The Italian green pass is at the starting line. On May 15, the order of the Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, expires, which allows you to enter Italy only with two negative Covid tests: one upon entry and one after a five-day quarantine. From 16 May, on the other hand, the rule on the so-called green pass will come into force. It is not a card, nor a paper or digital document: the term greenpass, in reality, it only means that to enter our country it will be necessary to show a certificate certifying the vaccine or recovery from Covid, or a negative test performed in the 48 hours preceding entry. Compared to now, therefore, the main difference is the suppression of the mini-quarantine.
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GREEN PASS AND EU VACCINATION PASSPORT
Be careful not to confuse our green pass with the EU health passport, which will be a different certification and will enter into force no earlier than June 15, setting common rules for moving between the 27 countries of the European Union. The goal is to reopen the borders in view of the tourist season and it is not excluded that the European health passport also allows you to travel again to the United States.
HOW DO I TRAVEL ABROAD?
In other words, at least until the middle of next month, to travel abroad you have to follow the rules established by the country of destination, which are often not the same as ours. Safe travel – of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – provides updated information. There are those who continue to ask for a molecular swab even from the vaccinated or the recovered, those who still foresee quarantine, those who have already reopened the borders and those who update the rules every week, depending on the health situation.
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GREEN PASS: THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION
But let's go back to the Italian green pass. As for the vaccine or recovery certificate, it is not necessary to request particular certificates, the documentation provided by the health companies is enough. The only caution concerns timing: healing must have occurred within the last six months, since the health authorities still do not have sufficient evidence to know if, beyond this time horizon, the immunization provided by the first infection is still effective.
The order of the Ministry of Health which will provide details on the green pass will then explain whether a "negative test" means a rapid test or an antigenic.
THE PURPOSE OF THE TRAVELS
Another important difference with respect to the current situation concerns the purpose of the movements. The green pass will also allow you to enter Italy for tourism and to participate in sporting events or shows; no longer, therefore, only for work, health, urgent needs or to go home.
FOR WHOM THE GREEN PASS IS WORTH IT
Finally, the green pass is reserved for European citizens but could also be extended to citizens of non-EU countries, such as the United States or Israel, vaccinated with drugs recognized in Europe. Instead, tourists from countries included in the black list will be excluded due to the high number of infections.
THE WORDS OF DRAGES
At the end of the G20 on tourism, the Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, took stock: "The European Green pass will be ready from the second half of June - he explained - Meanwhile, the Italian government has introduced a national green pass which will be effective from mid-May. We must give clear and simple rules to guarantee the arrival of tourists and to be able to travel in Italy in safety. If there is a country that is intertwined with tourism, it is ours. The whole world wants to come here. The pandemic has forced us to close but we are ready to host the world".
