The Italian authorities have introduced stricter COVID-19 measures for all its citizens and travellers who plan to visit the country.

In line with the current new rules that started being effective on Monday, January 10, unvaccinated and unrecovered persons won’t be able to access several public services, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

Access to hotels and other accommodation facilities will only be permitted to those who have been fully vaccinated or recovered from the COVID-19 disease.

Moreover, access to public transport, including planes, trains, ships, and ferries, will also be possible only for those who hold a valid vaccination or recovery certificate.

Museums, exhibitions, festivals, and fairs, among others, will also only permit entry to those who hold a Strengthened Green Pass.

The Strengthened Green Pass refers to the requirement to either hold a vaccination or recovery certificate, meaning that negative COVID-19 tests are not accepted.

Previously, those wishing to enter the places mentioned above were able to do so by presenting a negative COVID-19 test result. Nonetheless, since the country is trying to prevent the further spread of the Omicron variant, a negative test no longer grants access to most places.

Moreover, the Italian authorities have highlighted that the entry rules for incoming travellers will continue to remain valid. All persons who reach Italy must fill in a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) as well as present a vaccination or recovery certificate, along with a PCR or rapid antigen test that was taken before arrival in Italy.

Those who are unable to present one of the two certificates will have to present a negative test and undergo a five-day quarantine requirement.

The World Health Organization (WHO) data shows that Italy has registered 1,108,863 new infection cases in the last seven days. The figures suggest that the infection rates within the country have significantly increased.