Rome: People who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 in Italy are no longer permitted to attend the theatre, cinemas, live music venues, or big athletic events, according to new rules that took effect on Monday. Only people who have recently recovered from Covid-19 are spared from the limits, which mark a dramatic tightening of limitations in the face of increased infection rates. On public transportation, a so-called Green Pass demonstrating proof of vaccination, recent recovery, or a negative Covid-19 test is now needed, even for local services. On Monday morning, a man in his fifties was fined 400 euros for not having his permit as he stepped off a bus at Piazza del Popolo in Rome.
On Sunday, a record 1.3 million Green Passes were downloaded in advance of the switch. Meanwhile, new restrictions mandating face masks to be worn outdoors in Rome’s major commercial areas went into force over the weekend. Italy was the first European country to be infected with the coronavirus in early 2020, and it has one of the greatest mortality tolls, with over 134,000 people killed. However, it is doing better than many of its neighbours at the moment, with 15,000 cases recorded out of a population of 60 million on Sunday. Almost 85% of children over the age of 12 have been vaccinated, a booster campaign is underway, and vaccines for younger children will be available soon.