ROME: One year post lockedown due to the Covid-19 outbreak, most regions in the northern Italy are reimposing restrictions to curb a resurgence of the virus, closing down non-essential shops and reducing the movement of people.

Since March 15, ten populous regions and the Autonomous Province of Trento have been labeled as high-risk "red zones." The containment measures will last until Easter in early April, Xinhua reported. In northern Italy's Veneto region, 1,901 new cases were confirmed on Tuesday alone, with the number of patients hospitalized or in intensive care units also on the rise.

Regional President Luca Zaia is concerned about the deteriorating situation, and told a regular press conference that "the alarming growth of cases is confirmed by both swab tests and hospitalizations." "In this scenario, we will need to activate the Covid hospitals again, and we foresee a difficult situation for at least two weeks," he said.

On pedestrian shopping streets in the region, fashion shops were shut down, while patrolling police persuaded passers-by to return home. Like last year, pedestrians have to justify why they are outside and where they are going -- any infringement of the anti-virus rules will be punished with a fine of at least 400 euros (USD476).

Compared to the first lockdown in March 2020, people have a different feeling about Covid-19 restrictions this time.

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