The Omicron wave is showing signs of subsiding. Hospital beds are gradually beginning to be freed up and the Italian government is taking further measures aimed at protecting citizens.
Effective this February, the over-50s are legally required to vaccinate; failure to do so will result in a wrist-slapping one-time fine to the tune of 100 euro. On the other side of the same coin, the over-50s must be able to show proof of vaccination or recovery from coronavirus in the last six months (known as the super green pass or green pass rafforzato) to access the workplace from February 15; fines range between 600 and 1,500 euro.
And there’s an additional step: expect spot checks for the basic green pass in shops, banks and post offices (negative antigen test 48 hours before or PCR 72 hours before, proof of vaccination or recovery in the last six months). While business owners aren’t obliged to scan everyone’s QR code, they do reserve the right to check. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi is aware of our collective exhaustion, especially for parents who have been continually faced with quarantined kids, even if vaccinated
As from February 7, that is set to change. “We want an Italy that is increasingly open, especially for our children,” commented PM Draghi, as his government approved measures removing distance learning for all vaccinated kids and otherwise halving the duration of distance learning from 10 to 5 days, with the exception of children between 0 and 6 years given their exclusion from the vaccination campaign.
Other new measures include an unlimited green pass for people who have had three doses or two doses and recovery from Covid. Effective February 7, international travellers will be able to stay in hotels and eat in restaurants with the basic green pass (vaccinated, including with Sputnik or vaccines not authorized in Italy, or recovered in the last six months or negative antigen test 48 hours before or PCR 72 hours before).
Effective February 11, masks no longer have to be worn outdoors throughout Italy (except in crowded areas) and nightclubs can reopen for the thrice vaccinated or those who have had Covid in the last six months.
