UK visitors to Italy must take coronavirus test
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Italy has introduced compulsory coronavirus testing for UK visitors.
Minister of health Roberto Speranza announced that arrivals from European countries “at greater risk for Covid-19” – such as the UK, France and Spain – must provide evidence of a negative test taken in the 72 hours prior to travel.
Visitors unable to provide proof of a negative result at the border have to take a test in Italy.
Some airports offer free tests. Travellers are not be allowed to leave until they have received their result.
Anyone who tests positive is quarantined until two consecutive negative results are recorded.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: “The time spent in quarantine can vary greatly from a few days to several weeks. Travellers should be prepared for this eventuality.”
Visitors who arrive at airports where testing is not available are required to self-isolate and take a test at an alternative facility within 48 hours.
Fines can be issues to people who do not comply.
Italy is one of the most popular foreign destinations which UK holidaymakers can still visit without needing to isolate for 14 days when they return.
But it could lose its exemption when Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announces the weekly update to the list of exempt locations at 5pm on Thursday.
Italy is currently recording a seven-day rate of 31.6 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people.
Changes could also be made in relation to Greece.
The country as a whole has a rate of 23.0, but the Government has previously introduced quarantine requirement for specific islands.
A rate of 20 is the threshold above which ministers consider triggering quarantine conditions.
Figures have been calculated by the PA news agency based on data collected by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
