Italy's government on Saturday ramped up restrictions in five of the country's 20 regions in an effort to head off a rise in COVID-19 cases as scientists warned of a growing prevalence of highly contagious new variants.Italy has established a four-tier colour-coded system (white, yellow, orange and red) which allows for measures to be calibrated according to infection levels, with assessments revised every week.For the first time since the end of January, two regions -- Basilicata and Molise -- were shunted into the strictest red zone.
This means bars and restaurants must be shuttered, movement severely restricted and all but essential shops closed.Three regions moved from yellow to orange zones: Lombardy and Piedmont, which are centred on.