Confusion as visitors to Italy told NHS tests not available to them

TRAVELLERS to Italy are facing chaos after first being told they cannot use NHS tests to meet a new Italian requirement to prove they do not have Covid on entering the country and then learning some of Italy’s airports are only offering the service from 9am to 5pm.

The plans of those with Italian holidays already booked were thrown into disarray earlier this week when Roberto Speranza, the health minister, announced they would need to have a negative test within 72 hours of arrival.

The confusion was compounded when the Foreign Office advised that travellers would not be able to use the NHS testing system to satisfy the requirement.

Currently, people can only get a Covid-19 test in the UK if they are showing symptoms or for other medical circumstances, such as before heading into hospital for surgery.

The UK’S testing capacity has also struggled to keep up with demand in recent weeks.

Advice on the Foreign Office’s website for those travelling to Italy, said: “You should not use the NHS testing service to get a test in order to facilitate your travel to another country. You should arrange to take a private test.”

This has left people facing the cost of booking private tests, which can be in excess of £150 a person, but even these cannot guarantee results are delivered within the required 72-hour period.

Passengers tested in the UK will have to present a valid negative certificate on arrival that falls within that timespan.

Although tourists have been told they will be allowed to enter Italy if they are tested just after landing, not all Italian airports are currently offering tests to incoming passengers and, of those that do, some only offer the service during working hours.

Italy’s health ministry has warned that anyone entering the country without a test could be charged with a crime.

The confusion led to people saying they were cancelling their trips rather than face the scramble for a test or trying to get one after landing.

One UK traveller on Twitter wrote: “Just cancelled our week’s holiday to Sicily. Meant to be going for half-term [but] the testing situation is too risky and also quarantine could come in at any time.”