Covid: Unvaccinated Italians face new restrictions as cases rise

Italians who have not received the Covid vaccine face tougher domestic restrictions from Monday as the Government seeks to prevent a rise in hospitalisations over the winter period.

Anyone who has not been jabbed will be excluded from indoor restaurants, theatres and museums in a bid to encourage vaccine skeptics to get their shots.

From Monday through January 15, Italian police will be able to check whether diners in restaurants or bars have a “super” green health pass certifying that they are either vaccinated or have recently recovered from the virus. A pass will also be required to use public transport and stay in hotels.

A string of European countries have already introduced tougher restrictions for the unvaccinated. Germany’s government last week announced a blanket ban on people who have not been jabbed from entering bars, restaurants, cinemas and theatres as well as non-essential shops.

The number of Covid cases in Italy has been on a gradual rise for the past six weeks, even before concerns arose about the spread of the Omicron variant. It comes ahead of a busy Christmas holiday season when many Italians travel across the country to visit friends and family.

Italy’s vaccination rate is higher than many of its neighbours, with 85 per cent of the eligible population aged 12 and older now double jabbed. However, 3.5 million Italians are still yet to receive their first dose.

“It is clear that after two years of the pandemic, we cannot easily close schools to physical classes and shut down economic activity,’’ said Gianni Rezza, the health ministry’s director of prevention.

”Therefore, you can try to keep the virus spread down with measures that are sustainable, and with proper use of the health pass. Then the big bet is on the vaccinations.”

Italy has reported more than five million cases since the beginning of the pandemic and more than 134,000 deaths – the second highest death toll in Europe, after the UK.

The country’s health ministry announced 43 Covid-related deaths on Sunday compared to 75 the day before, while the daily tally of new reported infections fell to 15,021 from 16,632.

The number of daily infections has trebled since a month ago, with hospitalisations also seeing an increase. Last week, health authorities confirmed the country’s first case of the Omicron variant.

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