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HEALTH

Covid-19: Italy extends ban on travel between regions amid concern about variants

Italy is to extend the existing ban on non-essential travel between regions for a further ten days.

Covid-19: Italy extends ban on travel between regions amid concern about variants
Italy's long-distance trains are still running, but only essential travel between regions is allowed. Photo: AFP

Outgoing premier Giuseppe Conte's cabinet has chosen to extend the nationwide ban on travel between regions until February 25th, when it will be reviewed again.

The measure was due to expire on Monday February 15th.

The governors of Italy's regions on Thursday called for the travel ban to be kept in place, as concern remains high about the potential spread of more infectious variants of the coronavirus first detected in the UK, Brazil and South Africa.

MAPS: Where are the new Covid-19 variants spreading in Italy?

The ban applies to all non-essential travel between all regions, regardless of which zone they are in under Italy's tiered system of coronavirus restrictions.

The regional travel ban does not apply to travel for work, health or emergency reasons.

“From 16-25 February any movement between different regions or autonomous provinces is prohibited throughout the country, except for proven work needs, situations of necessity or for health reasons,” the updated decree law states.

“In any case, the return to one's residence, domicile or home is allowed.”

Travel within Italy for tourism remains prohibited.

This means that, while museums and tourist attractions have been allowed to reopen in Italy this month, only people who are already in the region can visit.

Ski slopes were also closed until February 15th, however this measure is being relaxed. It's not clear yet whether all regions will allow their ski resorts to reopen, however.

Earlier this month, Italy eased some rules following a winter holiday lockdown, reclassifying most of its regions as lower-risk “yellow” zones.
 
This means that people can move freely within their own regions, and allows for the daytime reopening of bars, restaurants and museums.

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TOURISM

How Airbnb is changing its rules on cameras from May 2024

Airbnb is tightening up its rules on security cameras inside properties listed on its website in a move intended to give guests more privacy.

How Airbnb is changing its rules on cameras from May 2024

People who advertise short-term lets on Airbnb will soon be required to remove all indoor cameras from their listings under a company-wide rule change designed to prioritise guests’ privacy, the company announced in a recent blogpost.

Until now, Airbnb has allowed security cameras in common spaces such as hallways and living rooms, “as long as they were disclosed on the listing page before booking, clearly visible and were not located in spaces like sleeping areas and bathrooms,” the company noted in its statement.

“The update to this policy simplifies our approach and makes clear that security cameras are not allowed inside listings, regardless of their location, purpose or prior disclosure.”

The rule change is set to come into effect on April 30th, to give hosts time to update their properties and listings in compliance with the new policy.

Hosts will still be able to use outdoor surveillance cameras in gardens and driveways, provided they disclose the presence and location of each one, and they do not face in to film inside the property. 

The change follows years of reports of guests finding secret cameras in their Airbnbs in various countries. In 2019, The Atlantic published an article titled ‘Airbnb Has a Hidden-Camera Problem’.

Last summer, a Texas couple brought a $75,000 lawsuit against an Airbnb host after they discovered multiple hidden cameras disguised as smoke detectors in the defendant’s bedroom and bathroom.

READ ALSO: How Italy is planning to limit Airbnb rentals

In the company’s blogpost, Airbnb spokesperson Juniper Downs said the changes were made “in consultation with our guests, Hosts and privacy experts,” and would “provide our community with greater clarity about what to expect”.

But while some of the site’s users may welcome the change, others have taken to the Airbnb’s Community Center to criticise the new policy, with some hosts saying having cameras in the common spaces of their shared homes offered them a measure of security.

Speaking with Canadian broadcaster CBC, former Ontario privacy commissioner Ann Cavoukian commented that the reform won’t do anything to prevent hosts who were breaking the company’s existing rules by installing hidden cameras from continuing to do so.

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