Traveling to Italy during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go
The basics
Italy has had some of the toughest restrictions on the planet during the pandemic, and is still one of the most cautious countries in Europe, despite a relaxation of most rules.
Since June 1, all Covid-19 entry regulations have been dropped. This means that you no longer have to show proof of vaccination for entry, and also quashes the previous quarantine requirement for non-vaccinated arrivals.
However, it is still one of the few countries to enforce a mask mandate on public transport, and there are stringent quarantine regulations for those who test positive.
What are the national restrictions?
The requirement to show proof of vaccination or recovery was dropped June 1.
Arrivals no longer have to fill out a passenger locator form, either.
The mask mandate has been removed from flights, although it is currently still in place on all other forms of public transport. Authorities will lift the requirement to wear masks on public transport and in healthcare facilities starting 1 October.
Individual airlines, however, can still enforce their own mask requirement -- check yours before you board. Masks are no longer compulsory in cinemas, theaters, concert halls and indoor sports arenas. While it is no longer mandatory, the government recommends still wearing masks indoors, and many -- if not most -- Italians continue to wear them. Additionally, individual venues, including galleries and museums, may impose their own mask mandates. If caught not wearing a mask where it is mandated, you can be fined up to $450.
Social distancing restrictions remain in place, including on public transport -- except for high-speed trains, which can run at capacity. Authorities will be given the authority to halt any train on which a passenger is showing any symptoms of Covid-19.
Only two people may sit in the back of a taxi, if they are part of the same family.
National rules for COVID-19 positive testing
From 01 September 2022:
1) RULES FOR ANYONE WHO IS COVID-19 POSITIVE:
Anyone who is Covid-19 positive must stay in full isolation for a minimum of 5 days;
The person in question must be without symptoms for at least 2 days, then, an official rapid or molecular test has to be taken and only if negative is the person free from isolation;
Otherwise, isolation will have to continue up to 14 days.
Violation of isolation is a serious infringement of the law, that may even represent a crime under Italian law (“epidemia colposa,” namely transmission of epidemic for negligence).
2) RULES FOR CLOSE CONTACTS TO COVID-19 POSITIVE SUBJECTS:
Anyone who has had close contact with a Covid-19 positive subject will be obliged to follow the so-called “self-monitoring” regime (“auto sorveglianza”), which means:
Obligation to wear an FFP2 mask indoors, or, when there is an “assembramento” outdoors, until the 10th day after the date of the last close contact with Covid-19 positive subjects;
Obligation to a molecular or antigenic test whenever symptoms arise and, if still symptomatic, on the 5th day after the last close contact.
Monash Prato Campus
At the Monash Prato campus, the use of FFP2 face masks is strongly recommended indoors and outdoors if you can’t physically distance. This is as per the CMO's latest advice on how Monash is applying mask wearing at its locations where the government no longer mandates it. All delegates are required to bring their own masks and carry one at all times.
Please note that FFP2 face masks are not the same as the blue surgical masks that are commonly worn in the UK and Australia: the surgical-style masks do not meet the Italian requirements, nor are cloth face-coverings acceptable. FFP2 masks can be easily bought from pharmacies or online.
If you arrive on a Sunday and are not feeling well, you may not be able to get a rapid antigen test (aka lateral flow test) done by a chemist, though it is possible to purchase the home testing kits. If you test positive or feel unwell, please do not come to the Prato Centre.
More details and updates: https://www.monash.edu/prato/coronavirus-updates
What's the Covid-19 situation?
As the first hit European country, Italy has been through a lot. Restrictions have consistently brought things under control, with Italy holding out longer than European neighbours in each subsequent wave. However, the winter waves of 2020-21 and 2021-22 have taken huge tolls.
Italy holds Europe's second highest death toll (after the United Kingdom), passing the milestone of 100,000 deaths on March 8, 2021. Over 21.5 million people have been infected to date, with the death toll at 174,172 as of August 19, 2022.
With the arrival of the Omicron variant, case numbers soared. Cases reached a record high the week of January 10, with 1,269,976 cases recorded. Before Omicron, the record infection rate for the pandemic was 248,000 infections in a week, registered in November 2020.
Numbers took another sharp rise in June and July with the newest variants. Nearly 1.4 million new infections were registered in the month leading up to August 19. The new wave has led to the mask mandate on public transport being renewed.
Around 90% of the adult population has now been fully vaccinated.
Useful links
Australian travellers: