New mask rules come into force in Lazio region on 3 October.

The central Lazio region of Italy, which includes Rome, has issued an order obliging people to wear face masks in public, including outdoors, amid a rise in new covid-19 cases.

The widely-expected move will take effect from tomorrow, Saturday 3 October, with fines of €400 for those who fail to comply with the new rules.

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The order was signed this morning by the president of the Lazio region, Nicola Zingaretti, who described masks as a "powerful prevention tool" in the battle against covid-19.

Zingaretti also added that "for now" there were no early closures planned for bars and restaurants.

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The measure will apply 24 hours a day to everyone except children under the age of six, people with disabilities preventing them from wearing masks, and those engaged in physical exercise or sport.

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For full details about the new ordinance see Regione Lazio website.

Photo credit: Gennaro Leonardi / Shutterstock.com.

#CORONAVIRUS: DA DOMANI, 3 OTTOBRE, OBBLIGATORIO L'USO DELLE MASCHERINE ALL'APERTO NEL LAZIO. Il presidente della Regione Lazio ha appena firmato l'ordinanza con cui si rende obbligatorio in tutto il territorio regionale a partire da domani l'uso della mascherina anche all'aperto pic.twitter.com/NcH44lsyUj

— Salute Lazio (@SaluteLazio) October 2, 2020