As you probably know if you follow any news organization, the changes introduced take effect on two different levels: one for the whole country and another at the regional (or, even, local) level depending on the severity of the scenario and the level of the risk of contagion that will be decided by the Ministry of Health in agreement with the presidents of the regions involved.
Specifically, the regions divided into the three zones are currently:
Yellow zone:
- Abruzzo,
- Basilicata,
- Campania,
- Emilia Romagna,
- Friuli Venezia Giulia,
- Latium,
- Liguria,
- Brands,
- Molise,
- autonomous province of Bolzano,
- autonomous province of Trento,
- Sardinia,
- Tuscany,
- Umbria,
- Veneto.
Orange zone:
- Apulia,
- Sicily.
Red zone:
- Calabria,
- Lombardy,
- Piedmont,
- Aosta Valley.
Let me preface this by saying that since we are on Runlovers, we are only going to talk here about measures that relate to the world of sports. According to a statement by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, these measures will be valid from Nov. 6 until Dec. 3, 2020.
Measures throughout the country
Let’s start with the question everyone asks: can I run without a mask?
The text reads: (Art. 1 paragraph 1.a) Exclusion from mask use for individuals who are performing sports activities;
The answer is therefore-in principle-yes. But beware: by law, the moment you stop you are no longer engaging in sporting activity and therefore must wear it. This is true even if you are walking (walking is considered motor activity and therefore subject to a mask requirement in some cases). So, our dispassionate advice is to always carry a face mask and wear it the moment you stop running, cross someone or can’t keep a safe distance.
Actually, as I told you, there is a mask exemption even “In cases where, due to the characteristics of the places or the factual circumstances, the condition of isolation from non-cohabiting persons is continuously ensured, and in any case with salvation of the protocols and anti-contagion guidelines provided” (Art. 1), that is, just to be clear, when you are alone in the middle of nowhere. But when in doubt, why risk contravening the law or, worse, infecting someone? So again, it pays to take it with us when we go out, always.
The second question is: Is there a curfew for runners as well? When can I go out for a run?
Again, the DPCM is quite specific:
(Art. 1 para. 3) From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day, only travel motivated by proven work requirements, situations of necessity or for health reasons is permitted. It is in any case strongly recommended, for the remainder of the day, not to travel, by public or private means of transportation, except for work, study, health reasons, situations of necessity, or to carry out activities or use services that are not suspended.
Therefore, one cannot go out running from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. since sports activity is not included among the permitted cases.
Another issue, probably inherited from last spring’s lockdown in which the parks were closed, is: Are there places where I can or cannot run? And do I have to run alone?
And, again, there is some precision in giving directions:
(Art. 1 paragraph 9.d) It is permissible to engage in outdoor sports or motor activity, including at equipped areas and public parks, where accessible, provided, however, that an interpersonal safety distance of at least two meters for sports activity and at least one meter for any other activity is observed unless the presence of a chaperone is required for minors or persons who are not fully self-sufficient;
All this means that you can run anywhere, theoretically even in company as long as you are more than two meters apart but-in this case-our advice is to avoid training in company: we go out alone, taking our masks with us, and if we pass someone, stay more than 2 meters away from them.
Let us now turn to thetopic of “competitions.” In the DPCM(Art. 1 para. 9, points e, f, g, h, I will not quote them for brevity) basically nothing changes from what has already been indicated in recent weeks.
However, given the evolving health situation, our advice in this case is stricter, namely: do not participate in the competitions. Exposing ourselves and the people around us to risk just to run a race is definitely not the case. We are amateurs and don’t need qualifying times for the next Olympics, right!
Local limitations: Scenario type 3 (Orange) for some areas characterized by a high severity scenario and high risk level
The Type 3 scenario, which the media presents to us as the “Orange Zone,” has stricter measures than for the whole country, but I’ll tell you right now that there is no restriction on the practice of sporting activity but there is as far as travel is concerned, we’ll see in a moment.
The decision on the application of these regulations, as I told you a little further up, is made by the minister of health together with the president of the region, and-be careful-it may not even cover the entire regional territory entirely but only specific areas, while others may be excluded from the travel restrictions (Paragraph 4).
(Art. 2 para. 2) By order of the Minister of Health adopted in accordance with paragraph 1, in agreement with the president of the region concerned, exemption from the application of the measures referred to in paragraph 4 may be provided in relation to specific parts of the regional territory, due to the trend of epidemiological risk.
One question some people are asking is: But how often do they do these evaluations? And how long does a “scenario” last?
(Art. 2 para. 3) The Minister of Health, at least on a weekly basis, according to the procedure set forth in Paragraph 1, shall verify the continued existence of the prerequisites set forth in Paragraphs 1 and 2 and shall issue an order to update the relevant list, it being understood that remaining for 14 days in a risk level or scenario lower than the one that determined the restrictive measures shall result in a new classification. The orders referred to in the preceding paragraphs shall be effective for a minimum period of 15 days, but not later than the effective date of this Decree.
As you can see, evaluations will be done at least once a week. Ordinances last at least 15 days, and to be reclassified to a lighter scenario, you have to be there for at least two weeks. That is, if you are Orange Zone, you have to stay there a minimum period of 15 days, and you can return to Yellow Zone only after you have done two weeks meeting the parameters of Scenario 2.
This brings us to one of the essential points of the question for Scenario 3: Are displacements allowed?
There is still some confusion in this case. According to the DPCM and a careful reading of all the articles, movements are allowed within the areas but it is not possible to go outside the regional (or territorial) boundaries except for the reasons stipulated in the regulations
Here is the text of the standard: (Art. 2 Paragraph 4.a) any movement in and out of the territories referred to in Paragraph 1 is prohibited, except for travel motivated by proven work requirements or situations of necessity or for health reasons. However, travel strictly necessary to ensure the conduct of in-person teaching is permitted to the extent that it is permitted. Return to one’s home, dwelling or residence is permitted. […]
But then comes the next point: (Art. 2 Paragraph 4.b) any travel by public or private means of transportation is prohibited in a municipality other than the municipality of residence, domicile or habitation.
What does it mean? That we can go out running by abiding by the rules already provided for yellow areas but, in addition, we cannot do so by going outside the municipal boundaries.
Local limitations: Scenario type 4 (Red) for some areas characterized by a maximum severity scenario and high risk level
As you know, in scenario 4, we are in the conditions with more severe limitations. First, it is not possible to move even within the region. This means that if you are a cyclist, you cannot move.
Here is what the DPCM says in detail: (Art. 3 para. 4) As of the day following the publication in the Official Gazette of the orders referred to in paragraph 1, the following containment measures shall be applied in the regions identified therein:
(a) Any movement in and out of the territories referred to in Paragraph 1, as well as within the same territories, shall be prohibited, except for movements motivated by proven work requirements or situations of necessity or for health reasons. However, travel strictly necessary to ensure the conduct of in-person teaching is permitted to the extent that it is permitted. Return to one’s home, dwelling or residence is permitted. Transit through the territories referred to in Paragraph 1 is permitted when necessary to reach additional territories not subject to travel restrictions or in cases where travel is permitted under this Decree;
In addition, competitions are suspended:
(d) all activities stipulated in Article 1, paragraph 9, subparagraphs. (f) and (g), including those held in outdoor sports centers, are suspended; all events and competitions organized by sports promotion bodies are also suspended;
And, last but not least, the question you are surely asking yourself: but can I go out for a run?
Here is what the specific point says: (e) it is permitted to carry out motor activities individually in the vicinity of one’s own home provided, however, that the distance of at least one meter from any other person is observed and the use of respiratory protective equipment is compulsory; it is also permitted to carry out sports activities exclusively outdoors and on an individual basis;
Unfortunately, the much-discussed concept of “proximity” is reintroduced. And I say unfortunately only because it is a subjective evaluation criterion. Is proximity related to distance or the time it takes you to return home?
I know, we speak of “proximity” for motor activity, but the adverb likewise–in my opinion–includes sports activity (one of its synonyms is, in fact, “similarly”). So how to deal with it?
Fortunately, in his explanation of the measures, Conte showed a very clear slide in which-more succinctly-we can see that the limitation relates only to motor activity.
We can then go out and run on our own, within the municipal area. However, it is not possible to go out “in company,” even respecting the spacing.
Other measures
In closing, I would like to emphasize another measure in the new DPCM:
(Art. 5 Paragraph 1.b) in order to make contact tracing more effective through the use of the Immuni App, it is made compulsory for the health worker of the prevention department of the local health agency, by accessing the central system of Immuni, to upload the key code in the presence of a positive case;
Contact tracing is a useful tool to counter the spread of Covid-19, and, in Italy, we can do this by installing theImmuni app. There is no risk in using it, and we strongly recommend that you install it on your smartphone.
And, be sure to always try to use every possible caution-this moment will pass and we will all run together again. Looking forward to it.