From Sunday 21 February Campania (Rt 1,16), Emilia Romagna (RT 1,06) e Molise (Rt 1,4) become the orange zone, joining Abruzzo (1,17), Tuscany (1,2), Liguria (1,08) and the Province of Trento (1,23). It's orange too Umbria, where though Perugia and Terni are in the red zone due to the spread of the Brazilian variant. The new ordinance signed by the Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, provides for it.
In the other three regions that have changed color instead of worrying is the English variant, which has now reached significant percentages in many large regions. In Tuscany it is 35%, in Puglia and Emilia 38%. In the Marches, Umbria and Molise, the English variant even exceeded 50%.
It stays in Bolzano red zone, while contrary to predictions, Lombardy and Lazio instead remain in yellow, despite the Government's attempts to convince the Governors to accept more restrictive decisions even if their territory is just below the Rt 1 threshold. In fact, both Regions have a Rt of 0,95.
"We expect an increase in cases due to the English variant – said Gianni Rezza, director general of Prevention of the Ministry of Health. “This is very widespread especially on the Adriatic coast and has a greater transmissibility than the circulating strains of more than 45% and at the same time, this is the good news, it does not reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine. The Brazilian variant is widespread in Umbria, especially in Perugia and in some areas of Tuscany with sporadic cases in other parts of the country ”, he continued.
"IS it is essential that the population avoid all opportunities for contact with people outside their own household who are not strictly necessary and to stay at home as much as possible”, concluded Rezza.
Meanwhile, we are also moving towards the extension of the travel block between Regions until 5 March. The provision of the previous government provided for the green light for travel from one region to another on February 25, but the ban will most likely be extended by 10 days. The other move on which the Government and the experts are thinking is that of a one month mini-lockdown: a sort of national orange zone to be triggered in the spring, to stem the spread of variants.
