Italy will begin allowing unrestricted travel beginning on 3 June 2020, according to a Decree published by the Italian Government’s Council of Minister.
Travel restrictions from the Italian Federal Government will be lifted, however, other travel restrictions can be put into force by local and regional governmental bodies.
“From 3 June 2020, travel between different regions can only be limited by state measures,” the decree reads.
The lifting of the travel restrictions will include international travel mediums coming to or from Italy and will be in accordance to the epidemiological risk of COVID-19 from different countries.
“These rules will also apply to travel to and from abroad, which may be limited only by state measures also in relation to specific States and territories, according to principles of adequacy and proportionality to the epidemiological risk and in compliance with the constraints deriving from the regulation of the European Union and international obligations,” reads the decree.
Travel between Vatican City and San Marino and their neighboring regions will be allowed regardless of further restrictions put into place, according to the decree.
Regional travel restrictions for Italians will be lifted on 18 May, according to the decree. This will allow people to travel freely without restriction within the regions that they are currently present in.
“From 18 May 2020, the movements of people within the territory of the same region will not be subject to any limitations,” the decree reads.
According to the decree, it will still be prohibited to gather people in public places or places open to the public. Church and events with religious functions will still be handled in accordance with governmental regulations to attempt to contain infection risks.
Some regions within Italy urged Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte to remove the travel restrictions sooner. Conte, however, has pushed for a gradual removal of restrictions rather than an abrupt one. This comes as an attempt to avoid a second wave of COVID-19 in Italy.
“We’re facing a calculated risk in the knowledge that the contagion curve may rise again,” Conte said in a televised address. He continued that “we have to accept it otherwise we will never be able to start up again.”
Italy has been one of the most negatively affected countries in the world by COVID-19. As of publication of this article, the country has had 31,908 deaths, 125,000 recovered, and 225,000 total confirmed cases of COVID-19.
