Coronavirus Emergency: Information for International Students in Trento

ATTENTION: This page is frequently updated!

Information for International Students in Trento 

COVID-19 Emergency: Starting from 15 February 2021, the new Italian Government Decree extends restrictions in order to help contain the recent surge in Coronavirus infections. The Decree is in force throughout Italy until at least 27 March 2021 and implements the following measures in the Province of Trento which is considered a moderate risk orange area: 

• With the exception of first year Bachelor's and Master's programs, all university classes and exams will be held completely on-line 
• All persons must have a mask with them at all times
• Masks are to be worn in all indoor or closed spaces, other than private homes, and in all outdoor spaces
• Social distancing practices are required with at least 1 meter between other people at all times
• All group gatherings, dance events and parties are strictly forbidden
• An obligatory national curfew is enforced between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM with exceptions only for work or health-related reasons 
• Use of public and private transportation outside of curfew hours is strongly discouraged except for work, study, health or urgent reasons
• Food service establishments (restaurants, bars, pubs, bakeries, etc.) may open only from 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM and serve food for take away or delivery, but food must not be eaten in or near the restaurant nor in any public areas. Home delivery is allowed until later.
• Theaters, museums, cinemas and gyms are closed
• Amateur team sports practices and competitions are prohibited
• Ski areas are closed
• Individual physical activity is allowed outdoors with the required distance of at least 1 meter between others while walking and at least 2 meters while jogging or cycling (everyone must still carry a mask with them at all times and put it on immediately when necessary)
• Travel outside of a person's city of residence (comune) and between all Italian regions and provinces is strictly prohibited unless for proven work or health-related reasons.
• The Decree identifies different areas throughout Italy corresponding to four risk scenarios of escalating severity with differentiated containment measures: white areas are considered very low risk, yellow areas are low risk, orange areas moderate risk and red areas high risk. For details on specific measures see the relevant Italian Health Ministry's webpage and the Regional Color-Coded COVID-19 Restrictions in Italy document in the Download Box.
• For more information on policies implemented by the Italian government at the national level please see the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs FAQ page. 

In general everyone is asked to stay at home and limit movement in public areas as much as possible in order to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. 

Borders with many countries remain open, however currently international travel is strongly discouraged unless absolutely necessary. Certain restrictions may apply for those entering and leaving Italy depending on origin and destination, including a possible 14-day period of mandatory self-isolation. Due to the rapid spread of the Coronavirus throughout Europe and the world, new travel restrictions may suddenly be implemented without prior notice. For important details and updates on travel to and from Italy visit the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs travel website and the Italian Health Ministry's COVID-19 travel webpage.

An on-line travel information form has been created by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for people travelling to or from Italy based on current legislation. The form is intended ONLY as a general guide and it has no legal value, nor does it guarantee entry to Italy or other countries.

Travel Indications and Restrictions

Travel rules vary depending on the country of origin or destination and the reasons for travelling.

The Prime Minister's Decree issued on January 14, 2021 has been followed by several ordinances issued by the Minister of Health, amending, and supplementing the regulations on travel to/from abroad, particularly from the following countries:

Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The Ordinance of January 9, 2021 provided for entry restrictions for those who stayed in or transited through the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the 14 days preceding their entry into Italy

Brazil
The Ordinance of February 13, 2021  provides for a ban on entry into Italy until 5 March 2021, for all those who come from Brazil or who have stayed/transited there in the 14 days preceding entry into Italy

Austria
The Ordinance of February 13, 2021  provides for a ban on entry and transit through the national Italian territory until 5 March 2021, for travellers who have stayed or transited for more than 12 hours in Austria in the previous 14 days.

Travelling To and From Abroad 

The Ministerial Decree January 14, 2021 continues to be based on lists of countries for which different measures are envisaged. Annex 20 identifies groups of countries for which different restrictions apply.

Browse lists of information for travelling to and from abroad:

List A - Vatican City and Republic of San Marino 

List B - The States and territories with low epidemiological risk will be identified, among those in List C, by the Ordinance adopted pursuant to article 6, subparagraph 2

List C - Austria (with special rules) Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark (including the Faroe Islands and Greenland), Estonia, Finland, France (including Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana, Reunion, Mayotte and excluding other territories outside the European mainland), Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands (excluding territories outside the European mainland), Poland, Portugal (including the Azores and Madeira), Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Andorra, Principality of Monaco.

List D - Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and the States and territories with low epidemiological risk will be identified, among those in List E, by the Ordinance adopted pursuant to article 6, subparagraph 2

List E - Rest of the world - (all States and Territories not specifically referred to in any other list)

Limitations Within Italian National Territory 

The Decree Law n. 2 of January 14, 2021 and the decree Dpcm of January 14, 2021, in force from 16 January to 5 March 2021, provide for further measures to contain and manage the epidemiological emergency caused by COVID-19. The two decrees confirm some of the measures already provided for in the previous decrees and introduce new ones.

Please refer to the page Covid-19, situation in Italy, and to the FAQ published on the Government website, for a summary of the different restrictions applied in the yellow, orange, and red areas.

For more details and updates please see the Italian Health Ministry Travel webpage.

Entry in Italy is in any case allowed for EU/ITALIAN/Schengen citizens even though they have resided in the aforementioned third countries, with a possible quarantine obligation and without the obligation to provide any reasons;

All persons travelling to Italy from any foreign location are required to provide the carrier, or law enforcement officers if they are stopped for checks, with the self-declaration travel form which can be found in the Download Box.

Useful Phone Numbers for the Italian Ministry of Health

• From Italy: 1500 (National Information Hotline)
• From abroad:  +39 0232008345 - +39 0289619015 - +39 0283905385 
• Covid-19 Regional telephone information hotlines

Arrival in Trento

Self-Isolation Indications from the Trentino Board of Health

Immediately upon arrival in Trento, those subject to self-isolation must notify the local Trentino Board of Health (APSS) Prevention Department of their entry into Italy and the starting date of their 14-day quarantine by sending an e-mail to segreteria.uoisp [at] apss.tn.it and attaching the completed APSS Self-Declaration Form (see the Download Box) and a copy of an identity document. A swab test may required by the local Health Board.

Important note: Self-isolation cannot be carried out in university student housing facilities.

If COVID-19 symptoms appear later this must be communicated immediately to the APSS Prevention Department.

After 14 days without symptoms the quarantine period is considered complete and no further communication with the APSS is required.

For more information please see the relevant APSS website (in Italian).

Throughout the Province of Trentino all of the aforementioned national COVID-19 containment measures are in place in order to comply with the current Decree. Masks must always be worn in all indoor and outdoor spaces. Social distancing practices are still in place and masks are obligatory at all times while using all types of public transportation. 

For more updates about specific Coronavirus emergency measures in place at the local level, visit the English websites of the Province of Trentino and The University of Trento. 

If you are looking for live updates on the COVID-19 emergency during these days at home then tune in to Quarantine Radio! This English langauge radio program created especially for international students also offfers music, health tips, audio books, digital socializing and much more!

2020-2021 Academic Year at UniTrento

Academic Activities:

• To comply with the aforementioned Decree, all University classes and exams are currently on-line during the Fall semester, except for first year Bachelor and Master courses which are in any case highly restricted.
• All UniTrento classes are also available on-line and all students are welcome to participate remotely.

Services and facilities:

• University offices are currently closed to the public. Staff is working partly at the office and partly from home and can be contacted by e-mail and phone.
• At present most university libraries are open with restricted access, while other study areas are closed.
• University restaurants and canteens are currently open with limited access.
• University housing in Opera Universitaria dormitories is only open to certain mobility programs and these students have already been informed about application procedures.
• If a quarantine period is required, it cannot be spent in university student housing facilities.

Inbound Exchange Mobility - Spring semester:

• Given the rapid and uncertain evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the aforementioned measures taken at the national and international level, we strongly recommend that incoming international students participate in UniTrento academic activities remotely from their home country.
• Should students decide to come to Trento anyway, they will be required to strictly comply with all national and international safety precautions. If a 14-day self-isolation period is required, students must arrange and pay for their own quarantine lodging outside of university student housing facilities.

UniTrento Virtual Mobility Website: 

• A dedicated package of on-line services, information and socio-cultural activities is available for exchange students. In this way, they can make the most of their exchange experience and be fully “virtually” immersed in the UniTrento community.

UniTrento will continue to monitor the global and national COVID-19 emergency and may revise the aforementioned university policies as needed. Updates can be found on this webpage.

Furthermore, due to the rapid resurgence of COVID-19, new travel restrictions may suddenly be implemented without prior notice. For important details and updates on a national level please visit the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Health Ministry's webpages.

Counseling Service

For any student who would like to contact us during these difficult times, the Counseling Center is available by appointment via Skype or through other similar means of communication to give advice and support. Generally there are 1 or 2 appointments per student lasting about 20 minutes each. To make an appointment send an e-mail to: 
consulenzapiscologica.studenti [at] unitn.it
E-mails are read daily and you will be contacted to confirm your appointment. 
Students can also call 0461.808.116 Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 17:00
We hope this stressful situation passes and returns to normal as soon as possible. 

Call 1500 or 800.867.388 (toll free numbers) if you have a persistent cough and/or a constantly high temperature.