Italy easing COVID rules on quarantine, masks, vaccination

ROME (AP) — Italy, where the COVID-19 pandemic first erupted in the West in February 2020, is easing many restrictions over the coming weeks, including requirements for most workplace vaccination and mask-wearing.

Health Minister Roberto Speranza told reporters after a Cabinet meeting on Thursday that quarantine will no longer be required for those coming in contact with someone testing positive for the coronavirus. That's especially good news for children, he noted, since they will be able to keep attending school in case of a positive-testing classmate.

But people testing positive will still be required to isolate.

With the easing of Italy's rules, workers older than 50 will no longer risk suspension from work if they aren’t vaccinated. Instead, through April, unvaccinated older workers will be able to access workplaces if they test negative.

However, health care workers, and those employed in nursing homes, regardless of age, will still be required to be vaccinated through the end of 2022.

Masks will still be required through April 30 for indoor venues like restaurants, gyms, pools, theaters and discos, as well as workplaces.

Italy earlier this year lifted its requirement for mask-wearing outdoors.

Soon, seating capacity in stadiums for sports events and concerts will return to 100%.

But Premier Mario Draghi cautioned the country that if necessary, restrictions could return in the case of a new surge in COVID-19 infections.

“At today's Cabinet meeting, we took fundamental steps toward reopening” the country, Draghi said. “But naturally we are observing with great attention how the epidemiological curve is going, and we're ready to adapt ” if necessary with stricter measures.

After steadily dropping in recent weeks, the daily number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and...