Italy’s version of a Covid-19 vaccine pass will no longer be required for entry into the country from 1^st June, allowing travellers free and easy access as the summer season ramps up.

The Italian government announced on Monday that it will not be renewing the Covid ‘Green Pass’ requirement when it expires on 31^st May, giving tourists impetus to return to one of Europe’s summer hotspots unimpeded this year for the first time since summer 2019.

The pass required proof of vaccination, a negative test result or recent recovery from the virus before being allowed entry to the nation.

This move is significant, as Italy was one of the first and hardest hit countries when the coronavirus took hold of Europe in early 2020, leading to a raft of tough restrictions, including the Green Pass.

Now, as case numbers, deaths and hospitalisations continue to drop and much of the population are vaccinated, the easing of regulations is a natural step in the country’s recovery, though a few rules, such as masks on public transport and in schools are still required.

Italy’s new case count was a mere 7,846 on Monday, a steep and steady drop since highs of over 228,000 per day in mid-January.

Photo by Aiva Apsite on Unsplash