La Omicron variant scares the whole of Europe. For this reason, Italy has decided to take some important decisions to stem a possible spread of the infection, especially in view of the Christmas holidays. About this Il Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, signed an ordinance with new ones restrictions for travel to Italy from European countries (and vice versa). To enter Italy from an EU country it will be necessary to undergo a compulsory buffer or to quarantine. In the case of vaccinated with double dose, to be able to circulate freely it will be enough just to undergo a quick swab. This will need to be done 24 hours before entering Italy and have, of course, negative result. Or a molecular test 48 hours earlier, with negative results. Travelers who are not yet vaccinated will have to follow instead five days of mandatory quarantine. Anyone traveling from a non-EU country instead it will have to submit to ten days of quarantine (extension of directives already in place).
The order of Minister Speranza relating to travel restrictions, also signed by foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, will come into force from 16th December. This will remain valid not only for the Christmas holidays, but also for throughout the month of January.
Brussels: restrictions on travel to Italy to be justified
However, the new measures launched by the Italian government have raised some doubts among the leaders of Brussels. The Vice-President of the European Commission, Vera Jourova, in fact, expressed his disappointment by answering some questions on the sidelines of the EU General Affairs Council. According to Jourova in fact (as reported by the AGI agency): "When Member States introduce additional conditions to the Green Pass or make the conditions more stringent, the restriction must be justified on the basis of the real situation ... Individual measures of the Member States - continued the vice-president of the European Commission - they could in fact reduce people's confidence in the fact that there are equal conditions in all European states».
Still on the rules on restrictions for travel to Italy, Vera Jourova then continued by recalling that: "il European Green Pass he is not dead. Instead, it is one of the most successful measures because it allows citizens to travel and tourism to survive. Even if the states can insert additional requirements to the Green Pass, in the event of a worsening of the situation, this must not kill the green certificate, which is one of the most practical things designed for all European citizens ".
Cdm: state of emergency until 31 March
In addition to the new measures relating to travel, the CDM approved the prolongation of the state of emergency up to 31 March 2022. It's about a extension of three months, compared to the previous deadline, scheduled for 31th December neighbor, which keeps all the rules currently in place for fight the pandemic in Italy. One of these concerns the Super Green Passes also in white area, (in principle valid until 15st January). The extension also concerns the smart working for fragile workers and 50% leave for parents with children quarantined due to the Covid-19as well as i tampons at controlled prices or free.
It is not certain that the restrictions put in place by the government will be able to prevent the spread of Omicron variant in Italy. While some may consider them unpopular (like many other measures discussed and approved by Draghi and his ministers), these may be a additional protection tool, to try to overcome this pandemic that seems to have no end. We hope this is really the case.
