Italy is set to scrap most Covid-19 restrictions at the end of the month, when the emergency period that allowed the government to adopt the measures expires.
Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s cabinet will meet Thursday to approve a two-phase plan to ease curbs, according to a person briefed on the proposal.
The move mirrors similar initiatives in other European countries and comes even as the region faces an increase in the daily number of cases, partly due to the spread of the highly infectious -- but apparently less deadly -- BA.2 subvariant of the omicron strain.
Starting in April in Italy, a Covid-19 pass will no longer be required for outdoor dining and people will be allowed to enter their workplace with only a negative Covid test, the person said. At the moment, vaccination against the virus is mandatory for all workers.
From May, it will be possible to enter any dining venue without proof of vaccination, the person added. Curbs will be further eased in schools and on transportation.
The Italian government will continue to imposed mandatory vaccination for people over 50 years of age until June and maintain fines for those who do not comply.
