Italian authorities have announced that they will maintain the mandatory COVID-19 mask requirement for citizens on flights to and from Italy, although the European Union will end the obligation to wear masks at airports and on planes on May 16.
According to SchengenVisaInfo.com, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have agreed to remove the mask requirement on planes to further simplify the travel process.
”Starting next week, face masks will no longer be mandatory for air travel in all circumstances, broadly in line with the changing requirements of European authorities for public transport,” EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky emphasized.
However, Italian authorities have announced that all long-distance public transport, such as buses, trams, regional trains, subways, ferries, planes, and high-speed trains, must wear FFP2 masks until June 15.
In addition, Italian authorities announced that mandatory mask requirements for theaters, nursing homes, hospitals, indoor sporting events, schools, universities, and concerts will remain in effect until June 15.
As part of efforts to further simplify the travel process, the Italian government previously announced that travelers will no longer have to wear masks when entering restaurants, bars, museums and supermarkets.
However, it was clarified that the requirement to wear a mask remains in effect in certain locations.
In addition to Italy, Spanish authorities have announced that they will continue to maintain the mandatory mask requirement on flights despite the EU’s recommendations.
Spanish Health Minister Carolina Darias confirmed in a statement that the mask rule will remain in effect.
In this regard, Darias noted: “We have recently taken measures, cautiously and always with the consensus of the experts, in this case, the Interdisciplinary Health Commission.”
Such an announcement means that travelers planning to visit Spain will be asked to carefully observe the requirements currently in force.
”We have recently taken some measures, cautiously and always with the consensus of the experts, in this case, the Interdisciplinary Health Commission,” Darias stressed.
Additionally, Spanish authorities have announced that they will extend the current COVID-19 restrictions for another month until June 15.
SchengenVisaInfo.com previously reported that the following European airlines have lifted the mandatory mask requirement: Jet2, EasyJet, Norwegian Air and British Airways.
Post time: Jun-17-2022