Italy will be closed for Easter as the country struggles to contain COVID-19 cases.
From Monday, Italians in the most populous regions will have to stay at home, except for work, health or other essential reasons.
The entire country will be closed on Easter weekend for the second year in a row from April 3-5.
Cases have been rising across the country to over 25,000 daily over the past six weeks as Italy’s vaccination campaign is hit by delays.
Officials warn that they are rapidly losing ground in the fight against new highly contagious variants.
Only 3 percent of the country is vaccinated, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
“Italy administers about 170,000 doses a day; our goal is to triple that,” Prime Minister Mario Draghi said.
“Only with widespread vaccines will we be able to do without restrictions like the ones we have had to adopt.”
More than 100,000 Italians have died from complications of coronavirus, the second highest toll in Europe after the UK.
Unlike last year, when Italy became the first Western county to implement a national closure, officials will allow limited visits to friends and relatives during the Easter holidays.
Pope Francis’ Easter Eve will probably be held earlier so that the faithful can fulfill a curfew at 10 p.m.
Italians who did non-essential chores were also ordered to stay indoors for much of the Christmas and New Year holidays.
“I hope this is the last sacrifice asked of our citizens,” said Lombardy President Attilio Fontana.
Italian health officials on Friday approved Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine. Doses will be delivered in a month, which according to leaders will help efforts to combat the rise.
With publishing cables