In order to hinder and limit the possible spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in Italy, the Italian government has ordered a series of restrictions applied to the whole country that will be in force until April 3, 2020.
The national tourism board is keen to refute a statement from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website, which said that rules on travel will remain the same until the end of 2020. The tourism board has described this message as "misleading".
The Decrees by Prime Minister dated March 8 and March 9 establish the following measures:
Necessity to avoid movement of people to and from all regions with the exception of well-founded business reasons, circumstances of need, movement due to health reasons. Movements will be possible only if justified by business needs or circumstances of need or health reasons to be proved with a self-declaration that can also be made on the spot filling in forms supplied by police authorities. Compliance checks of mobility restrictions will concern roads and highways, trains and railway stations, airports (with the exception of transferring passengers). For Schengen and non-Schengen departures, self-declarations will be requested only for residents or people living in the areas subject to restrictions. For Schengen and non-Schengen arrivals, passengers will have to justify the purpose of their trip upon entry, cruise ships (Venice).
Suspension of events and sports contests in public and private places.
Shutdown of ski lifts in ski areas.
Suspension of shows and events in public and private places like cinemas, theatres, pubs, dance schools, discos and other indoor places.
Opening of religious sites is conditioned by the adoption of organisational measures that guarantee a safety distance of at least one metre to attenders.
Shutdown of museums, institutes and cultural spaces (museums, libraries, archives, archaeological areas, archaeological parks, historical complexes).
Restaurant and bar activities are allowed from 6.00 am to 6.00 pm with the obligation of keeping a safe distance of at least one metre.
Shopping businesses are allowed under the condition that managers can guarantee limited access to avoid gathering of people and in any case keeping a safe distance of at least one metre.
On festive and pre-holiday days, medium and big-size sales points, as well as shops within shopping malls and markets are closed.
Shutdown is not required for pharmacies, para-pharmacies and grocery stores.
Suspension of activities in gyms, sports centres, swimming-pools, wellness centres, thermal resorts (with the exception of services considered essential levels of care), cultural centres, social centres, recreation centres.
Suspension of civil and religious ceremonies.
For more information, go to www.italia.it/en/useful-info/covid-19-information-and-updates-for-tourists.html
