Italy is the first country in Europe to go on a lockdown after the spike in infection and death rate of the coronavirus when it surfaced in its Northern parts. It also has the longest lockdown period worldwide
New rules have been put in place as more activities open up in Italy. From this week more businesses can open to members of the public with strict measures to be observed by the clients and workers. In his address, the Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the country is taking a calculated risk as it continues to ease  lockdown restrictions. In this phase shops, bars and restaurants are to open 18 May including churches and other places of worship. Gyms, swimming pools and sport centres will reopen on 25 May while cinemas and theatres will do same on 15 June.

Bars
 In bars, It’s no to all types of buffet, you could take a coffee while standing or sitting but the tables should be cleaned after use by each client. Utensils cannot be reused and sugar or milk jars are prohibited while only the bar attendant could serve milk. Access to the toilet is reduced as its keys could spread the contagion. Social distancing must be maintained.

Beauty Centres
In beauty centres, no sauna baths, facial treatment allowed with both client and worker wearing masks and no vapour should be used. Card payments only and the facility should be cleaned after each client’s use.
Barbers/Hairdressers
At the hairdressers/barber’s salon entrance is one client at a time and booking is necessary. The worker and client must wear protective aprons and talks should be done with client and stylist both facing the mirror. Hair must first be washed at home before a cut. 
Restaurants
At restaurants: menus are to be written and ordered on boards or through an app. The waiters must wear surgical masks throughout their shift. Tables must be 4 metres apart and no cash payments.
Hotels
In hotels: book and pay online before arrival is the new rule. Public area usage is banned and the guest can only stay in his or her room. No morning buffet as well. Lifts can only be used by one person at a time. Keys must be sanitised.
Shops
In shops: if the shop is less than 25m square, one client would be attended to at a time. There should be a different entrance and exit, if not the clients do it one after the other. Dresses could be tried on but shoppers must clean their hands well and must wear masks. The shops should be sanitized daily.
Beaches
At the beach: between umbrellas there must be at least 4-5 metres and beds should have at least 2 metres. No beach ball or volley. For the free area, app should be created to book by managers.  In emergency there would be no mouth to mouth respiration but chest compression.
Churches
In churches: all worshippers should wear masks. There should be ushers at the entrance to indicate where to sit, where to enter and exit. There should be pamphlets telling worshippers the social distancing rules. There should be no touching of hands and no contact with others. No blessing water for the Catholics, the hand sanitizer is a must, also offerings should be deposited in a box and not collected by people.
Travels
People will be allowed to travel within the country’s region  without permits from 3 June. Travelers from EU countries will be allowed into the country without going into two-week quarantine. The country also plans on allowing tourists to come in for the summer.

Italy is the first country in Europe to go on a lockdown after the spike in infection and death rate of the coronavirus when it surfaced in its Northern parts. It also has the longest lockdown period worldwide. It has the third highest death toll after the US and UK but has reported a sharp decline. The Prime Minister warns that the contagion curve could rise again but the country could not afford to wait for a vaccine. He continued that “we have to accept it otherwise we will never be able to start up again…and end up with a strongly damaged economic and social structure.”

The government has already approved a stimulus package of €55bn this month to help businesses and families cushion the effect of the pandemic, most citizens are yet to receive it due mainly to Italy perennial bureaucracy.