Vatican Will Require COVID-19 Health Pass for Residents, Tourists

A general view of St. Peter's Square, in Vatican City, Vatican, on April 12, 2020. Antonio Masiello/Getty Images

The Vatican will require visitors and personnel to be in possession of a “Green Pass” or foreign health certificate as proof of vaccination from the CCP virus starting next month.

A decree issued on Sept. 18 says Vatican City State residents and workers, along with people visiting the Roman city-state, are required to carry the “Green Pass” in order to be granted entry. The new vaccine requirement will go into effect starting on Oct. 1.

An exception will be made for those attending liturgical celebrations, although only “for the time strictly necessary for the performance of the rite.”

People will also be able to enter if they show a negative molecular or antigenic test for the SARS-COV-2 virus, commonly referred to as the novel coronavirus.

The measure was issued just days after the Italian government announced that it is readying a mandate that will make it required for all workers to have a COVID-19 “green pass” in the country.

The Green Pass—originally conceived to ease travel among European Union states—shows that someone has been vaccinated, has tested negative, or has recently recovered from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

The move is designed to spur more vaccinations in Italy, asserted Health Minister Robert Spinoza this week during an interview, according to Italian media. Italian officials have said they want to vaccinate everyone aged 12 and older by the end of the month.

Italian workers who don’t have such a document are faced with a possible suspension without pay or be forced to pay a fine of up to roughly $1,800. Should Italy go through with the mandate, it would be the first country in Europe to do so.

A bar owner uses the VerifyC19 mobile phone application to scan a Green Pass in central Rome, on Aug. 6, 2021. Andreas Solaro/AFP via Getty Images

Several European countries such as France or Switzerland have vaccine passport requirements in place at venues such as gyms, restaurants, bars, and similar businesses, as well as for long-distance travel. However, none yet have made it mandatory for private-sector employees.

Earlier this month, President Joe Biden announced that he will direct the federal government to enforce a rule that some 80 million private employees in the United States either get the vaccine or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing.

According to the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Resource Center, Vatican City State has reported just 27 cases of COVID-19 and no deaths throughout the pandemic. It also has not reported any case of the CCP virus in months.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.

From NTD News