The Italian Government continues to tighten restrictions to stop infections, which are on the rise, and has extended the use of the covid passport that comes into force today to access public spaces such as bars, restaurants, cinemas or gyms.
As of September, in addition, teachers and school personnel of schools and universities will have to present the certificate that proves that the carrier has been vaccinated, has tested negative in a recent coronavirus test or has overcome the infection.
If they do not do it within five days, they will not be able to continue attending class and their salary will be frozen.
University students must also present the certificate to access the classrooms.
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Italy will require to be vaccinated or present negative covid test for the interior of bars and restaurants
The Executive of Mario Draghi approved this measure that makes the covid certificate an indispensable tool for daily life on Thursday night, after a long day of meetings with the scientific committee that advises it and with the representatives of the regions. The Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, has defended this initiative, which in practice is a technical formula to force education professionals to be vaccinated and in general the entire population, as a guarantee for the development of face-to-face classes after two distance learning courses. "We do everything possible so that schools can reopen safely in September," he explained. Italy was already the first European country to oblige doctors and health workers in the public and private sectors to be vaccinated.
The Minister of Education, Patrizio Bianchi, has indicated that more than 86% of school personnel have been vaccinated, and that the figure could approach 90% before starting the school year.
The head of Health, Roberto Speranza, in turn called on families to vaccinate children over 12 years old, and announced that discounts will be applied to adolescents to buy rapid tests for the detection of coronavirus.
This type of tests will cost 8 euros in pharmacies for young people between 12 and 18 years old, and 15 euros for the rest.
Until now the maximum price was 22 euros.
This sanitary pass will also be required from September to access long-distance trains, planes, boats and buses.
However, it will not be necessary for urban transport.
The Government has announced a reduction in mandatory quarantines for vaccinated people who have been in close contact with a positive.
So far the set time was 10 days.
From now on, those who have received the complete immunization schedule should be isolated for only seven days, while those who are not vaccinated should be confined as a precaution for 10.
These new measures are added to the requirement, in force from this Friday, to show the COVID certificate to access the interior of bars and restaurants, museums, cinemas or gyms and also to attend shows, events or sports competitions.
The restrictions come in the midst of an upturn in infections.
On Thursday, more than 7,000 new infections and 27 deaths were registered.
In total there are more than 100,000 active cases, a figure that had not been reached for two months.
In addition, the rate of hospitalizations for covid-19 has increased by 3% in the last week and the cumulative incidence has also increased from 58 to 68 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Despite the protests of the last week, which have been minority, a large part of the economic and social sectors agree on the use of the certificate for the main activities that take place in public or crowded spaces.
The employers' association has proposed that it be compulsory to go to work, although the suggestion has drawn criticism from the unions and the measure will not be applied in Italy for the time being.