Italy split because of COVID-19

Italy split by coronavirus

Rome [ENA] Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signed the new decree with the measures for the containment of coronavirus infections, a decree that essentially divides Italy into four areas (the so-called "red zone" (11 municipalities); a second zone including Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia Romagna plus the provinces of Pesaro-Urbino and Savona; the provinces of Bergamo, Lodi, Piacenza and Cremona;

COVID-19

at last the rest of the national territory). The Italian government is planning further measures, soon to be approved, for economic support for citizens, families and businesses, connected to the health emergency for the spread of COVID-19, and more globally for the country's economic growth. The Coronavirus crisis has stimulated passionate debate about border closings in the Schengen area as an approach to reject the spread of the epidemic. For example, Austria stopped some trains arriving from Italy. The Schengen regulation in any case does allow travel restrictions in case of a threat to public health (Article 2(21) an 6(1e) of Regulation (EU) 2016/399). In case of border closings there are tough economic consequences.

Many workers rely on the Schengen agreement that allows them to cross the border without any ID controls. More than 1.9 million residents from Schengen countries traversed the border to go to work in 2018. 0.9% of the employed citizens living in Schengen countries work across the border. The share of cross-border commuters is primarily high in Slovakia (5.5%), Luxembourg (2.7%), Croatia, Estonia and Belgium. The Schengen agreement’s significance extends beyond cross-border commuting to work. In 2018, EU-27 citizens made almost 320 million trips of one night and over to other EU-27 countries, more than 39 million (12%) of those were for business purposes. Stopping cross-border travel would lead to a major interruption of economic activity.

It is consequently no surprise that the EU for the time being has chosen not to close borders. https://www.bruegel.org/2020/02/as-the-coronavirus-spreads-can-the-eu-afford-to-close-its-borders/ As the current outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) continues to develop, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) are working together in guiding the travel and tourism sectors’ response to COVID-19. Tourism’s response needs to be measured and coherent, proportionate to the public health threat and based on local risk assessment, involving every part of the tourism value chain – public bodies, private companies and tourists, in line with WHO’s overall guidance and recommendations.

At the moment, excluding the so-called "red zone"; the second zone including Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia Romagna; the provinces of Bergamo, Lodi, Piacenza and Cremona, at the moment the remaining part of Italy is safe and accessible. All services and activities for citizens and tourists are normally provided and the quality of life, for which Italy is famous world-wide, remains high.