The Italian government approved a draft decree on Thursday, December 23, 2021, that was made official on December 25, 2021 when it was published in the country's Official Gazette.
Here is a summary of the new restrictions, effective immediately through the end of the current state of emergency, March 31, 2021, unless otherwise noted:
- Face masks required outdoors throughout the country, including in white zones, until January 31, 2022.
- N95 masks (called "FFP2" in Italy), not surgical masks, required on public transport and long-distance transport such as trains, buses and domestic flights. They are also required in particularly crowded venues such as sporting events, concert halls, cinemas, theatres, and stadiums, and food is not permitted to be consumed in these venues.
- Starting January 10, 2022, a super green pass (full vaccination within past nine months or recovery certificate within past six months) will be required for entrance into museums and cultural venues, as well as for consuming food or drinks standing at the bar, pools, gyms, wellness centers, thermal complexes and gaming halls, with the exclusion of children under 12. (Thus far a basic green pass has sufficed for entrance to these venues).
- Starting February 1, 2022, the green pass will be valid for six months from the time of the most recent vaccination.
- Outdoor celebrations such as concerts and events are banned until January 31, 2022. This means any planned New Year's celebrations in public squares are effectively cancelled.
- Random Covid checks at borders: the government has ordered random Covid checks via antigen or molecular tests for travelers entering the country at airports, ports, train stations and land borders. If a traveler selected for a random check tests positive, he or she will have to quarantine for 10 days.