The Italian government has relaxed anti-Covid rules for schools, as the infection surge linked to the Omicron variant seemed to be gradually falling under control.
A key change was to cut the mandatory quarantine -- from 10 days to 5 days -- required to unvaccinated pupils who had a direct contact with a person positive for Covid-19, Xinhua news agency reported.
Their vaccinated peers would not be subjected to quarantine, but only be asked to put in place a "self surveillance," meaning to use FFP2 face masks for 5 days and undergo a swab test. The same rule would apply to students who recovered from the disease within 120 days.
A second measure made unlimited the validity of the so-called "super green pass," the certificate showing proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19, for people who got the vaccine booster.
"School is at the heart of our country and we wanted to reduce distant learning as much as possible," Health Minister Roberto Speranza told a press conference.
