Workers in the Italian port city of Trieste clashed with police in a mass protest against the introduction of mandatory coronavirus passports on Monday. Italy’s new strict Covid law required Italians to produce a ‘green pass’ on request detailing that they had either received a negative test, been fully vaccinated, or cured of the virus in the past six month. The health card is now mandatory to access restaurants, shops, public transport and workplaces across the country.

On Sunday, the No Green Pass Trieste group urged all members to gather at the entrance to Gate 4 of the port area to “oppose by any means necessary” attempts to end the protest.

The group insisted on its intention to “continue the garrison at the port of Trieste, which has become a point of reference for many people, in Trieste and elsewhere”.

It is estimated that at least 2,000 people gathered at Gate 4, which is the main meeting point for the protests.

Images from the frontline of the protests show a large contingent of Italian police officers pushing back the protesters gathered at the entrance to the port.

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Under the rule which remains in force until the end of the year, employees without the so-called “Green Pass” will be suspended without pay.

Workers who continue to work without a card face a fine of up to 1,500 euros.

The severity of the measures provoked anger working groups and unions.

“The Green Pass is a bad thing, it is discrimination under the law. Nothing more. It is not a health regulation, it is just a political step to create the division between people … “said Fabio Bocin, a 59-year-old port. worker in Trieste.

Italy recorded 131,541 COVID-19-related deaths on Sunday since the outbreak in February last year.

Italy has the second highest record in Europe behind Great Britain and the ninth in the world.

The number of hospital patients with COVID-19 – not counting those in intensive care – stood at 2,386 on Sunday, up from 2,371 a day earlier.

The number of intensive care patients with COVID-19 has increased from 352 to 349.