US company Delta Air Lines announced yesterday that it will test “quarantine-free” flights from Atlanta, USA, to Rome, Italy. A series of pre-departure checks allowed passengers from the US to be exempted from a 14-day isolation period upon arrival in Italy. The move was hailed as the future of Covid’s journey, but residents in Italy remain wary.

Transatlantic test flights from Atlanta to Rome will launch on 19 December. Passengers will be required to undergo three different tests, starting with a PCR test within 72 hours of departure, then a rapid test before boarding in Atlanta, and a second rapid test upon arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino airport.

Delta Air Lines president Steve Sear said Covid-screened flights were “the best route to continue international travel safely and without quarantine until vaccinations are widely enforced.”

Reaction in Italy has been mixed. National newspaper Republic call it “innovative agreement” but Corriere della Sera quickly shows a number of warnings. “Have Italian-US flights restarted?” read one article. “So can we go and visit the most famous places abroad and Americans can do the same? Not exactly. In fact, technically nothing has changed for Italians, contrary to what some newspapers have written lately. “

The article pointed out that the current “travel corridor” is only one-way. While the Italian government will rule out a mandatory quarantine period for arrivals from America, Italy is still on the list of prohibited arrivals for the U.S. In addition, those who wish to travel from the US to Italy can only do so for important reasons such as health, work or studies.

While this means there is no resurgence in tourism, for many Italians a vacation is the last thing they think about. Italian hospitals are struggling again as a second wave of coronavirus begins to overwhelm intensive care units. Dr. Luca Cabrini, head of the intensive care ward at Circolo Varese Hospital, said, “We are very close not to follow. I can’t say when we’ll reach our limit, but that day isn’t long. “

Therefore, a number of citizens in Italy are reluctant to praise the scheme. Cecelia Pierotti, an American expat living in Venice, said, “I am delaying the risk of people coming from such high levels of the virus to Italy, harming us too!”

While quarantine-free flights can mean family members reuniting after months of separation, people are cautious. “I really want my daughter here,” added Pierotti, “I feel it is too early and too risky!”

Delta Air Lines said they would block middle seats on flights and wearing masks would remain mandatory. The risk assessment suggests that this means the chance of Covid infection in a full 60% flight is around one in a million. Even so, some health experts still urge caution. Epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding described the trial as “courageous” Indonesia and added “Requires careful search if safe”.