Italy casinos and bingos will require COVID-19 immunity pass

The Italian government on Thursday announced that as of August 6 people must present proof of immunity to access an array of services and leisure activities, including casinos.

The "Green Pass" is a digital or paper certificate that shows if someone has received at least one vaccine dose in the last nine months, has tested negative in the past 48 hours or has recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months. The pass will be required to go to casinos, bingo parlors, gyms, swimming pools, sports stadiums, museums, spas, and cinemas. Eating in indoor restaurants also requires a pass.

"The Green Pass is essential if we want to keep businesses open," Prime Minister Mario Draghi told reporters, Reuters reports. Some 40 million people in Italy have already downloaded a “green pass,” Health Minister Roberto Speranza said.

Fueled in part by huge street celebrations after Italy's wins in the recent European soccer championships this month, new daily cases have climbed again. Health experts say the delta variant of the coronavirus is rapidly gaining traction in much of Italy, facilitating transmission. The number of new coronavirus infections recorded in Italy has doubled over the past week, hitting 5,057 on Thursday.

“The vaccine campaign permitted the economy to revive,″ Draghi said. ”The first thing I have to say is to invite all Italians to get vaccinated and to do it right away.”