Many of Italy’s current restrictions will be relaxed from April 26, a statement on the government’s website confirmed.
Under the new decree, valid until July 31, the existing nationwide curfew of 10:00 pm will remain until at least June 1, after which it will be assessed.
If the country’s contagion rate drops enough, the curfew may then be moved to 11.00 pm or scrapped altogether.
The easing of restrictions will see the return of the four-tiered system, after five weeks of Italy being divided between high-risk “red zones” and moderate-risk “orange zones”.
A ban on movement around the country will be lifted, with no travel restrictions between lower-risk “yellow zones” and the introduction of a “green pass” allowing people to travel to and from red and orange zones.
Valid for six months, the pass can be obtained by those who have recovered from COVID-19, who have been fully vaccinated against it or who have tested negative for the virus in the previous 48 hours.
Until now, travel to and from red and orange zones was only permitted for work, health or emergency reasons.
The government did not confirm any plans to relax the current restrictions on travel to Italy.
From April 26, restaurants, bars and all catering venues in yellow zones will be able to serve people at outdoor tables at lunch and dinner.
But restaurants that do not have outdoor dining facilities will have to wait until June 1 to serve customers at tables again, and then only at lunchtime.
From April 26 until June 15, in yellow and orange zones, the number of people who can visit friends or relatives in a private home – once a day – is increased to four instead of two, with no limit on children and those who are dependent.
From April 26 and until the end of the current academic year all school children can attend lessons in the classroom, from kindergarten up to the first grade in middle school, throughout the country.
Face-to-face learning is guaranteed for students in the senior years of high school but limited to various capacities, depending on the colour of their region, with the rest of the lessons being taught via distance learning.
Universities will hold lessons primarily on site, with those in red zones recommended to favour first-year students for face-to-face lessons.
Outdoor sports can resume on April 26 and swimming pools can reopen from May 15.
Competition sporting events can resume from June 1, with spectators allowed up to 25 per cent of the full capacity of the facility, but not exceeding 500 people indoors or 1000 outdoors.
Gyms and indoor leisure centres can also reopen from 1 June, again under strict conditions.
Cinemas, theatres, concerts halls and music clubs will be permitted to stage screenings and live performances indoors under strict conditions and limited capacity.
The same limitations on capacity apply (maximum 500 indoors or 1000 outdoors).
Museums, public galleries and archaeological sites can open in yellow zones from April 26.
Beach clubs can reopen, under certain restrictions, from May 15.
Announcing the measures last week, Draghi described the move as a “calculated risk”.
“It is possible to look to the future with cautious optimism and confidence,” he added.
The easing of some restrictions will come as a relief to residents who have effectively been under a form of lockdown since mid-March.
However, concerns remain about the safety of reopening now amid a still-high infection rate and ongoing delays to the vaccine rollout in Italy.
Some health experts warned on Monday that reopening too soon would risk triggering a new wave of infections that could put the summer tourist season in jeopardy.
