Italy continues to sizzle under scorching heatwave.Italy's health ministry has issued a maximum red alert heat warning for 18 cities on Thursday 3 July amid an intense heatwave that began last week.The Level 3 heat warning will be in place in Ancona, Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Florence, Frosinone, Genoa, Latina, Milan, Palermo, Perugia, Rieti, Rome, Turin, Trieste, Verona and Viterbo, according to the ministry's latest heatwave bulletin. On Friday 4 July the number of cities on red alert rises to 20, with the addition of Venice and Pescara, while on Saturday 5 July the number drops to 15. Meterologists say the high temperatures are set to last until later this week. The red alert (bollino rosso) indicates emergency conditions with a risk of negative effects on the elderly, sick or very young, as well as healthy and active people. Rome is Italy's city hardest hit by heat as climate changes over past 50 years In its guidelines for coping with heatwaves, the health ministry recommends avoiding exposure to the sun and outdoor activity in the middle of the day, as well as advising people to drink at least 1.5 litres of water a day, eat lightly and preserve their medication properly. Dogs should be walked early in the morning and late evening and be given plenty of water. Tourists in Rome should be aware that the city's historic fountains are off-limits, no matter how hot it gets, with fines of €450 for those caught entering the waters. Italy moves to protect workers amid deadly heatwave Rome urges residents and tourists to download the Waidy Wow app which locates the nearest nasoni drinking fountains around the capital. Italy has a 1500 telephone helpline, active from 09.00 to 18.00, offering advice on how to manage the heat as well as information about social and health services available. Hospital emergency units in parts of Italy have registered a surge in heat-related admissions in recent days, with blackouts recorded in several Italian cities due to the heatwave. For heatwave updates see Italy's health ministry website. Photo credit: Vereshchagin Dmitry / Shutterstock.com. Article originally published 26 June at 04:53, updated and republished 3 July at 15:36.

Italy's health ministry has issued a maximum red alert heat warning for 18 cities on Thursday 3 July amid an intense heatwave that began last week. The Level 3 heat warning will be in place in Ancona, Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Florence, Frosinone, Genoa, Latina, Milan, Palermo, Perugia, Rieti, Rome, Turin, Trieste, Verona and Viterbo, according to the ministry's . On Friday 4 July the number of cities on red alert rises to 20, with the addition of Venice and Pescara, while on Saturday 5 July the number drops to 15. Meterologists say the high temperatures are set to last until later this week. The red alert (bollino rosso) indicates emergency conditions with a risk of negative effects on the elderly, sick or very young, as well as healthy and active people.

• Rome is Italy's city hardest hit by heat as climate changes over past 50 years

In its , the health ministry recommends avoiding exposure to the sun and outdoor activity in the middle of the day, as well as advising people to drink at least 1.5 litres of water a day, eat lightly and preserve their medication properly. Dogs should be walked early in the morning and late evening and be given plenty of water. Tourists in Rome should be aware that the city's historic fountains are off-limits, no matter how hot it gets, with  for those caught entering the waters.

• Italy moves to protect workers amid deadly heatwave

Rome urges residents and tourists to download the  which locates the nearest  around the capital. Italy has a , active from 09.00 to 18.00, offering advice on how to manage the heat as well as information about social and health services available. Hospital emergency units in parts of Italy have registered a surge in heat-related admissions in recent days, with  due to the heatwave. For heatwave updates see Italy's . Photo credit: Vereshchagin Dmitry / Shutterstock.com. Article originally published 26 June at 04:53, updated and republished 3 July at 15:36.