ROME
\nPeople in Italy unvaccinated against COVID-19 can no longer go to the theater, cinemas, live music venues or major sporting events under new rules that came into force Monday.
\nOnly those who have recently recovered from COVID-19 are exempt from the rules, which represent a significant tightening of restrictions in the face of rising infections.
\nNew measures are also being enforced on public transport, with a so-called Green Pass showing proof of vaccination, recent recovery or a negative COVID-19 test now required even on local services.
\nA man in his 50s was fined $452 (\u20ac400) for not having his pass on Monday morning as he got off a bus near Piazza del Popolo in Rome, according to the Corriere della Sera newspaper.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t have it because I wanted to get vaccinated in the next few days,\u201d he was reported as saying.
\nA record 1.3 million Green Passes were downloaded on Sunday ahead of the change.
\nMeanwhile in Rome at the weekend, new rules requiring face masks to be worn outdoors in the busiest shopping streets came into effect.
\nItaly was the first European country to be hit by coronavirus in early 2020 and has one of the highest death tolls, at more than 134,000.
\nHowever, it is currently faring better than many of its neighbors, with 15,000 cases out of a population of 60 million reported on Sunday.
\nAlmost 85 percent of over 12s have been vaccinated, a booster campaign is in full swing and jabs will soon be available for younger children.
\nThe Green Pass was introduced in August for access to theaters and cinemas, museums and indoor dining, and extended to workplaces in October \u2014 a move that sparked widespread protests.
\nFrom now until January 15, a new \u201cSuper Green Pass,\u201d which can only be obtained through vaccination or recent recovery, will be required for cultural activities \u2014 although not museums \u2014 and inside restaurants.
\nHowever, having a coffee at the bar of a cafe and eating outside is allowed without a Green Pass.
\nThe restrictions will be further tightened in regions at higher risk of coronavirus.
\nCurrently most of Italy is classed as the lowest of four levels, which range from white to yellow, orange and red.
\nTwo regions are yellow \u2014 Friuli Venezia Giulia and Bolzano, which both border Austria, a country in partial lockdown over the number of cases there.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ROME People in Italy unvaccinated against COVID-19 can no longer go to the theater, cinemas, live music venues or major sporting events under new rules that came into force Monday. Only those who have recently recovered from COVID-19 are exempt from the rules, which represent a significant tightening of restrictions in the face of rising […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-231431","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n