Covid in Europe | EU to Introduce New Individual-Based Travel Restrictions From February 1

Starting from February 1, the European Union Member States are advised to remove the current restrictions, which are based on the COVID-19 situation on the traveller’s country of departure and replace them with restrictions based on the traveller’s situation, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

“This means that a traveller’s COVID-19 vaccination, test or recovery status, as evidenced by a valid EU digital COVID certificate, should be the key determinant. A person-based approach will substantially simplify the applicable rules and will provide additional clarity and predictability to travellers,” the Council notes in a press release announcing the recommendation.

The recommendation becomes effective next Tuesday, on February 1.

This should mean that all restrictions to free movement should be lifted for travellers holding an EU digital COVID certificate that the same has been vaccinated with at least two COVID-19 vaccines in the last 270 days, a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 issued in the last 180 days, or a negative result of a test taken in the last 72 hours if it is PCR or the last 24 hours if it is a rapid antigen test.

Those who do not hold an EU Digital COVID certificate will have to test for COVID-19 24 hours before or after arrival. Exempt are children under the age of 12, as well as those with an essential function or need, and cross-border commuters.

More | our Covid-19 archives | Covid antigen testing in Puglia (from June 2021)