new strengthened orange zone the Government had already established the closure of schools of all levels, including universities. The super red zone would continue on this path, but also closing the nursery schools and preschools. The Italian students in essence they would fully return to DAD.
National lockdown on weekends
Government and CTS are considering another hypothesis that would be added as an alternative to the “project” of the super red zone. To limit the movements and gatherings of young people, those of the infamous “nightlife”, one could close everything only on weekends. In fact, therefore, the Government could finally opt for a national lockdown limited to Saturdays and Sundays, which would involve all the Regions regardless of the area in which they are located.
Early curfew
The super red zone, still being defined, could include an additional measure: anticipate the curfew by a few hours. Currently the curfew provides for a ban on driving from 10pm to 5am. With the new restrictions, this time slot could be brought forward to 8pm or even 7pm.
