Italians will need Covid ‘green passes’ showing proof of vaccination or negative tests to access various venues, the government has confirmed.
With daily COVID-19 cases sharply rising again, the passes will give access to gyms, museums, movie theaters, the inside of restaurants and other venues.
Premier Mario Draghi’s government approved a decree on Thursday ordering the use of the so-called ‘green’ passes starting on August 6.
Pictured: A woman shows Italy’s Covid-19 Green Pass (file photo). Italians will need to show a green pass – proving protection or immunity from Covid – in order to get into gyms, museums, movie theaters, the inside of restaurants and other venues
To be eligible for a pass, individuals must prove they have received at least one vaccine dose in the last nine months, recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months or tested negative in the previous 48 hours.
The passes will be needed to dine at tables inside restaurants or cafes, to attend sports events, town fairs and conferences, and to enter casinos, bingo parlours and pools, among other activities. according to officials.
The certification is needed to ‘to keep economic activity open’ and will allow people to enjoy entertainment ‘with the assurance they won’t be next to contagious people,’ Draghi said.
‘The Italian economy is going well. It’s reviving, and Italy is growing at a rhythm superior to that of other EU nations,’ the premier told reporters.
Some 40 million people in Italy have already downloaded a ‘green pass,’ Health Minister Roberto Speranza said.
He noted that the certification is already required to attend wedding receptions and to visit residents of care homes.
Some have protested against the use of the green pass, with people taking to the streets of Turin on Thursday night to protest its use. Pictured: A ‘no Green Pass’ sign is held during the protests on July 22, 2021
Premier Mario Draghi’s (pictured on Thursday) government approved a decree ordering the use of the so-called ‘green’ passes starting on August 6
However, some have protested against the use of the green pass, with people taking to the streets of Turin on Thursday night to protest its use.
More than half of people in Italy older than 12 and thus eligible for COVID-19 vaccines have received two doses, and several million more have received a first dose.
But fuelled in part by huge street celebrations after Italy’s win in the recent European soccer championships this month, new daily cases have climbed again.
Health experts say the delta variant of the coronavirus is rapidly gaining traction in much of Italy, facilitating transmission.
Still, thanks to vaccination, ‘pressure on hospitals is strongly diminished,’ Draghi said.
Pictured: A graph showing the 7-day rolling average of Italy’s daily new Covid-19 infections. The last couple of weeks have seen another sharp rise in daily infections
While Italy was reporting nearly 400 virus-related deaths a day four months ago, the number has been far lower lately, with fewer than a dozen deaths recorded on some recent days
Fuelled in part by huge street celebrations (pictured, July 11) after Italy’s win in the recent European soccer championships this month, new daily cases have climbed again
While Italy was reporting nearly 400 virus-related deaths a day four months ago, the number has been far lower lately, with fewer than a dozen deaths recorded on some recent days.
‘The vaccine campaign permitted the economy to revive,? Draghi said. ‘The first thing I have to say is to invite all Italians to get vaccinated and to do it right away.’
So far, 45.8 percent of people in Italy have been fully vaccinated. In comparison, 53.9 percant of people in the UK have received two jabs, as have 53.6 percent of people in Spain, 47.6 percent of people in Germany and 43.5 percent in France.