ROME: Facemasks will no longer be compulsory outdoors in Italy, one of the countries in Europe worst hit by the coronavirus, from June 28, the health ministry said Monday.
The lifting of the mask requirement would come into effect in regions labelled "white" under Italy´s classification system for how rapidly the virus is spreading, Health Minister Roberto Speranza wrote on Facebook.
This includes all Italian regions except the tiny Aosta Valley in the far northwest.
Speranza´s announcement came on advice from Italy´s Comitato Tecnico Scientifico (CTS) scientific advisory panel, which said people should still have masks at hand for events with higher risk of spreading the virus like large gatherings.
By June 28, experts predict all of Italy will be classified a "white" zone, with just 21 deaths and 495 new cases recorded nationwide on Monday.
The country has recorded 127,291 deaths since the pandemic reached it in early 2020, with 4.25 million infections.
So far 30 percent of people over 12 have been vaccinated, or around 16 million out of a population of 60 million.
More than 46 million vaccine doses have been administered in Italy.
E-cigarettes are likely to put your heart health at risk
Kansas City Current's co-owner has been vocal about her health issues
Artificial sweeteners are preferred by people for weight loss but it might contain risks
Adequate diet, work out are linked with youthful feeling but that might not be case
High sodium diets claim over 2 million lives annually, WHO report warns
Women are more likely to require sleep as compared to men