New dpcm, official: closes culture across Italy (museums, exhibitions, libraries, archives)

It’s official: the text of the dpcm signed overnight by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has been published in the Official Gazette. It does not change what was already known: it imposes the total closure of culture throughout Italy. Article 1, paragraph 9r, in fact provides that exhibitions and services open to the public of museums and other institutes and places of culture referred to in Article 101 of the Code of Cultural Heritage and Landscape (Legislative Decree No. 42 of January 22) will be suspended. Places of culture are identified by Article 101 as follows: museums, libraries, archives, archaeological areas and parks, and monumental complexes.

The closure is in effect regardless of the risk area in which the individual territory falls: in fact, Italy is divided into three areas, one with lower risk, one with “high severity scenario” and one with “maximum severity scenario.” The zones are identified on a regional basis by order of the minister of health: however, in agreement with the president of the region, the minister may provide for the exemption of the regional zone regulations from certain parts of the region’s territory because of the trend of epidemiological risk. So in fact risk zones could also be established on a provincial or inter-municipal basis. In “high severity” zones, travel in and out of the zone is prohibited, and one can only move within one’s own municipality; in addition, food service activities (bars, pubs, restaurants, ice cream parlors, bakeries: only take-out service allowed until 10 p.m., home deliveries allowed), except canteens and continuous catering, are closed, and stores remain open. In “maximum severity” zones, a de facto lockdown is imposed: all activities close (except for the sale of basic necessities), motor or sports activities may be carried out on an individual basis (motor activity only near one’s home), distance education is adopted from middle schools and up.

Places of culture, therefore, closed nationwide: other measures valid throughout the country are the closure of shopping malls on weekends and the capacity of public transportation increased to 50 percent. Allowed are demonstrations “in static form, provided that, in the course of them, the prescribed social distances and other containment measures are observed, in compliance with the prescriptions imposed by the Questore.” Churches remain open and there is the possibility of holding religious services provided that government protocols are observed. In lower risk areas, bars and restaurants also remain open with the 5-6 p.m. hours established by the previous dpcm.

The measures will take effect from tomorrow, Friday, November 6, and will be valid until Thursday, December 3, 2020.

Image: Marciana National Library in Venice

New dpcm, official: closes culture across Italy (museums, exhibitions, libraries, archives)

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