Visitors across Italy were being asked if they had a Green Pass on Friday as new rules for museums, leisure sites and indoor dining came into force.
“Do you have your Green Pass?” A negative answer will leave you frustrated in Italy from today. A number of tourists could not enter sites such as the Vatican Museums despite having pre-booked tickets.
Locals as well as tourists miss out
Tourists are not the only ones without access to indoor restaurants, gyms and museums. With only 62% of the population vaccinated, millions of Italians can only get a Green Pass by taking a test.
There were more protests on Thursday night against the new rules. Thousands of people gathered in Turin’s main plaza, Piazza Castello, in an event dubbed ‘No Fear Day’. Most were without masks and some held signs saying “Freedom” and “State Discrimination”.
Is there equal enforcement?
Not all restaurants in central Rome were asking for a green pass for diners wanting to sit inside. This despite the risk of stiff fines.
Many restaurateurs question how it works in practice with many tourists having tests or vaccination certificates in a different format than that recognised within the EU.
“Will I end up having to put everyone who is vaccinated inside, with all the non-vaccinated outside?” one waiter asked France24.
More Green Pass changes from September
On Thursday night, the government agreed to make the green pass obligatory for teachers as well as passengers on domestic flights, ferries and long-distance trains and buses. This will come into effect from September 1.
“I say to all Italians: vaccinate yourselves and respect the rules,” Prime Minister Mario Draghi told reporters on Friday.
The spread of the highly contagious Delta variant is causing concern. Another 7,200 cases were reported on Thursday.
