Decision by Italy comes amid surge of new coronavirus infections in Europe.

Italy is to make testing for covid-19 compulsory for people travelling from "Paris and other areas in France," interpreted to mean the country's high-risk 'red zones,' announced Italian health minister Roberto Speranza on 21 September.

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"Italy is doing better than other countries but great caution is needed in order not to jeopardise the sacrifices made so far", Speranza wrote on Twitter, amid growing concern over a surge of new infections in Europe.

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France registered 10,569 new confirmed covid-19 cases on 20 September - reports Reuters news agency - down from the previous day's record increase of 13,498.

Ho firmato una nuova ordinanza che estende l’obbligo di test molecolare o antigenico ai cittadini provenienti da Parigi e altre aree della Francia. Dati europei sono critici. L’Italia sta meglio di altri Paesi, ma serve grande prudenza per non vanificare i sacrifici fatti finora.— Roberto Speranza (@robersperanza) September 21, 2020

 Photo credit: Mazur Travel / Shutterstock.com.