Italy's heat wave triggers health alerts and outdoor‑work restrictions

A severe heat wave affecting Sicily and other parts of Italy has prompted regional authorities to activate the highest level of health alert. The Department for Health Activities and the epidemiological observatory issued an urgent recommendation, directing municipal mayors, civil protection officials, and provincial health agencies to monitor vulnerable groups—elderly, children, and those with chronic illnesses—and to ensure rapid access to emergency services. Public advice includes staying hydrated, avoiding exposure between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., wearing light clothing and using sunscreen, and seeking medical help for signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, reduced urine output, irritability or fainting.

The regional government also imposed temporary limits on outdoor work. When the Worklimate system signals a high‑risk level, labor must be suspended between 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. for sectors such as construction, agriculture, horticulture, quarrying, warehousing and delivery services, with exceptions for public‑utility tasks. Trade unions have called for stronger enforcement of the rules.

Local businesses are also feeling the heat. A bakery in Tolentino reported indoor temperatures reaching 42 °C, forcing staff to start work earlier and shorten shifts. The bakery’s president noted that rising raw‑material prices—driven by geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz—are adding economic strain to the already challenging conditions.