Coronavirus: Italy imposes strict new restrictions on anyone entering the country

As of March 28, passengers entering Italy by plane, boat, rail or road must declare their reason for travel, the address where they plan to self-isolate, how they intend to travel there, and their phone number so that authorities can contact them throughout an obligatory 14-day quarantine during which they are required to stay indoors at all times.

The information should be given to the airline or transport company before boarding, if applicable, while every traveller should also report to the local health authorities upon arrival, including those who enter Italy in their own vehicle.

Transport providers should check passengers' temperatures and deny boarding to anyone with a fever, the new decree from Italy's health and transport ministries states.

While all travellers are required to self-quarantine whether they have symptoms or not, anyone who develops signs of Covid-19 respiratory illness – most commonly coughing, fever and/or fatigue – should alert the Italian health service immediately via one of the dedicated regional phone lines.

Temperature checks at the Italian-Slovenian border. Photo: Jure Makovec / AFP

Inbound passengers should not use public transport upon arriving in Italy, but must make arrangements to be picked up, take a taxi or rent a car to reach their destination.

If travellers do not have accommodation in Italy or are unable to reach it safely, the Civil Protection department will decide where they should be quarantined, with any expenses involved to be paid by the travellers themselves.

The restrictions apply to everyone entering Italy, regardless of nationality, except for crew members, people transporting goods and healthcare workers.

Meanwhile transport providers are required to ensure passengers remain one metre apart from each other onboard. Airlines are also advised to give out face masks and other protective equipment to passengers and crew to wear throughout flights.

READ ALSO: 

• What you need to know about the US-Europe travel ban
• Sicily cuts connections to mainland Italy in bid to contain coronavirus
• What are Italy's latest coronavirus quarantine rules?

People are advised not to travel to Italy during the current state of emergency except for essential reasons.

Travel in and out of Italy is severely restricted as governments around the world join the country in imposing nationwide lockdowns to help contain the global coronavirus pandemic.

Several countries have cut off flights to and from Italy, while airlines have cancelled many of the remaining services as demand plummets.

Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia have also partially closed their land borders with Italy.

Italy has closed its ports to foreign cruise ships and suspended the operation of its own services.

Find all The Local's coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Italy here.