Italy has reopened its borders to travellers from Europe
three months after it entered lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The country was the first in Europe to see infection rates
skyrocket as the virus spread outside of China and at one point was the
continent’s epicentre for the outbreak. Airlines were quick to stop flights into the country and some governments advised citizens not to travel there as it entered lockdown. As of today, it has officially reported
more than 33,500 deaths and it is still reporting new cases every day.
Visitors will not be subject to any kind of quarantine
measures upon entering Italy unless they have recently travelled from another
continent, with the country hoping to entice tourists – a key economic booster –
to return for the usually busy summer season. However, flights are initially
set to resume only at Milan, Rome and Naples airports.
Those who do travel to Italy may be forced to self-isolate
on their return to their home country, though, with Switzerland warning
citizens they will be subject to health measures if they visit the country and
Austria refusing to lift restrictions with Italy as it will with Germany,
Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary later this month.
UK travellers who return after 8 June will be required to
self-isolate for 14 days on arrival unless they are on a short list of exempted
professionals who will not be subject to quarantine if they are travelling for
work.