Italy demands proof Britons are free of virus before entry

BRITONS travelling to Italy will have to prove they are clear of Covid-19 before they are allowed to enter the country.

Anyone arriving from the UK will now have to provide a Covid test certificate with a negative result taken no more than 72 hours before their arrival in Italy.

The move follows a surge in coronavirus cases in Britain to 136.6 per 100,000 of the population compared with Italy’s 31.6 per 100,000.

Some Italian airports will offer a free test upon arrival, or at another Italian test centre, but the Foreign Office warned: “If you test positive within Italy, you will be required to quarantine. The time spent in quarantine can vary greatly from a few days to several weeks. Travellers should be prepared for this eventuality.”

Travellers f rom Spain, France, Greece, Croatia, Malta, the Netherlands, Belgium and the Czech Republic will also face tests on arrival in Italy.

The move came as the Greek islands of Santorini and Zante are to be opened up for quarantine-free travel after Covid-19 levels dropped.

They are among five Greek islands including Lesbos, Tinos and Serifos restored to the Government’s “green” list after quarantine was reimposed a month ago after outbreaks of Covid and cases of holidaymakers bringing the disease back to Britain.

Mainland Greece is already quarantine free for UK holidaymakers and will be joined by the five islands from 4am tomorrow.

Italy and Sweden, whose rising Covid rates had raised fears of a travel ban, remain on the “green” list.