A 22-year-old Italian man became an unexpected internet sensation after tattooing the barcode of a coronavirus certificate on his arm.
Andrea Colonetta says she didn’t think much before getting her latest tattoo, but decided to do so because it was a practical option in today’s context, after speaking to professional tattoo artist Gabriel Bellroni. “It’s obviously something original, I like to be different,” Colonetta, from Reggio Calabria, explained to Corriere della Calabria newspaper.
The lower part of Colonetta’s left arm now contains a set of black squares of the passport’s QR code, which proves the holder’s status: vaccinated, recovered from the virus, or a negative result in the last 48 hours.
An extension of the EU’s Covid digital certificate is required in Italy from August 6 to enter cinemas, museums, indoor sports establishments or for dining inside restaurants.
Colonita has already received two doses of the coronavirus vaccine, but he said that although he got a lot of attention on Instagram and TikTok, his parents were a little scared. “I definitely recommended that I be less impulsive and think better about things…” he told the newspaper.
The student has already tested the code and confirmed that it works: a video posted to TikTok by Pellerone shows Colonetta with a mask at McDonald’s raising his arm to take a picture of the tattoo. A guard at the entrance reads Colonetta’s photo before the video abruptly ends, not making clear whether Colonetta got a Big Mac.
William Shakespeare is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, history, and current affairs. With a keen eye for storytelling and analysis, he produces informative articles that help readers understand the people, ideas, and events influencing modern life.
