Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte recently announced that the lockdown in Italy would be extended until May 3 from the original end date of April 13, as the country is still struggling to fully contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Meanwhile, media reports have said business unions from regions responsible for 45 percent of Italy's production have written to the government warning that companies will be unable to pay wages if the shutdown continues. The prime minister agreed to allow a tiny fraction of businesses that were shuttered since March 12 to re-open on a trial basis when the current restrictions expired yesterday, April 13. The only few concessions announced concern businesses such as timber companies, bookshops and stores selling children's supplies. The steel industry has been left out once again.
Several sources described the situation as very confused, as while most Italian steel companies are still closed and a few are only partially active, lots of companies are trying to figure out how to resume production in the coming days, asking to local prefects for derogations (i.e., exceptions) to the government decrees. However, the product sectors that may be served are still rather limited - among them there are spare parts for machines and hand tools, and the agricultural, food, and biomedical sectors.
Also, while companies are ready to guarantee adequate safety levels at their premises, it is not clear whether workers will be able to travel from their homes to the workplaces as there would be traffic issues (e.g., checks to be done by law enforcement). The situation is still evolving and should become clearer in the coming days.