For the purposes of identifying and containing the spread of possible COVID-19 virus variants, the Italian Ministry of Health Ordinance of 30 January 2023 has extended the provisions on all inbound passengers from the People’s Republic of China (including Hong Kong and Macau).
The provisions are as follows:
- Upon boarding, it shall be mandatory to provide the carrier and whoever is in charge of carrying out the checks with a certification of having tested negative to a molecular or antigenic swab within 48 (forty-eight) hours prior to departure from the People’s Republic of China;
- Use of an FFP2 or higher protection mask inside the aircraft and air terminals shall be strongly recommended, especially for vulnerable persons or those with respiratory symptoms;
- Persons coming from the People’s Republic of China may be randomly swabbed upon arrival at the airport, with a view to ensuring genomic surveillance to identify any variants at an early stage.
Provided that no symptoms of COVID-19 appear, these provisions shall not apply to minors under the age of six, crew members and travelling personnel of means of transport for persons and goods, officials and agents, however named, of the European Union or of international organisations, diplomatic agents, administrative and technical staff of diplomatic missions, consular officials and employees, military personnel, including those returning from international missions, and Police Force personnel, and personnel of Italy’s Intelligence System for the Security of the Republic and Fire Brigades in the exercise of their functions.
The provisions of this Ordinance shall also apply to the Regions under Special Statute and to the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano.
Given the frequent updates, we suggest checking the measures applied by the destination airport and the relevant airline before departure.