Italy to allow travel to and from abroad from June 3 after weeks of lockdown
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More than 31,600 Italians have died of COVID-19 since the outbreak came to light on February 21, the third-highest death toll in the world after that of the United States and Britain.
Italy's government on Saturday said that it would allow travel to and from abroad from June 3 as the country tries to turn the clock back on after one of the world's most rigid coronavirus lockdowns.
More than 31,600 Italians have died of COVID-19 since the outbreak came to light on February 21, the third-highest death toll in the world after that of the United States and Britain.
The government will allow free travel across the country from that same day. Though some regions had pushed for a swifter rollback, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has insisted on a gradual return to normal to prevent a second wave of infections.
In a bid to contain the contagion, Italy was the first European country to impose nationwide restrictions in March, only sanctioning an initial relaxation of the rules on May 4, when it allowed factories and parks to reopen.
Shops are due to open on May 18 and the government decided that all movement within individual regions should be allowed that same day, meaning people will be able to visit friends.
The inter-regional and foreign travel ban will remain in place until after Italy's June 2 Republic Day holiday, preventing any mass travel over that long-holiday weekend.
But all travel curb will be lifted from June 3 -- a major milestone on Italy's road to recovery, with the government hoping to salvage the forthcoming vacation season, when Italians traditionally escape the cities for their annual summer breaks.