Yet almost 1000 people Conte's government is banning midnight Mass.

Andi movement between regions unless it's for work, medical reasons or emergencies.

From December 21st, 2 January six on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, Italians won't be able to leave their towns.

Italy was the first Western nation to be battered by the virus on more than 58,000 people have died there since the outbreak.

Europe's second highest count after Britain on increase in new infections and hospital admissions has slowed in recent weeks.

But Italy is still reporting Mawr daily covert 19 fatalities than any other European nation.

It posted 993 deaths on Thursday.

Its previous high was 919 in late March at the peak of the first wave.

In a televised evening news conference, contest said current curbs, which has staggered around the country according to local infection rates, were producing good results.

But the Christmas holidays threatened to cause a new spike in cases He urged Italians not to invite guests from outside the family to their homes over Christmas.

Italy's regions hit out at the government over the latest restrictions, saying they were not consulted over measures that were too hard on families on did not compensate hard hit businesses.

Italy has also closed ski resorts over Christmas and imposed 14 days quarantine for anyone entering Italy over the holidays.