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HEALTH

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.

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.

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STRIKES

What to expect from Italy’s national rail strike this weekend

Rail passengers in Italy may face disruption on Saturday, May 4th and Sunday, May 5th as staff at railway operators including Trenitalia and Italo plan a 24-hour strike.

What to expect from Italy's national rail strike this weekend

Passengers travelling across Italy by train may face delays or cancellations this weekend as staff at state-owned railway operator Ferrovie dello Stato, which includes Trenitalia, Trenord, and Trenitalia Tper, and private company Italo plan to strike from 9pm on Saturday, May 4th to 9pm on Sunday, May 5th.

The walkout was called by CAT (Coordinamento Autorganizzato Trasporti) – one of Italy’s major trade unions – in late March to demand the renewal of collective labour agreements in the rail transport sector.

The planned protest is expected to affect all types of rail travel, from long-distance services to regional and local ones, with the overall level of disruption expected to vary by city and operator.

While rail companies are legally required to guarantee the operation of a number of minimum services (servizi minimi) during strikes taking place on weekdays, there’s no such requirement for weekend walkouts.

READ ALSO: The transport strikes that will hit travel in Italy in May 2024

This means that operators are free to decide whether or not to guarantee services for passengers.

Trenitalia 

National rail operator Trenitalia said in a statement that their services “may experience changes or cancellations” for the entire length of the strike, but the protest may also “result in service variations both before its start and after its end”. 

Though the statement provided no information regarding possible guaranteed services, Trenitalia generally operates a number of essential long-distance journeys during weekend walkouts. These are available here.

Trenitalia has advised passengers planning to travel with them during the weekend to check the status of their services via their website or mobile app, or by calling toll-free number 800 89 20 21.

Italo

Though initial news reports said that the walkout would not affect the services of private long-distance operator Italo, staff at the company are also expected to take part in the protest according to reports on Friday morning.

It was unclear at the time of writing exactly how the strike would impact Italo services, but delays and/or cancellations could not be ruled out.

Italo has said it will guarantee the operation of a number of long-distance services during the walkout. You can find those here.

Trenitalia Tper

Trenitalia Tper, which operates train services in the Emilia-Romagna region, has said that their services “may experience changes or cancellations” due to the walkout. 

In the event of cancellations, passengers will be able to “ask for a refund according to the operator’s terms and conditions”.

Trenitalia Tper hasn’t yet provided any details regarding possible guaranteed services.

See their website for the latest updates.

Trenord

Trenord, which operates a number of regional trains in the Lombardy region, including connections to and from Milan’s Malpensa Airport, has said that scheduled services “may be subject to cancellations”.

However, the operator has also said that none of its staff are represented by trade union CAT and previous walkouts backed by the union didn’t affect scheduled services.

Trenord will not operate minimum services during the strike. However, should airport link services be cancelled, replacement buses will run the same routes. 

See Trenord’s website or app for the latest updates.

What to do if your train is cancelled

If a pre-booked rail service is cancelled due to strike action in Italy, passengers are normally allowed to travel on other equivalent services instead or will be entitled to a refund.

Passengers travelling with Trenitalia will need to request a refund either at the station or by using this web form

Keep up with the latest updates in The Local’s strike news section.

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