The government agreed to demands for an acceleration of Phase 2 of the lockdown at a meeting of regional leaders.
These businesses were not set to get the green light to reopen until at least June 1 under the previous plan.
But now they’ll be allowed to open their doors from next Monday, when other shops are set to reopen.
The governors of 10 regions – Abruzzo, Calabria, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Lombardy, Molise, Piedmont, Sardinia, Umbria and Veneto, as well as the president of the Trentino province – had warned they would “act autonomously” if Rome failed to confirm that they can reopen shops, restaurants, salons and beaches as soon the current decree expires on May 17.
The government has also faced pressure from business groups and protests by business owners in squares and streets around the country.
There’s no plan yet to reopen regional borders and allow people to travel freely around Italy; this is reportedly still under discussion by national and regional authorities.
Restaurants and bars are currently allowed to open for takeaway orders, and in many regions they’ve been allowed to remain open for home delivery throughout lockdown.
