With the goal of reducing the number of people exposed to COVID-19 and immunizing the country’s workforce, Italy has become the first European country to make COVID-19 health permits mandatory.
The Italian government passed new legislation on Thursday that mandates digital immunization certificates for all employees across the country.
The health pass is often known as a “green pass,” which indicates whether or not a person has received all of the recommended vaccinations, has tested negative, or has just recovered from the illness. The passes are available in digital and physical formats.
From the 15th of October through the end of the year; any employee who fails to provide their employer with a health immunization certificate will be suspended without pay for up to five days but will not be sacked.
The original purpose of health cards was to make it easier for people to travel across Europe. Italy, on the other hand, requires that diners eat inside restaurants, museums, or gyms.
Italy’s health minister, Roberto Speranza, told reporters; “We are expanding the duty of the green pass to the entire world of work, public and private; and we are doing this for two key reasons: to make these areas safer and to make our vaccination program even stronger.”
According to officials; those who are unemployed or on a pension will be excluded from showing their immunization health permit.
In the wake of more than 4.6 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 130,000 deaths; Italy has instituted a mandatory requirement.
Most Italians have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccination and 68% are completely protected.
The mortality toll from COVID-19 in Europe is second only to Britain; which has reported more than 130,000 cases since the outbreak began.
Teachers and other public employees in Italy now must have a green permit; since health care personnel have been required to be vaccinated since March.