The Crisis Unit has been awarded the annual “Good Practices” prize from the Farnesina for its “InfoCovid” questionnaire. The award recognizes the value of measures like the initiative of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and has the aim of encouraging more efficient administration at the service of citizens and businesses throughout the world.
The questionnaire, accessible on the Home Page of the “Viaggiare Sicuri” (Travel Safely) website of the Farnesina, was developed by Crisis Unit to provide users with immediate information about the possibilities and requirements for travel abroad or coming to/returning to Italy in light of the current regulations in force with regard to the COVID-19 emergency. By replying to a few simple questions, the user can receive the latest news about the possibilities or limitations on travel, the medical certification necessary, as well as detailed information about regulations, useful contacts and concrete examples about what to do in exceptional cases.
InfoCovid has received widespread acclaim and is used daily by private citizens, businesses, tour operators, travel agencies and other domestic and foreign offices. It is a simple, clear, up-to-date and reliable source of information about the legislation in force. It has contributed to the exponential growth of interaction between the public and the informative and digital services of the Farnesina, which increased, just for the institutional website, from 3 to 10 million users between 2019 and 2021.
In view of the ongoing disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the approaching Christmas holidays, the Farnesina invites all those citizens who intend to travel abroad to use InfoCovid, and download the APP of the Crisis Unit or use the “Viaggiare Sicuri” website (https://www.viaggiaresicuri.it/) and “Dove siamo nel mondo” (Where we are in the world) website (https://www.dovesiamonelmondo.it/home.html) for advance information about the anti-COVID rules in force in the destination country, and on the modes of re-entry into Italy. Travelers should share their itineraries with the Crisis Unit, listing the contacts to notify in case of emergency abroad, so as to receive prompt assistance from the diplomatic-consular network worldwide.
All the services are accessible from the institutional website of the Farnesina www.esteri.it
