Italy Relaxes Border Rules, Americans Can Skip Quarantine
As Italy eases its border restrictions to encourage visitors, the country has reopened its borders to travelers from European Union countries, the United States, Japan and Canada. This means tourists can once again visit one of the most popular destinations in the world. This is particularly good news for Americans, hoping for a summer vacation in Europe.
American travelers no longer need to quarantine in Italy
Previously, US travelers could only visit Italy with a mandatory quarantine on arrival, or if they traveled on government-approved Delta COVID-tested flights. However, one of the measures being relaxed in Italy right now means that they will no longer need to quarantine. Under new measures introduced this week, visitors from America, Canada and Japan are now able to join European Union travelers in heading to Italy, as long as they meet the requirements of the new EU digital COVID certificate, according to Italian Health Minister, Roberto Speranza.
The EU digital COVID certificate proves that travelers have received their full COVID-19 vaccination, have recently recovered, or have tested negative for the virus. Other non-EU countries who have joined the list of approved visitors to Italy without restrictions are Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Rwanda and Thailand.
The Italian Embassy in the United States said in a statement that under the new rules, “Those vaccinated in the USA can prove this via the ‘white card’ bearing a CDC logo.”
However, according to Delta, in addition to presenting documents to prove vaccination, recovery from the virus, or a negative test result, its passengers heading to Italy are still required to pre-register and complete an EU Digital Passenger Locator form prior to boarding.
Italy wants hotels and restaurants to ‘bounce back’
Italy’s Prime Minister, Mario Draghi said in a press conference Wednesday, “We want to allow [tourists] to come safely into Italy to help our hoteliers and restaurateurs bounce back after a year-and-a-half of difficulty.”
Italy was hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, which killed more than 127,000 people and sent the EU’s third-largest economy into a tailspin. Encouraging visitors back to the country is vital for the economy, but obviously this must be done safely, hence the necessity for the EU digital COVID certificate and its equivalent from other countries.
Not everyone is lucky when it comes to traveling to Italy, however, as the country joins France and other locations in imposing quarantine on arrivals from the UK, due to concerns over the Delta variant from India. Visitors from the UK are now required to undergo mandatory five-day quarantine on arrival in Italy and will have to take a COVID-19 test. Also, Italy has extended its entry bans on travelers from Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.
Americans are welcome
Italy joins Denmark, Greece and France in welcoming back Americans with quarantine-free travel, following the recent recommendation by EU officials to lift travel restrictions for the country.
More EU countries are currently in the process of rolling out the EU digital certificate to pave the way for widespread tourism within Europe and from other countries. In fact, all EU member countries are set to adopt the use of the certificate by July 1.
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