Italy Shuts Museums, Galleries Stay Open in New COVID Decree

On the night of November 3-4, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signed a new decree (DPCM) introducing measures to combat rising coronavirus infections. The decree divides Italy into three zones—yellow, orange, and red—based on contagion risk. Nationwide, museums and exhibitions are closed from November 6 until at least December 3, while private galleries remain open in yellow and orange zones. In red zones (Lombardy, Piedmont, Calabria, Valle d'Aosta), all retail including galleries shut. Orange zones (Puglia, Sicily) allow galleries to stay open but restrict movement between municipalities. The decree also imposes a 10 PM to 5 AM curfew, full remote learning for high schools, and weekend closure of shopping centers. The Biennale di Venezia had already announced closure for November 5. The delay of the decree's implementation from November 5 to 6 was announced by Conte in a press conference on November 4.