The Italian island is clean of Covid-19

The authorities of the island of Capri (Italy) declared this to be an absolutely safe destination for tourists because every resident on the island has been vaccinated against Covid-19.
Europe is planning to gradually reopen to visitors from around the world.

In Italy, where tourism accounts for about 13% of GDP according to government data, the island of Capri (in the Gulf of Naples) quickly surpassed popular destinations in the region by promoting “Covid-19-free”. , according to the CNN. The island of Capri is a destination that attracts the elite. Photo: CNN. Absolute safety Capri often attracts large numbers of upmarket visitors. But this year, instead of advertising luxury hotels and stunning sea views, the authorities spread a much simpler message: Every resident on the island has been vaccinated against Covid-19. Last weekend, Vincenzo De Luca, Governor of the Campania region (including the island of Capri), announced that the vaccination program in Capri was nearing its end. He also stated that this would make the island “completely free of Covid-19″. “We are preparing to welcome millions of tourists. What is needed now is not to waste time. The hotel industry has to step up operations in May if it doesn’t want to lose the whole tourist season,” he said. Capri is often known for its high-end travel services. Photo: Daniel Slim/AFP. Marino Lembo, Mayor of Capri, said to CNN that out of 15,000 residents, 80% had received the first dose of the vaccine. This weekend, all tourism workers, who live off the island but come here often, will also be vaccinated. “That is a strong message we send to the world. Everyone can come here in absolute safety,” he said. Sergio Gargiulo, President of Federalberghi – an association representing about 60 hotels on the island of Capri, agrees: “Not only the island is clean of Covid-19 but for customers in need, we will organize testing. (PCR) and provide them with timely results”. A brutal year According to Mr. Gargiulo, in 2020, Capri’s tourism industry saw a 70% drop in revenue due to the pandemic. That’s a devastating number for a destination that relies heavily on tourism. However, authorities believe the island has many attractions, especially at a time of social distancing. Ludovica Di Meglio, Capri’s head of tourism, said: “In addition to the typical sites, Capri also has trails that are naturally beautiful and suitable for the pandemic context.” Luigi Esposito, a guide who specializes in outdoor excursions on the island, says that although Capri is known for high-end tourism, the trails are the main highlight. Capri isn’t the only island stepping up its pre-summer vaccination campaign. Procida, also an island in the Gulf of Naples, completed all of its vaccinations a few days before Capri. Ischia, the other island in the bay, will soon complete its own program, according to Governor De Luca. Other islands in the Gulf of Naples, such as Procida and Ischia, are also vaccinating all residents. Photo: Laurent Emmanuel/AFP. Italy has about 30 small islands that become tourist hotspots every summer. Most have limited health care services. The Italian government has launched a mass vaccination plan for people in these places. Speaking at a meeting of G20 tourism ministers earlier this month, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi announced that ahead of Europe’s “green passport”, Italy will launch its own travel card in mid-May. Currently, all visitors to Italy must self-isolate for a minimum of 5 days. However, with the pass, the self-isolation requirement will be waived for travelers who have been vaccinated or have had Covid-19 in the past 6 months. As of May 10, more than 24 million vaccinations have been administered in Italy, with more than 12% of the population fully vaccinated. But according to the latest news, more than 13% of Italians over 80 years old and 31% over 70 years old, are still waiting for the first injection.