Italy Updated Covid Requirements

The Prime Minister made an announcement that included a lot of "is expected to", "will likely" etc., but the announced plan is to ease off restrictions piecemeal over the next few months. The current announcement includes the following draft provisions:

April 1, Green Pass (CDC card for Americans) may no longer be required on public transportation
April 30, indoor mask mandate may be dropped
May 1, Green Pass requirement for indoor venues may be dropped

Other workplace restrictions will be lifted over time, not relevant for tourists.

THIS IS ALL DRAFT. No final decisions made yet, since case rates are rising again. Don't take this as an official ruling. Official updates can be found here as usual: COVID-19 Travellers

Source: The Local Italy (might be paywalled, I'm not sure)

I'm actually a bit nervous about this. My tour is May 2 in Italy. If the US still requires us to test negative to come back to the US, dropping all these requirements just makes it more possible to end up covid positive before the return journey home :( Along with the US trying to drop mask mandates on planes and yet no talk that I know of regarding the test to return, I'm getting quite stressed at the danger level rising here.

Alexandra.
If you go, wear a good quality mask. The pandemic isn’t over just because restrictions are easing.

Alexandra, I hear you. My family selected Italy as our first travel destination in years specifically because of their particularly strict protocols, which can help protect us from infection. I hope they decide to keep at least the most critical ones (masking indoors and on public transportation) to prevent a major surge like the UK and Germany are starting to see since dropping everything. Otherwise, we may have to rethink.

Alexandra, I have the same concerns for the same reasons, I am traveling alone, so I’ll probably get most meals to go or eat outside (I tend to eat rather early anyway), and I’ll most likely wear a mask whenever I get too close to people, which will decrease my risk somewhat. It is worrisome.

Keep in mind that Italy really took a big hit early on in the Pandemic, and is very well vaccinated. I was there in September 2021, and felt much safer there than at home. Buy traveler insurance for the worst case, be cautious, take precautions, but go and expect to have a wonderful experience.

A few months ago there was talk of the travel industry appealing to the government to drop the testing requirement for re entry into the US. Does anyone know if they’re still pushing for that? Were they officially told no? It seems like it just sort of disappeared.

KRS
Travel industries groups certainly want the testing restriction dropped,and are lobbying for it. From Feb. 26:
https://www.ustravel.org/press/new-cdc-guidance-travel-aviation-business-groups-urge-biden-admin-lift-covid-travel

I got to Italy today. Everywhere I've been indoors requires an N95 mask, including public transportation. I was asked for my Green Pass 3 times today, on Trenitalia, at my B&B and at a restaurant.

I flew on El Al to Milano and even though it's an Israeli airline, they said that Italy requires everyone on flights entering Italy to wear N95s and passengers who didn't have N95s would not be boarded.

Mike, I guess that’s my point. That article is from almost a month ago. You’d think given that most mask mandates are being lifted within the US at this time, testing for re entry would be in the mainstream news more, but I haven’t heard anything about it other than on travel forums such as this. It’s just surprising to me. Then again, maybe most Americans aren’t able to or interested in traveling abroad right now, which might explain the lack of resolution on this issue.

regarding the testing requirement for return to the usa. i just got back from a trip to india but the current cdc rule is that you need a 'viral' test within 1 day of your flight no matter if you are a citizen, resident alien or a visitor, regardless of vaccination status. one day! last summer it was within 3 days. unless the usa changes the requirements make sure your return flight is not on a monday or a day before a major holiday when testing sites may be closed.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

The change to one day happened a few months ago.
There will always be a pharmacy open or if concerned you can do the proctored self test which has been mentioned here many many times.

I just read that Canada is dropping the testing requirement as of April 1, in case anyone here is Canadian.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/23/business/airline-ceo-mask-mandate-testing-requirements/index.html

This would be great if they can push it through quickly!

I wish they’d keep the mask requirement on flights
We’ll definitely always wear masks either way