Ski slopes in Italy's covid-19 'yellow zones' were due to reopen on 15 February.

Italy's ski slopes are to remain shut until 5 March, due to covid-19, following an order signed by the newly-reappointed health minister Roberto Speranza.

Ski resorts in Italy's lower-risk 'yellow zones' had been due to reopen on 15 February, however the last-minute decision to keep them closed follows advice from the technical scientific committee (CTS) advising the government on the coronavirus crisis.

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The CTS blamed the "changed epidemiological conditions" due to the "widespread circulation" of variants of covid-19, reports Italian news agency ANSA.

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The news will be a blow to ski resorts which had been geared up to reopen in yellow zones tomorrow but now must remain closed to the public until next month.

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The move comes as the regions of Abruzzo, Liguria, Tuscany and the province of Trento turned 'orange' on 14 February.