Italy holidaymakers flying out from Rome are set to all be given a coronavirus test at the airport under new plans. Anyone who tests positively for the virus will not be allowed to fly. They will have to quarantine in the Italian capital.
“Before flying, people will stop off at our airport drive-in test centre and get a result in 30 minutes,” the health official said.
“So instead of arriving an hour before a flight you come two hours before,”
“Our ambition is that everyone flies out with a ticket and negative result in their pocket.”
Italy has been testing arrivals for coronavirus from certain destinations since August 12.
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Travellers from Spain, Malta, Greece and Croatia all have to be tested for the virus.
At the moment this does not apply to UK visitors.
There are currently 278,784 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Italy.
The country saw 1,695 new cases on Saturday.
This is a sharp increase on the low hundreds Italy registered daily in July following the nation’s lockdown.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) shares its travel advice for Britons heading to Italy online.
“Italy is exempt from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice against all non-essential international travel,” the FCDO states.
“This is based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks.”
Travel to Italy is subject to entry restrictions.
“Entry to Italy from the UK is permitted – you no longer have to justify your reason for travelling,” states the FCDO.
“Entry to the country is still forbidden for visitors who have stayed in or transited through a small number of listed countries in the 14 days before arrival.”
“You should download and complete a self-declaration from the Ministry of Interior before you travel to Italy.”
There has been concern in recent weeks over the possibility of Italy being added to the quarantine list.
Paul Charles, CEO of the travel consultancy, The PC Agency, shared his latest update on Italy holidays today.
He tweeted: #Italy slightly higher in the Amber zone but the @transportgovuk new islands policy might save #Italy and see hotspot #Sardinia added instead? #Portugal still on 24 in red zone.”