on monday, may 18, italy began fase 3 of its coronavirus lockdown. fase 1 was our strict 55-day quarantine, and the two-week fase 2 added take-out food and outside walks (through day 69).
during fase 3, i still cannot travel outside my region (tuscany), but no more autocertificazione (the form stating where you are going and why) is required, and restaurants, bars, and hairdressers are now open. however, social distancing, masks, and gloves are all still mandatory.
we stayed home for a very long time. there were mistakes made along the way, but italy flattened its curve. and now we have to try, albeit cautiously, to step back into reality. people need to get back to work, people need to get back to their businesses, people need to regain their livelihoods. people need to live again.
i agreed with prime minister conte when he said that we have “entered an era of responsibility and coexistence with the virus.” we are adapting to this post-lockdown era, and some reinvention is necessary. but based on what i have personally witnessed so far, i think we can do it.
today i’d like to go back once again, to a couple of months ago, and share a further glimpse of the early days of italy’s strict quarantine during fase 1.
march 12 (from my facebook post, lockdown in italy day 3):
THIS. this is the reason for the lockdown in italy! ??
translation: “happy birthday to me! today i am 88 years old. the only gift i would like is still some more birthdays to celebrate with you! i do my part! you do yours! thank you. i stay at home ❤️”
(my husband eric’s words, and his photo of beautiful venice):
“Quarantine and Italy have a long history. As the predominant global commerce hub from the middle ages through the renaissance, Venice in the 1300s was the first to establish a methodology for controlling the influx of pathogens: incoming ship crews would often be restricted from entering the city for quaranta giorni (40 days), which became known as the ‘quarantine.’
Visitors still flock to Italy for its commerce, but additionally 50 million visitors a year come to Italy to experience its incomparable beauty, culture and historically important sites.
Italians are amazing people though: in spite of the price they have paid, and are especially paying now, for allowing visitors from around the world to enter, they continue to do so with a warm welcome. They set an example for the world to follow in these dark days of xenophobic accusations, scapegoating, and refusal to face facts. Forza Italia!”
march 13 (from my facebook posts, lockdown in italy day 4):
• only one member of each household is allowed to go to the local grocery store (staying within the defined boundaries), and the store only lets a few people in at a time. those waiting to shop line up outside, with 1 meter distance between them. the store was stocked, there were no empty shelves, everyone was calm, and most importantly – there was no run on toilet paper! eric was even able to pick up this beautiful orchid for me, which is of course listed in every home quarantine kit (okay, i did write “gift for april” on the shopping list).
• at 6:00 this evening italians across the nation went out on their terraces and balconies and sang or played instruments as a show of solidarity and strength. it was an amazingly inspiring event! mr. smith did his part to boost morale by going out on the juliet balcony to play his recorder.
• children staying home from school made banners bearing the phrase andrà tutto bene (“everything will be alright”) to hang from windows and balconies. this is my sweet friend cristina’s son, eduardo, displaying his. (and no, i wasn’t actually “with” cristina and eduardo – just in spirit and in texting ❤️)
march 14 (from my facebook posts, lockdown in italy day 5):
my emotions were all over the place. to stay positive, i watched as many videos of italians singing as i could. and i messaged with friends and family. and i cozied up with eric and the cats.
but the numbers are hard to ignore since we’re not yet at the peak. and the journey we have just begun felt incredibly long today, especially after the vivid and upsetting nightmare i had last night.
i was also still feeling the effects of yesterday, when i had to delete a vicious comment thread and block two people, ironically on a post that was about the inspiring italian spirit. a crisis doesn’t always bring the best out in everyone, does it? it was draining, and i was already feeling drained.
so i’m heading off to bed, early for me. i’m going to cuddle with the cats and try to get some much-needed sleep. buona notte, wherever you are in this world, and remember . . . we all have a common enemy and we are in this battle together.
