You can move to go shopping in the neighboring town. Provided that the supermarket or shop is more “convenient”. The news comes from Rome. From the Ministry of the Interior. A last-minute clarification for those who live in the red regions, such as Tuscany. Until Saturday this was not possible. In line with what was decided in the spring, at the time of the first pandemic and the first total lockdown, until a few days ago, in the areas of total isolation the economy of a shop was not considered a sufficient reason to break the ban on bans: trespass in another municipality. This is no longer the case.
The Interior Ministry assures that this move is possible. He puts it in black and white on his website in the section “frequently asked questions for those who move to the regions in the red band”: «Travel to municipalities other than the one in which you live are prohibited except for specific needs or requirements. Expenditure is always one of the justifications for travel. Therefore, where your Municipality does not have sales outlets or in the event that a Municipality adjacent to your own has an availability, even in terms of greater economic convenience, of points of sale necessary for your needs, the movement is allowed, within these limits, that they must be self-certified “.
In short, if the neighbor’s shop is cheaper, you can cross borders. Be careful though. The ministry sets some insurmountable stakes. The first is that you leave the house with self-certification. The document must declare that you are moving to the neighboring municipality because you go shopping in a supermarket, a “cheaper” grocery store than what is in your area. The second, in fact, is that you travel for “shopping”, therefore for the purchase of foodstuffs, not of any other type. This is how it appears at first reading, hearing also the trade associations. Furthermore, the Ministry of the Interior speaks of movements between “contiguous” municipalities, where “contiguous” is synonymous with neighboring. So if the cheapest supermarket is in a neighboring municipality, but which does not border on ours, you cannot go there.
The mayors of Versilia already went further on Saturday. In a joint document they announce that they will allow their residents to move between the various municipalities of the coast in search of the most convenient discount stores. In other words, to “favor citizens of the lower economic range”, it will be allowed to move from territories that do not have discount stores – specific shops at below cost prices – to territories where there are discount stores. The note from the mayors cites as a “specific example the residents of Stazzema who can travel to reach the supermarkets in Seravezza, Camaiore, Pietrasanta, Castelnuovo Garfagnana). Also in this case are the prudential rules that suggest limiting travel to the indispensable ».
In reality, this provision was created for a need raised by Forte dei Marmi, for its residents. The same raised already in the spring at the time of the first coronavirus pandemic. In fact, in the summer capital of holidays and luxury, the reference supermarket is a very expensive shop, in line with the clientele of villas and second homes by the sea. But the 7 thousand permanent inhabitants of Forte dei Marmi have renewed the request to go shopping (food) at the cheaper Eurospin. Except that, unfortunately, this shop is located either in Seravezza or in Pietrasanta, across the border. So to avoid the 400 euro fine, the trespassing agreement between mayors arrived. Endorsed by the Interior Ministry.
Business. Can a store sell closed business goods?
The Ministry of the Interior is clear: no. If a business is closed because its product is not considered essential, it cannot be found for sale in other stores that remain open because they can sell other goods. The Interior Ministry writes: “The person in charge of any commercial activity (hypermarket, supermarket, discount, mini market, etc.) can only carry out the activity of selling food and basic necessities and is required to organize the spaces in such a way as to preclude customers from ” access to shelves or aisles where goods other than food and basic necessities are stored. If this is not possible, the products whose sale is not permitted must be removed from the shelves ».
Recreational activities. I have a bar in a club, can I take away?
The bars of the clubs (Arci, Acli and similar associations) are not equated to public establishments at the moment. The response of the Ministry of the Interior, therefore, is that they cannot really stay open: therefore, not being able to stay open, they cannot do take-away activities or home deliveries. “The suspension of the activities of cultural centers, social centers and recreational centers – writes the Interior Ministry – also includes the suspension of the internal activities of administration of food and beverages and catering in favor of its associative body (the members), since it is an activity subordinate and collateral to the main activity (the recreational one) ».
Catering. Can I keep the restaurant open in the hotel?
There are several hoteliers who are asking this question now that Tuscany has moved into the red band. The response of the Ministry of the Interior is that hotels with an internal restaurant, serving only guests, can continue to work. To be precise, “without time limits, catering is allowed only in the hotel or accommodation facility where the guest is staying. If there is no such service in the hotel or in the accommodation facility, the customer – specifies the Interior Ministry – can make use of a takeaway restaurant or by means of “home delivery” (possibly organized by the hotel), within the allowed time limits, with consumption at the hotel “. The same goes for the restaurants of the farmhouses.
Movements. I am separated, can I go to my minor children?
If the children are minors and the parent is separated or divorced, the travel ban does not apply. Not even between municipalities, although now Tuscany is in the red zone. The Ministry of the Interior leaves no doubts on this: «Travel to reach minor children who live with the other parent or a custodian, or to take them home, are also allowed between municipalities in different areas. Such movements must in any case take place by choosing the shortest route as well as in the manner prescribed by the judge with the separation or divorce measures or, in the absence of such measures, as agreed between the parents “. This does not apply if the children are of age.
Movements. Three colleagues with only one car: is it allowed?
It is not forbidden. A colleague can go and take up to two other colleagues as long as he respects the “precautionary measures envisaged for non-scheduled transport: in addition to the driver there must be two passengers”. The driver must stay only “in the front part of the car and a maximum of 2 passengers for each further row of rear seats, with the obligation for all to wear a mask”. The obligation to wear a mask – specifies the Interior Ministry – can be waived only if the car has “a physical separator (Plexiglas) between the front and rear rows of the car, being in this case the presence of only the driver in the front row and only one passenger for the back row ».
Movements. Do I find bars open after 6 pm in the motorway restaurants?
Yes. In the red zone regions such as Tuscany, bars and food and beverage outlets remain open even after 6pm because they are considered “essential services” within service and fuel stations. The same bars and restaurants also remain open in hospitals and airports, with the obligation to ensure in any case compliance with the interpersonal distance of at least one meter and to wear a mask when entering. On the contrary – specifies the Ministry of the Interior – bars and administration shops cannot remain open after 6 pm in other suburban or secondary long-distance roads.
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