Anyone currently in Italy? Temperature check on covid?

In Italy now; been traveling north Italy for about a week. For us, the USA change of status has had no impact on the Italian rules and restrictions. We're showing proof of vaccination at each hotel, restaurant, etc. Masks have been worn inside except when dining...we have had no temperature checks.

For the most part, rule compliance has been good so you feel safer.

Hi JJ
I am in Rome now (but leave today). You are temp checked at the entrance of all museums & sites as well as providing proof of vaccination. All restaurants but one checked our CDC cards.

As far as masks are concerned, when indoors or inside monuments, they are strict. But when it come to walking around outdoors, it’s a mix (we never took ours off). The weekend was absolutely clogged with people. I can’t imagine what summer crowds are like because it was absolutely terrible. Weekdays are much less congested.

I know this isn’t exactly what you asked for but it gives you an idea of how things are progressing in terms of seriousness.

Safe travels
Amanda

We have been in Italy for the last few weeks, first Venice, currently Florence, next the Amalfi Coast. The only change has been that wearing masks is required at all times within the city center of Florence. The locals are going about their business. Christmas lights are up, people are shopping and visiting the sites as usual. Health passes are checked as a matter of course, and sometimes temperatures.
The local guides and shopkeepers I’ve been in contact with are carrying on as usual. Train travel requires a mask, of course, but we’re headed out this Sunday on a train and had no trouble making those arrangements.

At the moment the Government in Italy is pushing to do the most of booster vaccinations possible, to keep down the number of people hospitalized. The control of Green Pass (or CDC certificate) is done in the most of places. Instead the temperature check (even if required) is not done so often: some places do it, other not.
In the hospitals the number of Covid affected Intensive Care is increased, but still far below an emergency status.
The increasing rate of affected people is higher than in summer (+0.2/0.3% per day), but much lower that one year ago (+1/1.5%per day) and generally a little lower than the US rate (+0.3/0.4% per day).
Some cities (Bologna or Florence, for example) requires the mask to be worn even outdoor at least in the center where is much crowded.
Another decision is that a swab will be very probably required for any visitor entering in Italy even if vaccinated.
At the moment the idea is that the worst step for the winter will be to wear mask outdoor everywhere, but further limitations seems unlikely.
Omicron version is spreading, but isn't a version who's giving worst effects that the previous ones.

I read yesterday about the CDC change of status about Italy. The suggestion is to be vaccinated before travel to Italy. OK, yes... but if you aren't vaccinated you cannot do almost nothing in Italy, so doesn't make sense to travel. Even if you are a professional you cannot enter a company, a factory, an office, a hotel, an event.... so why travel to Italy?

I would guess, given the relatively higher rates of vaccination in Italy and the greater care taken with barrier gestures, that one would be safer in Italy than in most places in the United States (I don’t know the figures or tendencies for Seattle, but speaking generally).

I'm on the same boat. Planned Travel vacation several months ago - my travel dates - Leaving USA Dec 23 - return from Rome Jan 5th with family (2 teenagers). Took Travel insurance. (Fully vaccinated with booster). We are in limbo with the new CDC upgrade to Level 4. (Trip - Venice, Florence, Amalfi and return from Rome - Airbnb stay at all places)

I have couple of days to make a decision. Thinking around the worst scenario - if anyone tests positive on the way home (hearing new variant is more contiguous) - what can i plan in terms of stay for quarantine in Rome. Do i try to book hotel or Airbnb to stay. I assuming 10+ days. Thanks!

Just returned from 5 weeks in Umbria + 4 days in Rome. My husband and I absolutely felt safer the whole time in Italy than we do at home --- I would not dream of going to a restaurant in America, for example. We got so used to everybody wearing masks indoors in Italy that it's been kind of shocking to go into a store here.

Do consider the actual plane trip, though. Amsterdam airport on our way to Italy felt fine, but JFK coming home was a covid nightmare: much crowding, much poor or no masking (including by quite a few airport employees), and long, long crowded lines going through security for more than half an hour.

Received this text from Air France this afternoon -
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Air France AF xxxx on 16/12/2021. We inform you that, upon decision of local authorities, as of 16 December, entry conditions to Italy evolve: it is now mandatory for all customers, vaccinated OR not, to present a negative RT-PCR test performed less than 48 hours before the flight, or antigenic taken less than 24 hours before the flight. Entry conditions for non-vaccinated customers remain unchanged. Thank you for your understanding.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

So, the proctored test we took last night is no longer usable and went to the pharmacy to get tested AGAIN.

Check the regs, take deep breaths and be kind to the folks in the pharmacies, they aren’t having a great day either.

We are cancelling and moving the trip to the spring. We are with kids and don't relish the thought of having to quarantine if one the four of us catches it. Omicron too much of an unknown for us to not just push back the trip. Christmas at home is still fun and now we have our spring trip planned!

Also, Canada just released an advisory:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-canada-reimposes-advisory-against-all-non-essential-international/

There is a firewall to that article. I’m supposed to fly to Canada for a trip in Feb.

We are in Rome now—just arrived yesterday. Weather is great and dining outside is fabulous, with just a light jacket.

Everyone has checked our CDC cards and temperature today. It is very crowded on the streets, but mask compliance indoors is pretty much 100 percent and outdoors almost that when very crowded.

We’ve just left Milan and are in Bologna now. As others have reported, mask compliance is excellent indoors at museums, etc and on trains. Streets are very busy and masks seem more optional on the streets - maybe 60% or so. All indoor venues check green cards and we have had a number of smaller cafe-type locations that tell us they’ve not seen US white cards before. All have accepted them once we explain, but if you can download vaccine validation for scanning it would be easier. Also good we had our boosters as we’ve been told ours would have “expired.” We feel safe except for eating and drinking indoors. Which, of course, is often since we are in Italy! It is foggy and in the low 30’s here, so we have been dining inside and often there’s little distance between tables & masks are off.
We’ve seen long lines for testing at some pharmacies - we are keeping our masks on as much as possible & our fingers crossed!
FYI - We have found some attractions require prebooked reservations for entrance, even when not busy, so I’d recommend looking ahead a day or so. And seems more areas have been closed off within museums, etc. Not sure if that is COVID related for spacing, seasonal or ?

Any additional comments on what it is like in Italy now - Venice, Florence, Rome and Amalfi? Family Vacation from USA to Italy during holidays. Wondering if there will be a lockdown like Netherlands or UK?

LC:
Report from Florence yesterday (last post on this thread):
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/will-florence-shut-down

But sorry, no one can predict whether there will be a tightening of mandates and, if so, what those mandates would be at this point. Note that the government will be meeting on the 23rd to evaluate the situation:

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/italy-new-covid-restrictions-amid-omicron-concerns.html

Also note the current mandate requiring masking outside in the regions listed:
https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/rome-lazio-region-masks-outdoors-covid-italy.html

The rule of thumb lately is that travel abroad means being able to be very flexible and roll with potentially abrupt changes. Your group also needs to be able to quarantine in place for the required isolation period should one or more of you pick up the virus. No fun, I know, but unfortunately it is what it is. Fingers crossed for you!

@LC
From Italy
At the moment the great change expected is the use of mask compulsory even outdoor. Is just valid for the holiday period (until the 9th of January) in several cities. Each city can decide by itself, so isn't easy find a list.
Several cities are deleting events for New Year's eve (public concerts, shows and similar) to avoid crowded situation. I mean events free in public spaces like squares, because the events in theatres or restaurants are confirmed. We are still very far from a lockdown status like one year ago and the general feeling is that won't be necessary.

We are in Florence now. People are wearing masks indoors and outdoors. Restaurants, museums and trains ask for your vaccination card. Florence is fairly crowded, but less than normal. Everyone seems to be carrying on normally.

We are in Florence now. The streets on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were very deserted in some areas, but certain piazzas and the Ponte Vecchio are more crowded. Everyone is wearing masks indoors, but less so outdoors in the uncrowded parts of the city. Italy seems to be handling the COVID situation well now.

It's lovely here right now...best time to visit in so many ways. There are few crowds and just gorgeous lights everywhere.