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QUARANTINE

Italy extends quarantine requirement for travellers from UK

The Italian government announced on Thursday evening that the requirement for all travellers from the UK to quarantine for five days after arrival would be extended into next month.

Italy extends quarantine requirement for travellers from UK
(Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO / AFP)

Italy initially reinstated quarantine and double-testing requirements for all arrivals from the UK (including anyone who has transited there within the past 14 days) on June 21st amid concern about the Delta variant-driven surge in coronavirus cases in Britain.

The quarantine rule was set to end on Friday July 30th but on Thursday evening the country’s Minister of Health Roberto Speranza announced on Facebook that compulsory quarantine would remain in place for all arrivals from the UK including those who are fully vaccinated.

READ ALSO: How should travellers from the UK quarantine in Italy?

The rule will be extended until at least August 30th, according to the ordinance.

“I have just signed an order extending the restrictive measures regarding entry into Italy from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Brazil,” said Speranza.
 
“The 10-day quarantine for non-European countries is confirmed, except for those on the EU-recommended list for which quarantine is reduced to 5 days.
 
“Mini quarantine is confirmed also from Britain.”
 
 
 
He did however announce that Italy would recognise the vaccination certificates or so-called health passes for travellers from the UK for use in Italy. Italy will begin asking members of the public to show their green passes to gain entry into certain places from August 6th.
 
But no more details were added about whether health passes and QR codes stored on the UK’s NHS app would be recognised.
 
“Vaccination and health certificates can be used for green pass purposes in Italian territory,” he said, adding “For the European countries and Schengen area, as well as Canada, Japan, and the United States, the green pass requirements entry regime is extended.”

As Italy is not currently making any exemptions for those who are vaccinated, and with steep fines for anyone found not following the rules, this “mini-quarantine” has proven a big problem for many of The Local’s UK-based readers – particularly those who had been planning to visit Italy this summer for shorter periods to attend weddings and other events.

Even those who were planning longer trips have had to rethink plans, not least because low demand resulted in airlines slashing the number of flights available on UK-Italy routes.

This week the UK announced that from Monday August 2nd it would allow travellers vaccinated in European countries (apart from France) including Italy to travel to the UK without the need for the mandatory 10-day quarantine

Member comments

  1. Bit confused here. So a UK arrival needs to quarantine for 5 days ‘as-is. Italy will accept the data from the NHS app as a ‘green card’. But will not recognise the QR code? (Probably because the tech infrastructure doesn’t read it.) Is that correct?

  2. So if you are a green-pass holding Italian resident (but EU or UK citizen) who visits the UK, do you still have to do the 5 days’ quarantine and test on return here to Italy (home)?
    All rather confusing? Any advice very welcome!

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STRIKES

How will Friday’s strike affect air travel in Italy?

Airline passengers travelling to or from Italy can expect to face disruption on Friday, March 17th, as a nationwide strike is set to affect airports including Milan Linate and Rome Fiumicino.

How will Friday’s strike affect air travel in Italy?

People travelling to and from Italy can expect delays or cancellations on Friday, March 17th due to a nationwide strike involving airport handling and security staff. 

The demonstration was called by Italian unions earlier this month in protest against staff shortages, precarious work contracts and “gruelling shifts”.

According to the latest Italian media reports, as many as 100,000 passengers might have their travel plans disrupted by Friday’s walkout. 

As is often the case with transport strikes in Italy though, the overall impact of the demonstration will vary greatly from airport to airport.

READ ALSO: Calendar: The transport strikes to expect in Italy this spring

Security and handling staff at Milan’s Linate Airport will strike for 24 hours, which may result in significant delays and queues for passengers checking in or collecting their luggage. 

Check-in desks

Friday’s strike may result in delays and queues for passengers checking in or collecting their luggage. Photo by Andre PAIN / AFP

Aircraft maintenance staff at Rome’s Fiumicino will strike from 1pm to 5pm, with flight departure times likely to be affected. 

Besides Rome and Milan, baggage handlers at Pisa’s Galileo Galilei Airport will strike from 10am to 2pm, as will ground services staff at the Vincenzo Bellini Airport in Catania.

Finally, staff at Air Dolomiti, a subsidiary of Lufthansa operating routes from Germany to 13 different Italian destinations, will strike from 1pm to 5pm.

At the time of writing, there were no details as to how Friday’s demonstration might affect other airports around the country. 

Current industry agreements however mean a number of flights will be guaranteed to operate during the day. 

READ ALSO: Should you travel in Italy when there’s a strike on?

According to Italian civil aviation authority ENAC, all flights departing between 7am and 10am and between 6pm and 9pm will operate as scheduled. 

Intercontinental flights, including those with layovers at Italian airports, will not be affected by the strike. 

Routes between Italy’s mainland and islands (Sicily and Sardinia) deemed ‘essential’ will be guaranteed, Enac confirmed.

A full list of guaranteed services is available on ENAC’s website

You can keep up to date with the latest strike news from Italy HERE.

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