Italian Government extends lockdown until 3 May

The new provisions of the Prime Ministerial Decree published on 10 April 2020 (“Decree”) are effective on national territory from 14 April until 3 May 2020. The Decree summarises and reorganises the containment measures provided for in the previous Prime Ministerial Decree of 8, 9, 11 and 22 March 2020 and the Prime Ministerial Decree of 1 April 2020 (which cease to have effect on 14 April).

In particular, the Decree, for the first time since the health emergency was declared, introduces provisions relating to entry, transit and short stay in Italy.

Pursuant to Article 4, in fact, all persons (except those expressly indicated in paragraph 9), who enter Italy, must spend a period of health surveillance and fiduciary isolation for 14 days.

Article 5, on the other hand, regulates the hypothesis of transit and short stay on Italian territory admitted only for proven working needs and for a period not exceeding 72 hours (extendable for a further 48 hours).In these cases, the obligation of health surveillance and fiduciary isolation is excluded but the person involved assumes the following obligations. He or she has to leave the territory immediately at the end of the short period of stay indicated in the self-declaration. On the other hand, if he/she decides to stay in Italy he/she has to start the period of health surveillance and fiduciary isolation for 14 days.

Moreover, it is not necessary to spend the compulsory isolation period for subjects “in transit”, i.e. when entry into the country is justified by the need to reach other EU or non-EU countries; it is also specified, in the case of land transport, that transit by private means of transport is authorized for a maximum stay of 24 hours (extendable by a further 12 hours for proven needs).

In any case, it is always necessary to communicate your presence on the territory to the Prevention Department of the competent health company.

Articles 1 and 2 of the Decree introduce provisions relating to commercial and production activities. They provide for less restrictive measures since they allow the opening of certain activities specifically indicated in the relevant annexes and identified always on the basis of reference codes (so called ATECO codes).

Article 8, paragraph 3 of the Decree provides for the possibility for the Regions, in agreement with the Ministry of Health, to issue more restrictive measures. Therefore, pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph, Ordinance no. 528 of 11 April 2020 issued by the President of the Lombardy Regional Council and in force from 14 April to 3 May is fully effective. This Ordinance provides more restrictive provisions than the Decree.

More details in the attached circular.