© REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo/File PhotoFILE PHOTO: People wearing masks walk in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II as Lombardy tightens restrictions due to a surge in the number of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections in the region, in Milan, Italy, March 5, 2021.
In recent months Italy has calibrated restrictions in its 20 regions according to a four-tier, colour-coded system (white, yellow, orange and red) based on local infection levels which are revised every week.
Under an order approved on Friday by Health Minister Roberto Speranza numerous regions have been shifted into the toughest red zones, including Lombardy around Milan, and Lazio around Rome.
Two other regions were already red, meaning that almost half the country's regions and most of its population will be under the most severe restrictions from Monday.
Comment: The previous lockdown was partly lifted amidst a massive campaign by Italy's business owners to 'open up' in defiance of the lockdown, and so it's likely that being forced into another unnecessary lockdown will only serve to reignite the protests: