Italy imposes compulsory Covid-19 tests on travellers from 7 French regions
Italy announced on Monday that it was tightening its rules for travellers from France by making arrivals from seven regions, including Paris, undergo compulsory Covid-19 tests.
The move was announced by the country's minister of health Roberto Speranza.
He said travellers from seven regions in France would be subject to tests on arrival in Italy.
The seven regions covered by the new measure are: Île-de-France, which include the capital Paris, Auvergne-Rhône Alpes in central/eastern France, the island of Corsica, Hauts-de-France in the north, Nouvelle-Acquitaine and Occitanie in the west and south west and the French Riviera region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, which borders Italy.
"I have signed a new ordinance extending the requirement for molecular or antigen testing to citizens from Paris and other areas of France," said Speranza in a tweet posted on Monday afternoon.
"The figures from across Europe are critical. Italy is better off than other countries, but great caution is needed in order not to undermine the sacrifices made so far," he added.
Ho firmato una nuova ordinanza che estende l’obbligo di test molecolare o antigenico ai cittadini provenienti da Parigi e altre aree della Francia. Dati europei sono critici. L’Italia sta meglio di altri Paesi, ma serve grande prudenza per non vanificare i sacrifici fatti finora.
— Roberto Speranza (@robersperanza) September 21, 2020
Italy is not the first of France's neighbours to impose travel restrictions or rules linked to the country's worsening Covid-19 crisis.
Earlier this month Switzerland announced that arrivals from nine French regions would have to undergo mandatory quarantine while Germany and Belgium announced that arrivals from a number of regions would have to self-isolate until they obtained a negative test result.
While Covid-19 infection rates have surged in France and Spain in recent weeks, Italy - which was badly hit during the first wave of the pandemic - has so far managed to prevent a similar resurgence.
Why has Italy avoided the surge in Covid cases seen in France and Spain?
Italian politicians have mainly put the lower infection rate down to successful testing and tracing and a reinforced national health system.
“Italy’s national health service has become much stronger," said Speranza in August, as he ruled out future national lockdowns and insisted outbreaks are "under control" at current levels, as their origins can be traced.
So far there have been no serious issues reported with Italy's testing procedures, unlike in other countries which have been hit by delays or shortages of tests.
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The move was announced by the country's minister of health Roberto Speranza.
He said travellers from seven regions in France would be subject to tests on arrival in Italy.
The seven regions covered by the new measure are: Île-de-France, which include the capital Paris, Auvergne-Rhône Alpes in central/eastern France, the island of Corsica, Hauts-de-France in the north, Nouvelle-Acquitaine and Occitanie in the west and south west and the French Riviera region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, which borders Italy.
"I have signed a new ordinance extending the requirement for molecular or antigen testing to citizens from Paris and other areas of France," said Speranza in a tweet posted on Monday afternoon.
"The figures from across Europe are critical. Italy is better off than other countries, but great caution is needed in order not to undermine the sacrifices made so far," he added.
Ho firmato una nuova ordinanza che estende l’obbligo di test molecolare o antigenico ai cittadini provenienti da Parigi e altre aree della Francia. Dati europei sono critici. L’Italia sta meglio di altri Paesi, ma serve grande prudenza per non vanificare i sacrifici fatti finora.
— Roberto Speranza (@robersperanza) September 21, 2020
Italy is not the first of France's neighbours to impose travel restrictions or rules linked to the country's worsening Covid-19 crisis.
Earlier this month Switzerland announced that arrivals from nine French regions would have to undergo mandatory quarantine while Germany and Belgium announced that arrivals from a number of regions would have to self-isolate until they obtained a negative test result.
While Covid-19 infection rates have surged in France and Spain in recent weeks, Italy - which was badly hit during the first wave of the pandemic - has so far managed to prevent a similar resurgence.
Why has Italy avoided the surge in Covid cases seen in France and Spain?
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