Italy allows bookstores to reopen as an 'essential good'

(Image credit: ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images)

published 14 April 2020

Italy is slowly but surely emerging from its coronavirus crisis.

Italy was hit hard and early by the COVID-19 pandemic, counting more than 150,000 cases and 20,000 deaths, namely in its northern region. While pretty much everything remains on lockdown in that area, the south of Italy will soon start letting some services reopen, starting with bookstores, stationary shops, and stores that sell baby clothes and supplies, The Associated Press reports.

Stores and businesses in Lombardy and Piemonte, in the north of Italy, will remain closed until at least May 3. But as long as bookstores maintain strict social distancing and sanitary measures, they can start reopening, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced Tuesday. Local leaders are interpreting this new order how they'd see fit: Areas in central Italy have said they'll stay closed for another week, while some regions will only let stores open up two days each week.

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Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.

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