Italy is set to further ease entry restrictions for all travelers from European Union countries from Feb. 1, the Health Ministry Roberto Speranza announced on Wednesday.

According to Speranza, travelers from EU nations will only need a “green pass,” to be permitted entry.

“The ‘green pass’ will be sufficient for travelers coming from countries within the European Union [from Feb. 1],” he said.

Visitors must be aware that when in Italy a “super green pass” is required for access to public transport and all indoor public venues. The point is that this document expires 270 days after the last COVID-19 shot.

The decision of easing entry restrictions follows the EU Council’s new travel recommendation. According to the agency, all Member States should consider the status of each individual traveler rather than their country of departure.

“This means that a traveler’s COVID-19 vaccination, test, or recovery status, as evidenced by a valid EU digital COVID certificate, should be the key determinant [to be permitted or denied entry],” reads a press release.

Except for the Vatican City State and San Marino, which are on Italy’s List A, all EU/Schengen Area nations currently are on Italy’s List C.

This means that until the new restrictions take effect, all visitors must provide proof of vaccination or recovery, as well as a negative test result taken within 48 hours of arrival.

Last December, Italy reintroduced pre-departure testing amidst concerns over the then-new Omicron variant.

However, because the Omicron strain has spread so widely throughout the EU, officials have proposed removing all pre-entry testing requirements.

At the end of last year, Italy signed free-quarantine agreements with the Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, Egypt (but only Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam), Dominican Republic, and Aruba

The new policy also “renews the go-ahead for travel” to a variety of non-EU destinations, including Cuba, Singapore, Turkey, Thailand’s Phuket Island, Oman, and French Polynesia.

According to the Health Ministry, Italy reported 167,206 COVID-19-related cases on Wednesday, down from 186,740 the day before, and 426 deaths, also down from 468 the day before.

The post Italy To Relax COVID Entry Restrictions For EU Citizens From February 1 appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.