Teachers and staff in Italy’s schools and universities, as well as university students, are also obliged to have the green pass under new rules that came into effect on Wednesday.
The certificate – which can be presented in paper or digital form – shows that people have been vaccinated, tested negative for COVID-19 in the previous 48 hours or recovered from the virus.
It has already been required since early August to enter cinemas, museums and indoor sports venues, or to eat indoors at restaurants.
The government has warned there will be penalties for school and university employees who fail to comply with the new rules, similar to the system already in place for doctors and nurses.
After five days off work due to not having the green pass, employees’ absence will be regarded as “unjustified”, leading to the suspension of their employment and pay.
As the new school year begins and students return to the classroom over the coming weeks, the previous health protocols – including masks for kids over the age of six, staggered entry times, temperature checks and social distancing – are set to remain in place.
Students, however, are not required to have the green pass, which in any case does not apply to children aged under 12.
The pass is now required to board Intercity and high-speed trains, as well as domestic flights, long-distance buses and inter-regional ferries.
It will not be mandatory for local public transport networks or for regional trains.
“In the event that the traveller does not show the pass or it turns out to be invalid, the traveller is invited to move to an area reserved for passengers without a green pass and will have to get off at the next stop,” according to Italian news agency ANSA.
The new travel rules prompted ‘No Green Pass’ and ‘No Vax’ protesters to organise demonstrations across Italy on Wednesday, leading transport unions to call for a “security plan” for staff and commuters.
Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese said there would be “zero tolerance” for anyone found guilty of trying to interrupt a public service, which is a crime in Italy, while trade unions stated that “anyone who decides to interrupt services, in the name of the freedom to not get vaccinated, will not have our support”.
Italy recognises all equivalent health passes from other EU countries and proof of immunisation issued from any of these five non-EU countries, including on paper.
