Starting Feb. 1, it will be necessary to show the Green Pass as well to enter the library

The government has passed in the past few hours another crackdown on the unvaccinated, and this time it is bookstores that are included in the list of businesses that, as of Feb. 1, will be required to ask for Green Passes from everyone who enters them, namely those that the government has deemed do not meet people’s basic needs. This is a curious choice, because in last fall’s lockdowns the book had been considered an essential good, and bookstores could open even in red zones, those affected by the strictest measures. The measure had been adopted by the Conte government, but the Draghi government did not change it. Yet now for the current government, books are no longer considered as such, since bookstores are not included among the activities that meet “the essential and primary needs of the person,” to use the expression of the Jan. 21 dpcm, which introduces the new restrictions starting next week.

The needs identified by Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s decree are those of food, health, safety and justice. As a result, only specialized and non-specialized food and beverage establishments (i.e. grocery stores, convenience stores, discount stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets), retail establishments of frozen products, pet products, fuel, hygienic and sanitary items, medicines, medical and orthopedic items, optical equipment, household fuel and heating are allowed to open at all. All other commercial establishments will require the basic Green Pass: thus, you will only be able to enter the bookstore when vaccinated or with a negative tampon.

The dpcm also specifies that establishment owners will have to enforce the measures, including by conducting spot checks. So what will happen if a person who is not in possession of Green Pass goes to the hypermarket to do their shopping and also puts a book in the cart? It can be done: the government explains this in the FAQ. To the question, “Can those who access the shopping establishments exempt from the so-called green pass provided for in the annex to the Prime Ministerial Decree of January 21, 2022, purchase any kind of goods sold therein?” the government responds, “Yes, access to the aforementioned shopping establishments allows the purchase of any kind of goods, even if they are not related to the satisfaction of the essential and primary needs identified by the aforementioned Prime Ministerial Decree.”

Therefore, you will not risk a fine if you enter the hyper without a Green Pass and buy a book in addition to pasta and cookies. Of course, it will penalize neighborhood bookstores and benefit large organized distribution and e-commerce operators as well as large portals.

Photo Italian Booksellers Association

Starting Feb. 1, it will be necessary to show the Green Pass as well to enter the library

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