Italy braces for train track protests against COVID-19 ‘Green passes’

In a bid to rein in transmission of infections now that many have returned from summer holidays, domestic travellers in Italy must now show a so-called “Green Pass.”

The Italian government vowed to crack down on demonstrators threatening to block train tracks throughout the country on Wednesday as a rule requiring tests or vaccines takes effect for long-distance domestic public transport. In a bid to rein in transmission of infections now that many have returned from summer holidays, domestic travellers in Italy must now show a so-called “Green Pass.” This certifies that they have received at least one dose of the vaccine more than 15 days ago, have tested negative in the past 48 hours or have recovered from in the past six months. The rule, announced weeks ago, applies to domestic flights, train travel between regions and sea travel. Some ferries are exempt, notably those serving many tiny islands which have no other connections to the mainland, and those used by commuters between Sicily and the southern tip of the mainland in Calabria.