European Union nationals travelling to Italy will have to test for COVID-19 before their trip and present negative test results upon arrival in Italy, regardless of their vaccination and recovery status.

The move was taken on Tuesday, December 14, in a meeting of the Italian Council of Ministers, who also agreed that travellers from other EU and Schengen Area countries should be subject to the obligation of quarantine in cases when they haven’t been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19.

“For those who also come from EU countries but are not vaccinated, it will not be enough to show the negative swab to circulate in Italy, but they will incur the obligation of quarantine. Not only. The vaccinated will also be asked to show a negative swab result,” the Ministers agreed.

During the meeting, the Italian Council of Ministers also approved a decree-law on the extension of the State of Emergency until March 31, 2022. This means that the Head of the Civil Protection Department will retain its powers deriving from the state of emergency.

Through a provision of the decree approved by the Council, the obligation to carry a super Green pass in the white zone has been extended until March 31 as well. The same was set to expire on January 15.