Italy to reopen borders to EU tourists on June 3 as it lifts coronavirus restrictions
ITALY is due to reopen its borders from June 3 to EU travellers as it eases coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
It comes as many countries begin to cautiously lift measures as the threat of a devastating second wave hangs over Europe.
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The government signed a decree that will allow EU tourists and citizens from the Schengen area to visit the Italy.
It reportedly will not include a 14-day quarantine as Italy attempts to lure back tourists to jump start its economy after being in lockdown since March 9 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Brits are not included in the EU or Schengen area, and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office still advises against all but essential international travel.
Italy was one of the worst hit nations at the start of the pandemic, being the first in Europe to feel the full force of the virus.
It has the third highest death toll in the world with 31,610 deaths - behind only the UK and US.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte unveiled the changes to the travel regulations on Saturday which will come in force on June 3.
It comes as Italy continues to report a decline in its death toll - with 262 on Friday - and the government signed a 55billion euro stimulus package.
Italy took its first steps to ease lockdown on May 4 - with commuter trains pictured being packed as most people wore face masks.
Many European nations are beginning to ease their coronavirus lockdowns, amid a warning from the World Health Organisation about the risk of a second wave.
Slovenia became the first country in Europe to claim it is virus free, while France, Greece and Italy all reopened their beaches.
Pictures showed crowds packed onto beaches in Greece - which has recorded 2,810 cases and 160 deaths.
Bars and restaurants have started opening up again in Germany on Friday, and football is making a return under strict guidelines with the Bundesliga.
Germany was also preparing to relax restrictions on its borders - but travelers will still have to demonstrate a "valid reason" to enter the country until at least June 15.
France meanwhile recorded 104 new deaths and 636 new cases on the same day as its infection rate also appears to slow - but the government has still declared some parts of the country "red zones".
Millions headed back to work and shops reopened on Monday, but gatherings are still not allowed and people can only travel 60 miles from their homes.
Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland also began easing restrictions this week.
WHO chief Dr Hans Kluge, the body's regional director, said governments should be cautious when lifting restrictions and that now is the "time for preparation, not celebration".
He said a second wave of the killer bug, which has infected 4.5million worldwide, and killed more than 300,000, could hit Europe alongside an outbreak of other infectious diseases.
Italy had previously insisted it would get tourists back before the end of 2020.
Many flights however are currently not running to Italy - with easyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair stopping services until at least mid-June.
Hotels had also closed their doors, not due to restrictions but because of a lack of guests.
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Speaking earlier this month, Italy's culture and tourism minister, Dario Franceschini said he was working to get tourists back again.
Spain has extended its travel ban until June 15, with UK health secretary Matt Hancock predicting that summer holidays are "cancelled" in 2020.
Britain meanwhile has slowly begun to ease its coronavirus restrictions based on a three-step plan - with some sectors returning to work on Monday.
