With daily Covid-19 cases rising sharply again, Italy will soon insist that people have passes showing their health status to gain access to gyms, museums, cinemas, inside restaurants and other venues.
Premier Mario Draghi’s government approved a decree on Thursday ordering use of the “green” passes, starting on August 6.
To be eligible for a pass, people must prove they have received at least one vaccine dose in the past nine months, recovered from Covid-19 in the past six months or tested negative in the previous 48 hours.
The passes will be needed to dine at tables inside restaurants or cafes, to attend sports events, town fairs and conferences, and to enter casinos, bingo parlours and pools, among other activities, officials say.
The documentation is needed to “to keep economic activity open″ and will allow people to enjoy entertainment ”with the assurance they won’t be next to contagious people", Mr Draghi said.
“The Italian economy is going well," he said. "It’s reviving and Italy is growing at a rhythm superior to that of other EU nations."
About 40 million people in Italy have already downloaded a green pass, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said.
Mr Speranza said the certification was already required to attend wedding receptions and visit residents of care homes.
More than half of people in Italy older than 12 and thus eligible for Covid-19 vaccines have received two doses, and several million more have received a first dose.
But fuelled in part by huge street celebrations after Italy’s wins in the recent European football championships this month, new daily cases have climbed again.
Health experts say the Delta variant of the coronavirus is rapidly spreading in much of Italy, but thanks to vaccination, “pressure on hospitals is strongly diminished", Mr Draghi said.
While Italy was reporting nearly 400 virus-related deaths a day four months ago, the number has been far lower lately, with fewer than a dozen deaths recorded on some recent days.
“The vaccine campaign permitted the economy to revive,″ Mr Draghi said. ”The first thing I have to say is to invite all Italians to get vaccinated and to do it right away.”
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Rating: 4/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULT
Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Premier League clubs spent £230 million (Dh1.15 billion) on January transfers, the second-highest total for the mid-season window, the Sports Business Group at Deloitte said in a report.
Champions parade (UAE timings)
7pm Gates open
8pm Deansgate stage showing starts
9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral
9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street
10pm City players on stage
11pm event ends
2019 ASIAN CUP FINAL
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi