It looks visiting Italy could be off everyone’s lists till October this year. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on July 28 that the state of emergency in the country will be extended till October 15. The move comes as a measure to curb the spread of coronavirus and keep the country safe. The country had also restricted the entry of people from a few Middle Eastern countries earlier this month.
Italy’s State Of Emergency Was To End On July 31
The Italian government had first announced a state of emergency towards the end of January, earlier this year. Despite this, the country still registered an extremely high number of Covid-19 cases. It became the second worst hit country from the pandemic in mid-March. However, the lockdown was gradually lifted from May, and the cases drastically reduced.
The country’s state of emergency was initially scheduled to end on July 31. Now, the government has further extended it, and the officials will review norms regarding travel restrictions, social distancing, and mask-wearing among others.
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Currently, These Are The Countries Under A State Of Emergency
While the Indian government imposed a state of lockdown from March 25, several other countries have declared a state of emergency to curb the pandemic. The latest one is North Korea, which announced a state of emergency in a border town on July 26. Thailand has decided to extend its state of emergency till August 31. The country opened its borders for selective tourists from July 1.
Also Read: 12 Countries In Asia That Have Reopened For Travel
India To Operate Flights To US, UK
Some countries are opening up their borders in a bid to revive their economy through tourism. But with the state of emergency in Italy extending well into October, travelling to the country is off the cards for now. Currently, international travelling in India is restricted, with the exception of flights operating under the Vande Bharat Mission. The mission will enter its fifth phase starting August 1. As part of this, flights will be operating to the US, the UK and Germany. Meanwhile, this is the quarantine period for international travellers arriving to India.
Also Read: People Must Not Pay Higher Fares For Vande Bharat Flights When Booking With Travel Agents: Govt
With the pandemic severely affecting tourism all over the world, the road to recovery is a long one. Responsible travelling for only necessary reasons is the need of the hour. Till then, stay safe and continue to watch this space for more updates.