Italian Bookstores Remain Open in Red Zones Under New COVID-19 Decree

On November 4, 2020, a decree (DPCM) was enacted by Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, introducing COVID-19 restrictions that took effect on November 5. This decree categorized regions into yellow, orange, and red zones. In red zones, while non-essential retail must shut down, bookstores are permitted to remain open due to appeals from publishers and the Turin International Book Fair. Notable signatories, including Alessandro Laterza, Giuseppe Laterza, Sandro Ferri, Renata Gorgani, and Stefano Mauri, contended that reading is crucial for citizenship. The decree's Annex 23 designates bookstores as essential. Both ALI Confcommercio president Paolo Ambrosini and AIE president Ricardo Franco Levi expressed gratitude to the government, highlighting the need for structural economic assistance for booksellers amid online competition.