The Italian government has decided to cancel fines for citizens who refused mandatory COVID-19 vaccination. Reuters reports this, citing an official statement from the Council of Ministers.
According to the statement, not only are the fines being canceled, but all obligations to pay them are being removed. Earlier, Italian media speculated about possible compensation for those who had already paid the fines, but the official government document makes no mention of this.
Italy was one of the countries most severely affected by the pandemic. During the coronavirus outbreak in 2020, the government under Mario Draghi introduced mandatory vaccination for teachers and healthcare workers. Later, this requirement was extended to all citizens over the age of 50. Those who violated these rules faced suspension from work without pay and a fine of €100.
Other European countries also made controversial decisions related to COVID-19. For example, in Austria, a court found a woman guilty of infecting her neighbor with the coronavirus, which later led to her death. Meanwhile, in Switzerland, a doctor was prosecuted for issuing hundreds of fake certificates claiming exemption from COVID-19 vaccination.
