Following confusion about whether those arriving in Sicily from Malta will be obliged to get swabbed for COVID upon entry to the country, Virtu Ferries has clarified what is required while the Italian Embassy in Malta has also provided further clarification.

All passengers, aged six and over, travelling to Sicily from Malta (and other select EU countries, and countries outside of the EU) will be required to present a negative swab test result, PCR or rapid, taken 48 hours prior to arrival, or an EU Digital COVID vaccine certificate or an EU Digital COVID recovery certificate.

It is understood that as Malta does not recognise the EU’s recovery certificate, it is not issuing it to locals. Instead, Malta’s residents automatically receive their EU Digital COVID certificate when downloading the local one.

As further clarified by the Italian Embassy on Friday, swabs on arrival “may” be carried out on those who are not in possession of the EU vaccine pass or a negative COVID test, as opposed to a mandatory swab on all arrivals from Malta as was previously reported.