Italy wants to re-open for tourists in early June and do away with its 14-day mandatory quarantine period, as the country hopes to quickly exit the coronavirus lockdown.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte enforced a harsh shutdown in early March, to counter the coronavirus pandemic which so far has killed more than 31,500 people in Italy. The shutdown halted all international tourists, as well as holidaymakers from within the country.
While Italy never closed its borders, it did ban movement for tourism and imposed a two-week mandatory isolation period on all new arrivals.
But beginning June 3, all visitors will be allowed in with no obligation to self-isolate. Italians will also be able to move between regions (although, local authorities have been given the power to limit travel if they see infections spike).
Tourism aside, this is a major boon to Italy’s vast agricultural sector – which relies on roughly 350,000 seasonal workers from around the European Union.
Restaurants, bars and hairdressers are being allowed to re-open on Monday, two weeks earlier than planned. Shops will also be open, and Italians will be allowed to see friends provided they live within the same region.
Gatherings of large groups are still not allowed. However, the ease in lockdown restrictions is sure to please a great many Italians who have been cooped up at home for the last eight weeks.
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