Europe’s Cononavirus epicenter, Italy, is set to re-open in early June. Who can head to the embattled country?
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Italy Was Europe’s Cononavirus Epicenter
Following China, Italy was at the forefront of Coronavirus outbreak centers. Until the US surpassed Italy with more cases, Italy was home to the largest outbreak outside of China. Italy still stands high on the list but has fallen to second behind Spain of European countries.
Re-opening June 3rd, 2020
Italy has announced that the country will re-open its borders on June 3rd, 2020 to European travellers and those from the Uk. While the Lombardy region (northern Italy, near Milan) was the hardest hit, this region is not excluded from the re-opening.
Remaining hot spots like the United States, and the world’s new hot spot, South America, are excluded. However, other nations can be added to the approved list which may be on or before June 15th. It is likely (though not yet confirmed) that other countries will be able to visit Italy following June 15th.
Which Countries Are Next?
Spain, another coronavirus hotspot, has announced that La Liga (professional football/soccer league) will begin playing in empty stadiums on June 8th. Spain expects to open in July. Germany can “afford a little audacity” and has begun its re-opening. Japan is trying to lure visitors back (down 99.9%) with a $12.5bn USD program to pay up to half of a tourist’s trips.
Some South American countries are exercising extreme caution. Argentina has already announced the country will remain shut until September, Colombia has joined them shutting through August 31st.
Conclusion
Countries around the world begin to re-open carefully following the coronavirus outbreak that has reset the world. Italy, one of the worst-hit by the coronavirus, is beginning to open its borders. This may mark the return to travel, though it’s unlikely to be the same as it was before. It’s a good sign for the world that Italy is ready to begin allowing travellers to return, even if that does not yet include US visitors.
What do you think? Is Italy’s re-opening a good sign or is it too soon? Should Italy re-open beyond European neighbors? What about other countries considering re-opening?
A number of these countries, Greece especially, can salvage a decent percentage of their tourism this summer just from within the EU. I have been checking on rates and whether there are any “deals” in Greece and Italy in August and there are none to be found that I can see. Even Bodrum in Turkey is still quoting the usual high rates at Mandarin Oriental, Aman, Six Senses for July-September.
I was actually thinking that it’s a good chance to enjoy Santorini as I can’t imagine it will have the cruise traffic like it did. Which was always the biggest factor in creating huge overcrowding.
This leads me to believe that they are seeing that the number of EU travelers staying closer to home (avoiding U.S., South America, or Asia) will well compensate for the lack of U.S. travelers. There will be little pressure to fling open the doors given this trade off.
Its not like European travellers have a choice. US and most of Asia still have travel restrictions for Europeans at the moment (with no sign of relaxing anytime soon). May as well spend the summer holidays within Europe then . .. .
But just because these countries are allowing people in doesn’t mean that these “reopenings” will be complete. My friends in Rome tell me that a lot of businesses will be slow to reopen, if they reopen at all. My colleagues there will not be allowed back to their laboratory until July 31st. On the other hand, I do know of another business that is going to slowly start getting back to business. So, while I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, I will point out that I would make sure that I would actually have something to *do* before planning travel to some of these places.
I’m glad Italy is reopening. It’s somewhat of a myth that the whole of Italy was a “hot spot” — instead, Lombardy was a hot spot, while the vast majority of Italian regions, especially from Rome south, have had very mild epidemics, far more mild than most U.S. states. Moreover, I think it’s important to recognize that Italy was a *victim* of China’s reckless mishandling of the virus.
UK is no longer in Europe? They have already surpassed Spain and Italy, dropping Italy to 3rd place.
Since Brexit, many European nations draw the distinction as Italy has chosen to do. The metric used assumes the UK is not part of the EU. Separately, having lived in the UK for several years I can affirm that the British people do not consider themselves European despite their continental geolocation. That’s not a Brexit thing, that’s just Britons being British.
Italy doesn’t open the borders to Europeans — only to European Union, Schengen Area, UK and Northern Ireland, and the few micro states. As Italy doesn’t open the borders to Europe, they do need to list UK separately. Nothing to do with what Britons might think of themselves.
Talking about Europe in any other context than geographical is just wrong. There’s no such a thing, not legally, not culturally.
“I can affirm that the British people do not consider themselves European despite their continental geolocation”
A ridiculous blanket statement to make. While British are the least likely among European nations to consider themselves as European, a third of the British population *does* consider itself European.
But then again, I forgot, you must have interviewed each and every British citizen during you’re time in the UK…
Just no, that’s not “Roman pizza”
So what it is?
That’s a pizza that was made in Rome by my daughter in a Roman pizzeria (https://bit.ly/2xUiNHx) so in the most pedantic possible way… it IS a Roman pizza. However, you’re also correct that it’s a Neopolitan crust.
Let’s just call it delicious instead.
Yeah, it does seem more Neapolitan pizza than Roman pizza. But who cares about accuracy, right?