Safety Guidelines
Vaccination
In addition to the vaccination records required to attend the shadowing activities, Doctorsinitaly requires all students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to provide official proof of the vaccination. The date of the final vaccine dose must be at least 14 days prior to travel.
COVID Vaccination Certificates are currently valid up to 9 months from the second dose. Furthermore, the booster shots are considered valid up to 5 months past the date of injection. If the full vaccination status is due to expire while abroad, students should discuss the study abroad plans with the health care provider to determine whether they should get a vaccine booster prior to the start of the fellowship.
Latest update, January 3 2022
The Italian region of Lazio has been classified as low-moderate risk yellow zone from January 3rd. It is mandatory to wear masks also outdoors.
FFP2 masks are mandatory to access all forms of public transport, museums, stadium, shows open to the public that takes place outdoor and indoor in theaters, concert halls, cinemas, entertainment and live music venues (and other similar venues), and for events and sports that take place indoors or outdoors. In all these cases it is forbidden to consume food and drinks indoors.
From January 10th the Super Green Pass, which only applies to those who have been vaccinated in the last 9 months (starting from February 1st, the validity will be reduced to 6 months), or recovered from Covid-19 in the last 6 months, will be required to access all forms of public transport (including local and regional), bar counters, outdoor restaurants, ski lifts, hotels, parties after civil and religious ceremonies, conventions and fairs, swimming pools and wellness centers. Outdoor events are forbidden until January 31st, 2022.
More information at: https://www.italia.it/en/covid19
Latest update, December 14 2022
In accordance with Prime Ministerial Decree of March 2, 2021 Order of October 22 and Order of December 14, 2021 of the Minister of Health, people who have stayed in or transited Countries in List D (including United States) in the 14 days prior to entering Italy must:
- fill out a digital Passenger Locator Form (only in case of lack of necessary tools to fill out the dPLF, you can use a paper-based self-declaration) and present it to the carrier or any other authorised person, either printed or on one’s mobile device.
- present to the carrier, or any other authorised person, a certificate of vaccination stating that the cycle of vaccination has been completed with an EMA-authorised vaccine or EU Green Pass proving the same;
- undergo a molecular test, carried out by means of a swab and with negative result, in the 72 hours before they arrive, or an antigen test, carried out by means of a swab and with negative result, in the 24 hours before they arrive.
- After a stay/transit in the United Kingdom, a molecular test must be taken in the 48 hours before you arrive (antigen test in the 24 hours before you arrive).
In case of lack of the certification under point 2, travellers may still enter Italy but they must:
- undergo a molecular test carried out by means of a swab and with negative result, in the 72 hours prior to entering Italy (or 48 hours before your arrive, if you have stayed/transited in the United Kingdom); or an antigen test carried out by means of a swab and with negative result, in the 24 hours before you arrive.
- self-isolate for five (5) days, activating local health surveillance procedures by informing Local Health Authorities;
- get tested again, upon completing the prescribed self-isolation.
Travellers coming from Canada, Japan or the United States may enter/return to Italy with a certificate of vaccination or a certificate of recovery in the form of a Digital Covid Certificate, or equivalent certificate, issued by local Health Authorities. They must take also a molecular test in the 72 hours prior to entering Italy (or an antigen test in the 24 hours prior to entering Italy), carried out by means of a swab, and with negative result. Otherwise, travellers from Canada, Japan or the United States may still enter Italy following general provisions for Countries in List D, as described above (test, self-isolation and subsequent test).
The provisions described above are in force until January 31, 2022.
Border Officers in Italy may always request that you fill out a paper-based self-statement upon arrival.
Further restrictions to movements may be adopted at national and/or regional level depending on the risk assessment carried out on a regular basis by the Ministry of Health. You can find useful information on local restrictions on the website of the Ministry of Health, by clicking: Containment Measures in Italy.
Latest update, December 2022
The last ministerial decree of November 24th, 2022, starting from 6 December 2021 and until 15 January 2022, brings in the Super Green Pass which is granted only to the vaccinated and those who have recovered from coronavirus in the last six months. The Super Green Pass is needed to take part in social, cultural and sporting activities such as going to cinemas, theatres, gyms, nightclubs, ski lifts, and stadiums, as well as to be served indoors at bars and restaurant. The Green Pass system is now extended to other sectors: hotels, changing rooms for sports activities, regional and inter-regional rail transport services, and local public transport services. The new decree provides also for the extension of the vaccination obligation to the third dose for health workers, teachers and police officers starting from December 15th, 2021.
Latest update, November 2022
On October 22, 2021, the Ministry of Health signed the ordinance extending the measures for entry into Italy from third countries to 15 December 2021. Please, check which list your country of residence belongs to. See the list here.
Italy’s Green Pass, or certificazione verde (a digital or paper certificate showing that the holder has been vaccinated, tested negative or recovered from covid-19) effective from August 6, has been progressively expanded to:
– board domestic and international flights, Intercity and high-speed trains, long-distance buses passing through more than two regions, charter buses, and inter-regional ships and ferries (it’s not required to travel on buses, trams, and subways on local public transport networks, or on regional trains).
– to dine indoors in restaurants and bars
– to enter museums, cinema, cultural venues, and archaeological sites
– to enter stadiums, gyms, and swimming pools
– all workplaces
Latest Update, July 27, 2021
As of 6 August 2021, everyone over the age of 12 must present the COVID-19 digital green certificate to access gyms, swimming pools, museums, cinemas, theatres, sports stadiums, and other public venues, including indoor seating areas at bars and restaurants.
Update, July 7, 2021
Wearing masks outdoors in Italy is no longer required from Monday 28th June as the entire country now is in the lowest-risk ‘white zone’ category under the national system of coronavirus restrictions. People in Italy are no longer obliged to wear masks outdoors, provided they are not in a crowded area, however the requirement to carry a mask remains in place.
Within white and yellow regions there are no limitations for night movements. In orange and red regions, during curfew hours, from 12 am to 5 am., all unnecessary movements are still prohibited and allowed only by carrying a self-certification.
Before entering Italy, from any country of origin and for any travel reason, the digital European Passenger Locator Form (dPLF) must be compiled. Passengers travelling on COVID-tested flights authorized by the Ministry of Health can enter Italy without having to comply with health surveillance and fiduciary isolation obligations.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation or Green Pass Regulation entered into application on 01 July 2021. It is a digital proof that a person has either been vaccinated against COVID-19, received a negative test or recovered from COVID-19. Holders of a valid EU digital COVID certificate should in principle not be subject to testing or quarantine when travelling within the EU.
It will help to ensure that restrictions currently in place in the EU can be lifted in a coordinated manner.
CDC COVID-19 certificates are fully recognized to travel to Italy. Students vaccinated in the United States can prove it via the “white card” bearing the CDC logo available from the CDC app V-Safe, at the vaccination center or at the doctor’s office.