Italy and Greece eased some COVID-19 restrictions ahead of Europe"s peak tourism season. Greece"s civil aviation authority announced on Sunday that it would lift COVID-19 restrictions for domestic and international flights. The only remaining COVID-19 measure for passengers and staff will be to wear a facemask at airport arrivals and waiting areas as well as on flights. Passengers had previously been required to prove vaccination or show a negative test result. Meanwhile, Italy will no longer require its health pass to access much of public life including restaurants, cinemas and other venues and visitors to Italy will also no longer need to have a passenger locator form. Italy also eased some of its indoor mask requirements although facemasks will still be required on public transportation and in cinemas. They will also continue to be required for employees and visitors to health care and elderly care facilities. “It was needed,” said Claudio Civitelli, a Rome resident who was having his morning coffee at a bar near the Trevi Fountain. “We have waited more than two years.” But even as life increasingly returns to normal in Europe, public health officials have urged prudence as the virus continues to circulate. Italy, which was the epicenter of Europe"s outbreak in February 2020, imposed one of the harshest lockdowns and maintained tough restrictions during coronavirus waves. — Euronews