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COVID-19 RULES

Is Italy about to make Covid vaccine passes mandatory for all employees?

Italy has been discussing a vaccine mandate since late summer, and the measure is now expected to be approved this week. But how certain is this to happen, and who would it apply to?

Workers in Italy show a green pass at the gate.
All workers in Italy must currently show a health pass - but a vaccine pass may soon be required under an upcoming rule change.  Photo: Marco Bertorello/AFP

The Italian government is to meet on Wednesday to discuss yet more changes to the nationwide Covid-19 health measures, after already bringing in two new decrees in as many weeks.

One of the measures expected to be included this time is a long-discussed vaccine mandate for all employees in Italy.

But rather than expanding the vaccine obligation which currently applies to healthcare staff, police, teachers and emergency services workers, the government reportedly plans instead to make its vaccine pass a requirement for entry to all workplaces

The ‘super’ or ‘reinforced’ green pass health certificate, which proves vaccination or recovery, has already been made mandatory for access to almost all leisure, social or sporting activities in the country, but workplaces so far are not subject to the rule.

Calendar: When do Italy’s Covid-19 rules change?

At the moment, only the basic form of the health passport is needed at workplaces (unless you’re in one of the categories subject to the vaccine mandate).

The basic green pass can be obtained via a negative test result – though these passes are only valid for a couple of days, meaning people who refuse vaccination must get tested several times a week in order to go to work.

Ministers have been talking about bringing in a general vaccination mandate of some description since September. Instead, so far, the government has brought in a mandate for some key workers while gradually tightening restrictions on those who are not vaccinated.

The vaccination requirement for all employees was debated at meetings about the previous two decrees issued in late December, though the measure didn’t pass.

But one senior health ministry figure said on Monday that, this time, the cabinet is likely to approve a vaccination obligation for all workers, effectively meaning those who haven’t had the jab will be barred from their place of work.

“There is an ongoing debate within the ruling majority, but I am confident that the premier will once again achieve consensus and the super green pass will be extended,” said Health Undersecretary Andrea Costa on Monday, reports news agency Ansa.

The measure would “help convince” Italy’s five million unvaccinated adults to get immunised, he said, adding that the rule change was also “needed to resolve a series of contradictions, such as the one that makes it necessary for a customer having a coffee to have the super green pass, but not the people working in the cafe”.

A docker wears a "No Green Pass" pin as workers block port operations in the port of Genoa, Liguria, on October 15, 2021 as new coronavirus restrictions for workers come into effect.

A dock worker wearing a “No Green Pass” pin at a protest against the introduction of the rules on October 15th, 2021. Photo: Marco BERTORELLO / AFP

Technically, this would not be a ‘vaccine pass’, but a vaccination and recovery pass – as the document can also be issued to those who are certified as having recovered from Covid-19. However, the move is clearly aimed at increasing vaccination coverage further, and only a tiny fraction of Italy’s green passes are issued based on recovery certificates, health ministry data shows.

Either way, it does look certain now that the government will soon approve an extension of the green pass rules which would effectively amount to a vaccine mandate

The question remaining is: when will it come in, and who exactly will it apply to?

Some of Italy’s most powerful unions, as well as major parties within the coalition government, are pushing for the obligation to apply to all over-18s, rather than all employees.

Nothing has yet been confirmed. But working age adults, at least, can probably expect to need the ‘super green pass’ to enter workplaces soon – in addition to the long list of other venues and services already set to be subject to the requirement.

At the moment, places which will require the green pass from January 10th include:

  • All restaurants and bars
  • All public transport, including local buses
  • Hotels
  • Ski lifts
  • Indoor swimming pools, wellness centres, gyms and team sports facilities;
  • Spas except for “essential rehabilitation or therapeutic treatments”;
  • museums and exhibitions;
  • theme parks;
  • indoor cultural, social and recreational centres (excluding educational centres for children);
  • games rooms, betting rooms, bingo halls and casinos.

These requirements may also change as the government plans another update to the health restrictions.

The government is expected to make an announcement about any changes to the restrictions by Thursday.

How do you get a ‘super green pass’?

If you’ve been vaccinated in Italy, including before the ‘super’ green pass rule came in, the pass generated at the time will be valid for these purposes. You don’t need to do anything else.

However, be aware that from February 1st green passes based on vaccination will expire after six months. If you get a third or booster dose, your pass will then be renewed for another six months.

Proof of vaccination or recovery issued in all EU and some non-EU countries should also be accepted as equivalent to a ‘super’ green pass in Italy, but if you’re worried about a foreign vaccination certificate not being recognised, remember you can use it to apply for an Italian green pass once you’re in the country. Find out more here.

See complete details of Italy’s green pass system and requirements on the health ministry’s DGC portal here.

For further information about Italy’s current Covid-19 health measures, please see the Italian Health Ministry’s website (available in English).

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HEALTH

Italy’s schools warned to ‘avoid gatherings’ as Covid cases rise

As Italy’s new school year began, masks and hand sanitiser were distributed in schools and staff were asked to prevent gatherings to help stem an increase in Covid infections.

Italy’s schools warned to ‘avoid gatherings’ as Covid cases rise

Pupils returned to school in many parts of Italy on Monday and authorities said they were distributing masks and hand sanitiser amid a post-summer increase in the number of recorded cases of Covid–19.

“The advice coming from principals, teachers and janitors is to avoid gatherings of students, especially in these first days of school,” Mario Rusconi, head of Italy’s Principals’ Association, told Rai news on Monday.

He added that local authorities in many areas were distributing masks and hand sanitizer to schools who had requested them.

“The use of personal protective equipment is recommended for teachers and students who are vulnerable,” he said, confirming that “use is not mandatory.”

A previous requirement for students to wear masks in the classroom was scrapped at the beginning of the last academic year.

Walter Ricciardi, former president of the Higher Health Institute (ISS), told Italy’s La Stampa newspaper on Monday that the return to school brings the risk of increased Covid infections.

Ricciardi described the health ministry’s current guidelines for schools as “insufficient” and said they were “based on politics rather than scientific criteria.”

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Recorded cases of Covid have increased in most Italian regions over the past three weeks, along with rates of hospitalisation and admittance to intensive care, as much of the country returns to school and work following the summer holidays.

Altogether, Italy recorded 21,309 new cases in the last week, an increase of 44 percent compared to the 14,863 seen the week before.

While the World Health Organisation said in May that Covid was no longer a “global health emergency,” and doctors say currently circulating strains of the virus in Italy are not a cause for alarm, there are concerns about the impact on elderly and clinically vulnerable people with Italy’s autumn Covid booster campaign yet to begin.

“We have new variants that we are monitoring but none seem more worrying than usual,” stated Fabrizio Maggi, director of the Virology and Biosafety Laboratories Unit of the Lazzaro Spallanzani Institute for Infectious Diseases in Rome

He said “vaccination coverage and hybrid immunity can only translate into a milder disease in young and healthy people,” but added that “vaccinating the elderly and vulnerable continues to be important.”

Updated vaccines protecting against both flu and Covid are expected to arrive in Italy at the beginning of October, and the vaccination campaign will begin at the end of October, Rai reported.

Amid the increase in new cases, Italy’s health ministry last week issued a circular mandating Covid testing on arrival at hospital for patients with symptoms.

Find more information about Italy’s current Covid-19 situation and vaccination campaign on the Italian health ministry’s website (available in English).

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