Seeking insight about Italy COVID protocols with recent visits

All protocols will be eliminated on May 1.
Currently, until the end of April, you need proof of vaccination (CDC card should suffice) for entering indoor venues (including dining indoor at restaurants).
No masking required outdoors, although some might mask.
I think the airlines still require N95 on board.
You will need to test negative 24 hours before boarding your plane back to the US (that is a US requirement still, unless there is a change in the future)

We leave in 25 days
Have no intention of cancelling, this trip has already been postponed 3 times

We will continue to mask and be vigilant
We’ll get our 2nd booster before we go

I still feel that we’ll be safer there than traveling domestically ( been there, done that and it was unnerving)

I’m in Florence now. I’ve been asked for my CDC card on the fast train and the duomo (haven’t been anywhere else official yet). Most people aren’t wearing them outdoors, but enough are that you can if you like and no one will pay attention. I did put mine up a few times on the duomo when there were too many people near me. One thing I’ve noticed here is that people actually wear them correctly, as opposed to in the US where people wear them around their chin or with their nose sticking out. There were a few Americans on the plane that didn’t wear them or kept them down, and the plane made an announcement reminding people they’d be in trouble if they didn’t put them on.

Do we have to wear the N95 on international flights vs. paper ones like on domestic?

Most people had N95, although not everyone. I think N95s are required, but not enforced. I did see several people on the train today without masks or wearing them under their noses. All men, interestingly.

Just returned Sunday from Florence and Siena. Close to 100% masked inside, mix on streets. Had to show vax cards at almost every restaurant and museum, cathedral, etc.

You are required to wear N95 type masks on the flights to and from Italy and they enforced that on our departing flight. Other flights paper masks were fine, and that was also the case for being indoors.

I live in Italy and feel safer here than I did when I returned to the US for a month last fall. There is close to 100% compliance with the Covid protocols and over 90% of vaccine-eligible people in Italy have been vaccinated, a far higher percentage than in the US. Rather than the patchwork of state and federal rules in the US, there is a much more uniform approach here and that makes compliance easier and more socially acceptable I think. Having said that, the rules are being relaxed starting tomorrow, so we'll have to see what happens over the next month or so. I hope you will visit--Italy is so worth it!
Cynthia

I've been in Italy for 2 weeks now. Flew into Milan, train to Venice, then Florence, now with a car in various places in Tuscany and Umbria.

When I checked in for my flight to Milan, I was told I would not be allowed to board without an N95 mask, Italian requirement for all flights to Italy. Indoor masking is required everywhere. A couple of times I've forgotten to pull up my mask and been gently reminded on public transportation. Hotels and trains, restaurants and sights, have all checked my Green Pass (you need 3 shots unless the 2nd was within the time limit). Everyone has the app on their cell phones to read the QR codes.

In my hotel dining room in Perugia, people are expected to wear their masks when they aren't sitting at their tables. This is mostly at breakfast when people are up and down getting food and beverages.

Most people wear N95 masks. Sometimes I wear a surgical mask instead (I've seen a few other people wearing them) and it is apparently acceptable.

It's much more useful to look at hospitalizations than cases.

Does as kn95 mask meet the n95 requirements? Thanks

Currently in Rome and heading for RS tour in Sicily. N95 masks are not the only masks being used. N95 truly is a medical mask and needs fitting to be effective. Most folks are wearing KN 95 or surgical masks. We wore KN 95 on the flights from US. No cloth masks or bandanas. Have been asked for vaccine cards for hotel/restaurants/museums with varying degrees of scrutiny ( most very cursory). Guidelines are changing today, but we’ll still mask up indoors and in crowds. On the whole there has been no “drama” over rules, it just is what it is.

It is super easy to buy Italy’s version of the KN95s at the pharmacy if you find you need or want another. This morning I was not asked for my vaccine card at Accademia, but I was asked in a little restaurant. I wear mine below my chin when I’m out wandering the streets, so if I pass people I can slip it up quickly. In shops everyone seems to put on a mask when I enter wearing mine. I’m terrified of testing positive before I try to return home, so I’m trying to be especially cautious.

We arrived in Venice 03/20, then to Florence, and are now in Montepulciano until 4/9. We have felt very safe because masks, vaccination proof (our little white cards are accepted as alternative to Italy’s Green Pass) and (often) temp checks are required everywhere. I understand this could change soon but I hope not. It’s just accepted as what you do - no mask, no entry - period. Our trip was cancelled twice since it was originally scheduled in 3/20, so we’re very happy to be here now. We flew on British Air via Heathrow and masks were required on the plane and in the US and IT airports and train stations - not in the UK. I would worry more if they relaxed the restrictions before you come - people we talked to from the UK seemed pretty ambivalent about the situation there. You don’t have to be tested (or we didn’t) at any point getting here, but we will have to be tested within 24 hours of returning to the US. Many pharmacies do this testing - you will probably need to stop in and make a reservation for this.

About masks - you need an N95 type mask or FFP2, the European equivalent, especially on airplanes and other transportation. I ordered a bunch from Amazon. I think the FFP2 masks fit sorta strangely. That said, once you’re here, you see people in all kinds of masks. I don’t think KN95 protect as well as the N95. A surprising number of people wear them outside as well as inside - the rest (like me) carry them.

The Covid protocols changed as of today, so you should not be asked for proof of vaccine to enter museums, but it does still apply to indoor dining.

Cynthia

I haven't figured out what changed yesterday (April 1). My hotel still asked for the Green Pass yesterday, though the hotel I left yesterday morning had switched to full self-service buffet. I had tea and croissant this morning indoors - no questions asked. At lunch, I wasn't asked for the Green Pass, but I think it was a staff oversight, because I saw a server checking phones at the table next to me, which could only have been for the passes. Staff were all wearing masks. A lot of people are wearing masks outdoors but it could very well be due to the cold (it's been single degrees here in Umbria/Tuscany brrrr), rather than any regulatory requirement.

Thanks, everyone for your responses and for chiming in with your observations. I'm so grateful for your responses. They're really helpful as I'm walking the line between keeping or rescheduling my upcoming trip and not knowing where else to turn for advice/insight!

So confused, does the US white CDC card work as the EU green card? I'm vaccinated within 9 mo requirement but cannon find clear answer if just CDC card will work?

Yes
Your CDC card works

There are dozens of discussions on this topic here in forum

You’ll want to get booster before your trip

What about unvaccinated people?
Can they go indoors or dine indoors at all?

I hope not