Ever since governments across the world started implementing lockdowns to curb the spread of Covid-19, three very important questions have been on everyone’s mind:
When will things go back to normal?
When can we travel?
When can we have bubble tea again?
Ok, maybe the last one only applies to Singaporeans, but it’s an equally important concern.
The coronavirus pandemic has upended our lives. People have been forced to stay at home and travel has become a distant dream due to the closure of borders and other travel restrictions.
But there are signs that things are improving.
A few months ago, Italy was one of the worst-hit countries with an alarming number of infections and deaths, but now, just a couple of months later, they’re planning to reopen their borders to certain tourists.
Italy Plans to Open Borders for European Tourists With No Restrictions
European tourists will be able to visit Italy from early June without a 14-day mandatory quarantine period, the Italian government said yesterday (16 May).
Italy never actually closed its borders during the pandemic; it just banned movement for tourism and imposed a two-week isolation period for new arrivals.
According to CNA, the European Union (EU) banned foreign nationals from entering its Schengen zone in March.
The Schengen zone, which might sound like a Danish Netflix show about alternate realities, is an open border zone comprising 22 of 27 member states.
Now, the EU is urging its member states to reopen its internal borders and restart travel, while recommending that external borders remain shut for most travel until at least the middle of June.
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Italy’s government did not explicitly state which foreign nationals would be allowed to enter; they just said “European tourists”.
They added that the new measures respected the “legal order of the European Union”.
From 3 June, visitors within the Schengen zone will be allowed to enter Italy with no obligation to self-isolate for two weeks.
Italians will also be able to move between regions, though this might change if infections spike.
But that’s not all.
Easing of Other Restrictions
While Singaporeans are still not allowed to visit their friends and family in other houses, Italians will soon be able to do so.
Restaurants, bars, and hairdressers are being allowed to reopen on Monday, while Italians will finally be allowed to see their friends, as long as they live within their same region.
Churches and mosques will also reopen, with social distancing rules in place.
Gyms, pools and sports centres will be able to open up again on 25 May, while theatres and cinemas will be allowed to reopen on 15 Jun.
The gatherings of large groups will still be banned.
Need to “Start Up Again”
But why are they suddenly easing all these restrictions?
Well, because their lockdown seems to have worked.
Back in March, Italy was reporting a few thousand cases every day, but that number has been under 1,400 in the last week or so, with less than 900 cases in the last two days.
Even though lifting restrictions carries a risk of infections spiking, Italy’s prime minister Giuseppe Conte feels that it’s a necessary risk so they can “start up again”.
“We’re facing a calculated risk in the knowledge that the contagion curve may rise again,” Conte said during a televised address. “We have to accept it otherwise we will never be able to start up again.”
The coronavirus is not an easy enemy to defeat. But after months of empty streets and strict lockdowns, it’s nice to see that some countries are trying to return to normal.
We just have to wait until it’s Singapore’s turn.
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