Italy: Pizza deliveries restart in Naples after ban lifted

Pizzerias have opened for delivery in the Italian city of Naples, the birthplace of pizza, bringing people pies hot from the oven, served with a side of hope.

In pizza ovens on Monday, wood was burning once again after two months of closure due to restrictions aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus.

The Neapolitans' beloved dish had been banned to avoid any infection risk, whether through the gathering of diners or home deliveries.

Now the smell of fresh pizza is filling up pizzerias and the warm meal is back on people's plates in the the southern Italian city famous for its delicious and cheap pizzas.

Pizzerias in Naples are reopening only under several conditions including frequent sanitation of the shops.

Workers at the restaurants have to wear gloves and masks during their shifts.

The opening comes also after several world renowned pizzerias protested, fearing a permanent closure due to financial losses.

The governor of the Campania region that includes Naples has also lifted bans on home delivery for bars, pastry and ice cream shops, as of April 27.

Clients can only order on the phone and all businesses have to close at 10 p.m.

Because of Naples' high population density, the regional government had ordered tight measures in March amid fears of the spread of the virus in the southern city.

Northern Italy was the hardest hit area by the virus in the country.

In Lombardy, 13,449 people died from the virus, while in Campania 352 died from it.

Campania regional governor Vincenzo De Luca maintains that the numbers are not as high in the south due to a tight lockdown.

Various industrial activities and public parks are expected to reopen starting May 4, as the virus spread gradually decreases in Italy.