ITALY DANCES FOR JOY AS CLUBS REOPEN

ROME: Italians are being allowed to strut their stuff on the dance floor again as nightclubs reopen after 14 months of Covid closure.

As contagion eases in Italy, a government-appointed panel of experts has allowed clubs to welcome back revellers, but only if they show a vaccine passport. Bouncers will also be asked to keep capacity to 35 per cent.

Italy shut its clubs down in August last year as reports of clusters in Sardinian nightclubs emerged before Italy’s second wave of Covid.

Dance floors had only been open for two months after closing during Italy’s first wave, which erupted in February of last year. During their brief reopening, dancers were told by the government to stay about two metres away from each other, prompting angry accusations from nightclub owners that experts “clearly don’t go to discos”.

Maurizio Pasca, head of the Italian nightlife association, said at the time: “Do we put crosses on the dance floor where people can stand, and will the government issue a decree with a new kind of dance to suit the rules?”

The rules on reopening this week allow people to go cheek to cheek, and while they must wear a mask when at the bar, they can remove them when they hit the dance floor.