Premier Mario Draghi's cabinet is set
to approve a decree on Thursday further extending the scope of
the Green Pass by making the COVID-19 vaccine passport
obligatory for public and private sector workers from the middle
of October, sources said Wednesday.
There had been talk of the government making the Green Pass
obligatory for the public sector first and then extending it to
the private sector further down the line.
But Regional Affairs Minister Mariastella Gelmini said Wednesday
that the government was set to make the Green Pass "obligatory
not just for public workers but also for those from the private
sector.
"Immunizing the overwhelming majority of the population is the
only way to contain contagion," Gelmini added.
"The government is ready to accelerate with the Green Pass.
"We have taken a clear path. Tomorrow's cabinet meeting will
definitely be an important moment".
Draghi is set to have talks with Italy's big trade unons about
the issue on Wednesday.
The government had been expected to further extend the scope of
the Green Pass last week, but there was a delay due to the
reservations of Matteo Salvini's League and some technical
issues that needed to be solved.
The other parties in the ruling coalition have been pushing hard
for the role of the Green Pass to be further amplified, saying
this will reduce the risk of a new rise in COVID contagion
making restrictions necessary.
"The parties of the ruling majority must not betray the
government's mission, which is to safeguard the country from the
epidemic," said 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader and ex-premier
Giuseppe Conte.
"There is a political party that is messing around with its
voters, does not have clear ideas and is not working in the
interest of the country".
Labour Minister Andrea Orlando of the centre-left Democratic
Party (PD) said that "there will certainly be an extension of
the use of the Green Pass".
The green certificate, which shows that someone is vaccinated
for the coronavirus, has recovered from it or has recently
tested negative, is necessary to do many things in Italy, such
travel abroad or on high-speed trains and on domestic flights,
attend certain events and to be able to sit at a table inside
bars and restaurants.
Any adult that enters a school, including a parent, must have it
and so must all higher education staff and students.
Civil Service Minister Renato Brunetta said Friday that the
Green Pass COVID-19 vaccine passport will be obligatory for all
workers in Italy eventually.
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