Many of us dream of visiting Italy for the history, the food, the scenery, the wine, the shopping, and yes, the food and wine (it really does merit twice the mention). To experience this now, you’ll need your passport. Your vaccine passport, that is.
While most of Europe looked to have this international travel thing in the bag with their Digital Covid-19 Certificate, the Delta variant of the Coronavirus swept the continent and new restrictions have cropped up.
Italy is no different, making vaccine passports- or the Green Certificate- mandatory for any indoor activity- including eating at restaurants.
Museums, theater, casinos, gyms, sports events- you name it. If you want to join in, you gotta be jabbed…kind of.
The Green Certificate is awarded to anyone who has had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, or who can show proof of recovery from the virus in the last 6 months.
The Italian green certificate has been in use since mid-June but has so far only been needed to access care homes or attend large events like concerts, football matches, and wedding receptions.
As imagined, the new mandate and tightening of restrictions have been met with some resistance. Many locals (and travelers) are inherently forbidden from fun, however Italian Prime Minister, Mario Draghi claims the certification is needed if the country is to keep “economic activity open″. He further explained that the vaccine passport provides confidence for those enjoying entertainment “with the assurance they won’t be next to contagious people.”
Business owners are expected to enforce the new rules, with a fine of between 400 and 1000 euros applied to both the operator and the customer if rules are broken. Repeated failure to enforce the rules could result in businesses being shut down for up to ten days.
The vaccine passport has already been downloaded by some 40 million Italians. As a fourth wave has the nation in a state of emergency, these tightened restrictions will be in place until at least September. At that time the Green Certificate will be reevaluated, however, it is doubtful restrictions will loosen, rather the Certificate will soon be required for travel on trains, planes, and public transportation throughout the country.
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