COVID Protocol Information for all Participants (as of 7-1-2024)
1. Vaccination is highly encouraged, but no longer required.
2. Masking while traveling/flying to Italy is highly encouraged. Some places (like hospitals and doctors offices) still require masks in Italy.
3. If you have any respiratory cold/flu symptoms, you must notify Natalie Conte. You will be asked to do a Covid test and mask for 5 days. The local pharmacy in Sarteano sells home Covid tests: https://www.farmaciabologni.it/
4. If you test positive, you will need to self-isolate at your residence for 5 days. If you are asymptomatic, or have been symptom-free for at least 2 days, you must produce a negative PCR or antigen test to be released from the self-isolation period early. Whenever you complete self isolation, we ask that you wear a mask around others for an additional 5 days at minimum.
General health notes for travel during pandemic:
Be prepared for your plans to change
No travel is risk-free during COVID-19. Countries may further restrict travel or bring in new rules at short notice, for example due to a new COVID-19 variant. Check with your travel company or airline for any transport changes which may delay your journey home.
If you test positive for COVID-19, you may need to stay where you are until you test negative. You may also need to seek treatment there.
Plan ahead and make sure you:
can access money
understand what your insurance will cover
can make arrangements to extend your stay and be away for longer than planned
Public spaces and travel within Italy
If you are visiting a healthcare facility such as a hospital ward, care home, or doctor’s office, you must wear a FFP2 mask. (This is equivalent to a KN95 or KN94). You may be asked to provide a negative test result.
Regional and local authorities in Italy are empowered to adjust these measures where required, which may occur at short notice. You should consult the websites for the regions in which you are travelling for the latest information.
Healthcare in Italy
COVID-19 testing is widely available at private clinics. Rapid testing is also available in many pharmacies. Emergency hospital services are usually very low cost for travelers in public hospitals in Italy, due to their universal health care system. The closest major hospitals are the Ospedali riuniti della Valdichiana (United Hospitals of Valdichiana), which are about 30 minutes from Sarteano and include an emergency room, cardiology, OB/GYN, pediatrics units and more.
112 - The hotline emergency number for all emergency services in Italy and entire Europe, including the police, ambulance, and fire department. Nevertheless, for a faster reply, it is recommended to call each service directly.
113 - Police
115 - Fire Department
116 - Road assistance
118 - For medical emergencies and the ambulance