Corona in Italy: Second wave feared - mask requirement and distance still apply

Vacation 2020 in Italy was unthinkable for a long time - but the corona virus has now been pushed back to the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Lake Garda. Tourists still have to follow the rules - an overview.

• Despite the coronavirus *, many Germans do not want to miss out on their 2020 vacation in Italy
• There is no mask requirement on the beaches of Lake Garda, the Adriatic Sea and the Mediterranean, but care is taken to keep a safe distance
• The corona measures in Italy have been extended

Rome - A few weeks ago , vacationing in Italy was out of the question. The corona virus had hardly hit any other country like this. The pictures from Northern Italy went around the world. But now the tourists are coming back. Lake Garda , the Adriatic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea are still the most popular destinations for German holidaymakers . And because of Covid-19, they don't have to follow as many rules as one might think.

Holidays 2020 in Italy despite corona virus: numbers of sick people have fallen

Italy was particularly hard hit by the corona virus, the Federal Foreign Office also judged in a status report. Now that the first weeks of the summer vacation in North Rhine-Westphalia are over, some returning travelers are also wondering whether they need to be in quarantine * after their vacation. Especially the regions Lombardy, Piedmont, Emilia Romagna and Veneto suffered from high numbers of new infections with Sars-CoV-2 . Images from the hospitals in which patients had to be treated in the corridors were imprinted. And now go on vacation in this country? That is possible, but tourists have to pay attention to a few things, reports wa.de *.

The situation in Italy is more encouraging than in other countries in southern Europe, where the corona virus is spreading again *. Especially on the other side of the Adriatic, in Croatia, the numbers are increasing sharply *. We have also put together an overview of the bans, rules and corona peculiarities of all EU countries *.

First of all: the number of people suffering from Covid-19 has fallen sharply. At the beginning of July, Italy counts around 200 new infections a day. For comparison: in Germany there are an average of around 400 a day. However, Italy with 60 million inhabitants also has 20 million fewer citizens than Germany. Nevertheless, the Italian government has extended the anti-corona measures to September 7th: Among other things, the mask requirement in closed, public spaces and the distance rules continue to apply . Larger gatherings of people are also prohibited. 

Coronavirus in Italy: According to the study, the number of infected people is probably much higher

The situation has eased significantly after the terrible coronavirus outbreak in March 2020. Nevertheless, caution is advised. According to  a study , the corona virus could be six times more common in  Italy than is known. The Ministry of Health and the Istat statistical office published an evaluation at the beginning of August according to which almost 1.5 million people in the country have developed antibodies against the virus, as reported by the Ansa news agency. That corresponds to around 2.5 percent of the population . Around 60 million people live in Italy. The result of the study is based on tests on 64,660 representatively selected people from May 15 to July 15 - the results were received by July 27. According to data from the US University of Johns Hopkins, a good 248,000 people in Italy have so far been infected with the virus and more than 3,000 people have died.

Holidays in Italy 2020 despite coronavirus: Lake Garda is a popular holiday destination despite the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic. A few rules apply on the beach.

© picture-alliance / dpa / Karl-Josef Hildenbrand

Holidays 2020 in Italy: arrival without problems?

From Germany and the entire EU area, entry for tourists is therefore again permitted without special reasons and without the obligation to quarantine. * Holidays in 2020 on Lake Garda , Adriatic and Mediterranean are possible again despite the coronavirus .

Tourists can now travel to Italy by car , but also by train , bus or plane . The airports in Italy are back in operation, and the train is running more regularly again. The long-distance buses from Flixbus run again between Germany and Italy. When traveling by car , however , vacationers in Italy should consider a few things.

Vacation 2020 in Italy: arriving by car

On the way from Germany to Italy , tourists inevitably pass Austria or Switzerland . There are currently no restrictions on the borders between Austria and Italy and Switzerland and Italy . The borders are open. Even in Italy itself, you can again travel by car without any restrictions . Even gas stations and motorway service stations are open throughout Italy.

Vacation 2020 in Italy: Corona rules in the car

However, certain corona rules apply inside a car in Italy . "If all occupants of a car come from the same household, there are no restrictions - neither mask requirements nor distance rules have to be observed in this case", informs the ADAC . However, the use of a face mask is mandatory as soon as people from other households are traveling together. "The generally applicable distance rules must be observed here", according to the ADAC.

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The number of passengers in a vehicle is also important here . This is limited: “According to the Italian Foreign Ministry, in these cases a maximum of two people per row of seats and only on the seats on the side may be transported. The  passenger seat must remain free ",announces the ADAC.

In some provinces of Italy , however, different rules * apply, as the ADAC reports.

Vacation 2020 in Italy: rules on the beach due to coronavirus

Anyone traveling to Italy on vacation 2020 will encounter rules similar to those in Germany. As everywhere, the basis for the fight against the coronavirus is the distance rule - it also applies to tourists . On the beach on Lake Garda , the Adriatic and the Mediterranean , even the parasols are placed at a distance. There is also enough space for tourists between sun loungers.

Holidays 2020 in Italy: mask compulsory in shops and restaurants

Of course, a mask is mandatory in many areas in Italy too . It is not as strict as in other holiday destinations, such as Mallorca *. Tourists have to be prepared to wear mouth and nose protection in shops, restaurants and cafes. During the meal at the table it can of course be set down. To protect tourists and locals from Sars-CoV-2 , disinfectants are everywhere and fever is measured in some places. With these rules , Italy even managed to reopen popular tourist hotspots . This includes:

• Colosseum and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome
• Uffizi Gallery in Florence
• Cathedrals in Milan and Florence
• Leaning Tower in Pisa
• Pompeii archaeological site
• Scala in Milan

If you break the rules , you can expect high fines even as a tourist in Italy . But the price is bearable when you consider how badly the country was hit by the coronavirus . In no other country in Europe did so many people die of Covid-19 so early .

Beaches and streets in Trentino free of masks again. As of today, the obligation to wear masks outside in the northern Lake Garda province ends. A piece of normality is returning. Info here: https://t.co/jirDEadN9z

#Trentino #RivadelGarda #Torbole #Arco #Gardasee pic.twitter.com/vfF2Yc7e78

Holidays in Italy: rules on the beach of Lake Garda, Adriatic and Mediterranean

For long-time holidaymakers in Italy, visiting the beach takes getting used to . On Lake Garda , the Adriatic and the Mediterranean , the contact details of tourists are sometimes recorded. Before going to the beach, vacationers have to sign up on lists. But many travelers rave about the tranquility in the tourism hotspots. For example on Lake Garda , which belongs to the Lombardy region that was previously badly affected by the corona virus . It is very quiet on the beach and in the city, tourists report. Hundreds of tourists are stuck on a small island in Italy. It is currently uncertain when they will be allowed to leave. - * wa.de is part of the Ippen-Digital network

List of rubric lists: © Evandro Inetti / ZUMA Wire / dpa