Across the country, attempts to make plans for the first day of freedom were hampered by uncertainty over the rules.

The government has a list of permitted activities, but regions are also enforcing their own rules.

In this first stage, Italy’s 60 million inhabitants will be able to move more freely within their own regions, visiting relatives, going to the re-opened parks with their children and going cycling or running further from home.

None of that can be done in groups, however, so big family lunches are forbidden.

Going to holiday homes is not allowed.

And people cannot leave their own regions, except for emergencies or for health reasons.

Some regions, however, have been more liberal with their interpretation of the rules.

Two of them, Veneto and Calabria, even lifted their lockdowns early, opening to bars and restaurants with outdoor tables this week.

Liguria is thinking about letting people go sailing in small groups, and is reopening its beaches.

So is the Marghe region, but for walks not sunbathing.

Emilia-Romagna is keeping them closed, even to those who live by the sea.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte further puzzled many by telling Italians visits with congiunti were allowed.

The Italian word can mean either relatives or kinsmen.

Conte then attempted to clarify by saying that extended to people who had “relationships of steady affection”.

Many queried whether that meant lovers, friends and fiancés were included.

The government on Saturday published a Q&A that specified people could see extended relatives – including, for example, the children of their cousins – but visiting friends, however dear, not on.

Italy hopes easing the coronavirus lockdown, the longest in the world, will reboot the nation’s paralysed economy.

But Conte has warned he will be watching closely to see if there is a second wave of the virus, and is ready to enforce localised lockdowns if necessary to stop the return of a pandemic which has claimed nearly 29,000 lives across the nation.

Authorities reported 174 deaths from coronavirus overnight, the lowest daily death toll since the beginning of the nationwide lockdown on March 9.

Italy’s death toll currently stands at 28,884.