The first train Covid-free between Rome and Milan it will start in early April. This was announced by the managing director and general manager of FS Gianfranco Battisti, who told about the project. In truth, there will be two trains: one for the transport of patients, one for the transport of "ordinary" travelers.
The Covid-free train for patient transport
Initially, the Frecciarossa Covid-free he will travel between Rome and Milan. “We will do the test before boarding to staff and passengers ”explained Battisti. Announcing how the will is to open new safe sections in view of the summer. However, the first train to leave will be a health train, designed for the transport of patients and equipped for this purpose. This is a project that arises from the collaboration between FS and the Department of Civil Protection and the Regional Emergency and Emergency Agency of Lombardy. On the 8 carriages will be present properly trained healthcare personnel, equipped with all the necessary medical equipment and prepared to deal with urgent and emergency situations. What will it be for? TO transporting patients on the national territory but also abroad, so as to ease the pressure on health facilities. Furthermore, the train can be used as an Advanced Medical Post should the hospitals be overloaded (a possibility, this, which is part of the eventuality of a third wave from Covid-19). But not only. THE 21 sub-intensive care places present on board the Covid-free train can be used even after the pandemic is over, should the need arise.
The future of tourism
Could the Covid-free train be the future of tourism? It can certainly be a valuable help, considering how the flight sector is working precisely in this sense. Already last September Alitalia launched an experiment on two daily connections between Fiumicino and Linate: Covid-free flights, reserved for Covid-tested passengers. And, Covid-free flights are currently in operation between the main Italian hubs (Milan and Rome) and New York. Moreover, Draghi announced that Covid-free flights will soon be implemented precisely to encourage the recovery of tourism. On the train front, the top management of FS promised the introduction of new connections to the main Italian cities of artand (Florence and Venice in the first place) precisely to give relief to the sector most affected by the pandemic. The announcement was made during the presentation of the vaccination hub of Rome's Termini Station (which will allow 1.500 people to be vaccinated per day), during which the health train was also announced.
How does Covid-free travel work?
Covid-free flights have also been talked about in recent days, on the occasion of the Pope's trip to Iraq. On that occasion, on board the plane (an Alitalia AZ4000 departed from Rome Fiumicino and headed for Baghdad) they were all vaccinated: Pope Francesco, the journalists, the Vatican staff. Are Covid-free trips therefore reserved for those who are already vaccinated? No. On Covid-free (or Covid-tested) flights, anyone with the Negative molecular or antigenic buffer certificationor carried out 72 hours before departure. Or, those who undergo a quick (negative) test at the airport.
Thank you so much for your article!
A great initiative 😊