Tourists Rejoice Italy And Greece Loosen Restrictions On Covid 19

Italy and Greece eased some restrictions on COVID-19 on Sunday ahead of the peak of Europe’s summer tourist season, signaling that life was returning to normalcy. The Civil Aviation Authority of Greece announced that it removes all COVID-19 rules for international and domestic flights, except for the use of a face mask during flights and at airports. Previously, air travelers had to show proof of vaccination, a negative test or a recent recovery from the disease. As of Sunday, guests in Italy no longer need to fill out the EU Passenger Tracking Form, a complex online test required upon check-in at the airport. Italy has also abolished the health card required to enter restaurants, cinemas, gyms and other places. The green card, which showed evidence of vaccination, recovery from the virus or a recent negative test, is still required for access to hospitals and nursing homes. Some indoor mask orders in Italy have also expired, including in supermarkets, workplaces and shops. Masks are still needed on public transport, in cinemas and in all healthcare facilities and nursing homes. “It was needed,” said Claudio Civitelli, a Roman resident who drank his morning coffee at a bar near the Trevi Fountain. By Sunday, patrons had to wear masks to enter bars and restaurants, although they could remove them to eat and drink. “We have been waiting for more than two years.” At a nearby table, Andrea Bichler, an Italian tourist from Trentino Alto-Adige, was sitting with friends, all without masks. “It’s much better,” Bichler said. “Let’s say it’s a return to life, a free life.” In Greece, where tourism accounts for about 20% of its GDP, rule enforcement had already collapsed before Sunday. On the tourist island of Mykonos, revelers flooded beaches, bars and restaurants last weekend for the Orthodox Easter holiday. Some owners said the business was the best they had seen in years and expected it to continue for the long May Day weekend. Vaccination certificates in Greece have been abolished, not permanently, but from May 1 to August 31 and in August it will be decided whether they will be restored. Restrictions on the number of indoor customers were also suspended. However, masks are still required indoors and in vehicles in Greece and experts recommend their use outdoors in busy situations such as concerts. Business owners said many unvaccinated were among those enjoying the end of COVID-19 restrictions. “We saw old customers again that we had not seen since November,” when vaccination certificates became mandatory for the first time, Michalis Epitropidis, general secretary of the Thessaloniki restaurant, cafe and bar owners’ association, told the Associated Press. “By punishing the unvaccinated, the state was punishing us.” Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, has been a hotbed of militant refusal of vaccines and protests against COVID-19 restrictions. Like Italy, Greece has seen tourism revenues sink in 2020 and only partially recover in 2021. Greece now hopes for a record tourism year in 2022 – as does neighboring Albania, where restrictions have also been lifted. on Sunday. Public health officials say the masks are still highly recommended in Italy for all indoor activities and private companies may still require them. As the virus continues to circulate, “we need to continue the vaccination campaign, including boosters, and pursue prudent behavior: wearing masks indoors or in crowded places or wherever there is a risk of transmission,” he said. Giovanni Retza. responsible for prevention at the Ministry of Health.

Nellas reported from Athens, Greece. Francesco Sportelli contributed from Italy, Costas Kantouris from Thessaloniki, Greece and Llazar Semini from Albania.

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title: “Tourists Rejoice Italy And Greece Loosen Restrictions On Covid 19 Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-13” author: “Ernest Goatley”

Italy and Greece eased some restrictions on COVID-19 on Sunday ahead of the peak of Europe’s summer tourist season, signaling that life was returning to normalcy. The Civil Aviation Authority of Greece announced that it removes all COVID-19 rules for international and domestic flights, except for the use of a face mask during flights and at airports. Previously, air travelers had to show proof of vaccination, a negative test or a recent recovery from the disease. As of Sunday, guests in Italy no longer need to fill out the EU Passenger Tracking Form, a complex online test required upon check-in at the airport. Italy has also abolished the health card required to enter restaurants, cinemas, gyms and other places. The green card, which showed evidence of vaccination, recovery from the virus or a recent negative test, is still required for access to hospitals and nursing homes. Some indoor mask orders in Italy have also expired, including in supermarkets, workplaces and shops. Masks are still needed on public transport, in cinemas and in all healthcare facilities and nursing homes. “It was needed,” said Claudio Civitelli, a Roman resident who drank his morning coffee at a bar near the Trevi Fountain. By Sunday, patrons had to wear masks to enter bars and restaurants, although they could remove them to eat and drink. “We have been waiting for more than two years.” At a nearby table, Andrea Bichler, an Italian tourist from Trentino Alto-Adige, was sitting with friends, all without masks. “It’s much better,” Bichler said. “Let’s say it’s a return to life, a free life.” In Greece, where tourism accounts for about 20% of its GDP, rule enforcement had already collapsed before Sunday. On the tourist island of Mykonos, revelers flooded beaches, bars and restaurants last weekend for the Orthodox Easter holiday. Some owners said the business was the best they had seen in years and expected it to continue for the long May Day weekend. Vaccination certificates in Greece have been abolished, not permanently, but from May 1 to August 31 and in August it will be decided whether they will be restored. Restrictions on the number of indoor customers were also suspended. However, masks are still required indoors and in vehicles in Greece and experts recommend their use outdoors in busy situations such as concerts. Business owners said many unvaccinated were among those enjoying the end of COVID-19 restrictions. “We saw old customers again that we had not seen since November,” when vaccination certificates became mandatory for the first time, Michalis Epitropidis, general secretary of the Thessaloniki restaurant, cafe and bar owners’ association, told the Associated Press. “By punishing the unvaccinated, the state was punishing us.” Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, has been a hotbed of militant refusal of vaccines and protests against COVID-19 restrictions. Like Italy, Greece has seen tourism revenues sink in 2020 and only partially recover in 2021. Greece now hopes for a record tourism year in 2022 – as does neighboring Albania, where restrictions have also been lifted. on Sunday. Public health officials say the masks are still highly recommended in Italy for all indoor activities and private companies may still require them. As the virus continues to circulate, “we need to continue the vaccination campaign, including boosters, and pursue prudent behavior: wearing masks indoors or in crowded places or wherever there is a risk of transmission,” he said. Giovanni Retza. responsible for prevention at the Ministry of Health.

Nellas reported from Athens, Greece. Francesco Sportelli contributed from Italy, Costas Kantouris from Thessaloniki, Greece and Llazar Semini from Albania.

Follow the AP’s pandemic coverage at