Calendar: When do Italy’s Covid-19 rules change?

This article was last updated on January 20th, 2022.

As the number of coronavirus infections continues to surge in Italy and across Europe, the Italian government has brought in tighter restrictions amid at controlling the spread under three new decrees announced in the space of as many weeks.

December 25th:

From the 25th, the government’s decree also closed down nightclubs, including “dance halls, discos and similar venues” under rules in place until January 31st.

The decree also extended the ‘green pass’ requirement to bars and restaurants, including for counter service. Effective from December 25th until March 31st, the ‘reinforced’ or ‘super’ green pass requirement applies to all customers. 

Previously, ordering and consuming food and drinks at the bar had been allowed without any ‘green pass’ restrictions. The changes mean proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19 is now required even to drink coffee while standing at the counter.

Tighter rules on wearing masks came in from the same date.

After discussions for many weeks, Italy has brought back a requirement to wear face masks in all outdoor public spaces, even in the lowest risk ‘white’ zones. The rule change is in force from December 25th until at least January 31st.

FFP2 masks are now required in certain venues including cinemas, theatres, sporting events and on “all means of transport”, the decree states, until March 31st.

From December 30th:

Tighter restrictions will be placed on visitors to residential healthcare, elderly care and hospice facilities, who from that date must show a reinforced green pass proving vaccination or recovery plus a negative test result or proof of having had a booster shot.

From December 31st:

The rules on quarantine for those who have been in contact with a positive case (not for those who test positive) were changed under a decree law announced on December 29th, amid surging case numbers driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant.

Quarantine is no longer required for close contacts of those positive for Covid-19 if they have had a booster dose, or were fully vaccinated or recovered within the last four months (120 days).

They are instead required to wear a more protective FFP2 mask at all times in public for 10 days and, if they have symptoms, take a test within five days of contact with the positive person.

For those who are unvaccinated or had their last shot more than four months ago, the rules remain unchanged. Find a guide to the new quarantine rules here.

From January 10th:

The reinforced or ‘super’ green pass requirement will be extended to the following venues from this date, according to the health ministry's green pass website (here in Italian).

• All restaurants and bars, for both indoor and outdoor dining, including in hotels
• All public transport, including local buses
• School buses serving children aged 12 and up
• Hotels
• Ski lifts
• All indoor and outdoor swimming pools, wellness centres, gyms and team sports facilities, including changing rooms
• All indoor and outdoor spas and thermal baths except for “essential rehabilitation or therapeutic treatments”
• Museums, exhibitions and cultural venues, including libraries
• Celebrations relating to religious or civil ceremonies
• Fairs, festivals, conventions and conferences
• Theme parks
• Indoor and outdoor cultural, social and recreational centres (excluding educational centres for children)
• Games rooms, betting rooms, bingo halls and casinos

This is in addition to the venues where the super green pass is already required:

• Indoor theatres, cinemas and concert halls
• Sports stadiums and events
• Visits to residential and care homes (with the addition of either a booster dose or a negative test)

Italy’s reinforced green pass. first introduced in early December, can only be obtained via vaccination or recovery and not with a negative test result.

From January 10th, booster doses of anti-Covid-19 vaccines will be made available four months after the last dose, instead of five as is currently the case, Italy’s pandemic emergency commissioner has confirmed.

From January 20th:

With the latest decree of January 5th comes the requirement to produce a basic 'green pass', which can be obtained through vaccination, recovery, or a recent negative test result, to access 'personal services' such as hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons.

The Italian government is working on another decree containing additional green pass requirements in shops, but details are yet to be confirmed as of January 20th.

From February 1st:

The basic green pass will be required from this date to access “public offices, postal, banking, and financial services, and commercial activities” (such as shopping centres), “except for those necessary to ensure the fulfilment of essential and primary needs of the person.”

Grocery stores, supermarkets and pharmacies are considered essential services and are therefore excluded from the requirement.

The January 5th decree introduces an immediate vaccine mandate for all over-50s in Italy, and this is the date by which all those in the age bracket should be vaccinated. Those who aren't vaccinated by February 1st face a 100 euro fine.

The mandate is in place in the first instance until June 15, 2022, and applies to anyone due to turn 50 by that date.

Finally, the validity of the ‘green pass’ health certificate based on vaccination is set to be cut from nine months to six from February 1st.

This means the pass will be valid from six months after the date of your last vaccination. The pass should be renewed for another six months after a booster dose.

From February 15th:

From this date all those in the 50-plus age bracket will require a 'super green pass' to enter the workplace.

Employees over 50 caught in their workplace without the super green pass are subject to fines of between 600 and 1500 euros.

Those barred from entering the workplace because they don’t have a pass can’t be fired, but will be marked as absent without leave and will have their pay frozen until they can produce the pass and resume their employment.

See the latest news and updates from The Local on Italy’s current Covid-19 health measures and travel restrictions.

For further details about Italy’s current Covid-19 health measures please see the Italian Health Ministry’s website (available in English).