Italy’s island communities fear isolation due to tougher COVID restrictions

The ‘super green pass’ on public transport and vaccination for people over 50 become mandatory

The Italian government has upped its efforts on fighting the COVID pandemic and staving off anti-vaccination dissent. As of Monday, 10 January, riding on public transport in the country will only be possible if one has the so-called ‘super green pass’.

Another measure announced by the authorities is the mandatory vaccination for people above the age of 50 years. The latter became effective immediately and will be in force until 15 June.

Meanwhile, some voices of criticism and objection have risen from municipal government levels, more specifically from the country’s small island communities, who fear that these measures can essentially condemn some of their residents to an ‘exile’.

Italy has 87 small, populated islands

ANCIM is the organization of small island municipalities in Italy, which represents the interests of 87 inhabited island communities. Given their geographic location, their residents have to rely on public transports, such as ferries and airplanes in order to reach the mainland – something that the local authorities argue puts them at a disadvantage in regard to the measures.

The super green pass is only possible for those who have been fully vaccinated and/or have recovered recently from a COVID infection. That means that PCR and antigen tests are no longer sufficient in order to get the certificate, which also means that the unvaccinated will not be able to use public transit services.

"Prohibiting access to these means of transport ... means condemning to forced exile the residents who, for various reasons, have not been vaccinated," said Francesco Del Deo, president of the Association of Small Island Municipalities (ANCIM), as quoted by Euronews. He is also the mayor of a municipality on the island of Ischia, located off the coast of Naples.

Mr Del Deo addressed Italian PM Mario Draghi calling for an exemption to island residents to also be allowed to use negative tests in order to get on transport going to the mainland.

The issue stems from the fact that most of these communities do not count with permanent and well-equipped health facilities, so it would be un-democratic to turn them into something akin to prisoners.