Covid-19: Naples orders tests on arrivals from abroad amid fears of local lockdown

After the southern Italian region of Campania became the first region to enforce mask-wearing at all times in public, it is now also requiring all international arrivals to undergo mandatory Covid-19 testing.

Published: 28 September 2020 16:11 CEST

Covid-19: Naples orders tests on arrivals from abroad amid fears of local lockdown

People walk past an imagine of local hero Diego Maradona in central Naples. Photo: AFP

Under a new ordinance issued by the regional government on Monday, the tests will be a requirement for all passengers arriving on international flights into Naples' Capodichino airport.

Officials stated that all passengers must undergo molecular or antigen tests, saying the order was issued as “in recent days, very few passengers coming from abroad landing in Capodichino (in particular from Paris, Lyon, Barcelona, Frankfurt), have undergone the voluntary swab test.”

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“It is necessary to activate very strict controls for those returning from abroad, and in particular from countries where a significant increase in positive cases is being recorded,” stated regional governor Vincenzo De Luca.

“What happened in the last week must not be repeated,” he said, apparently referring to the sharp rise in cases seen locally.

The new rule, in place until at least October 4th, comes as the rising numbers of new cases in Campania fuels concerns about a potential localised lockdown.

“If we want to avoid wider closures we need the utmost rigour,” De Luca said.

Campania's new requirement is in addition to national rules which make testing mandatory for all arrivals to Italy from Spain, Greece, Croatia, Malta and parts of France.

Campania's health authority recorded 295 new infections in 24 hours on Monday, more than any other region in Italy.

More worryingly the number of hospitalised patients is also increasing, with 412 people now in hospital in the region, and a further 30 in intensive care.

The new testing requirement was announced shortly after the region ordered masks must be worn at all times in public.

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The region now requires masks regardless of whether you're socially distanced from others, including outside and throughout the day, though there are exceptions for children under 6, people who can't wear a mask for health reasons, and people exercising on their own.

During Italy's lockdown from March to May, Campania introduced a raft of additional local measures making it one of the strictest regions in the country.

Other cities including Genoa have also isued ordinances requiring masks to be worn in public at all times.

In the rest of Italy, face masks are compulsory indoors during the day and outdoors between 6pm to 6am if you're in a busy area.

Italian police enforce the rules strictly and there are fines of up to €400 for non-compliance.