Well, I am in the ‘Red Zone’, an area that is literally at serious risk! As of November 3, 2020, the Italian government has imposed new ‘anti-Covid-19’ restrictions, such as curfews and closures, which are most vital in the Red Zone. These restrictions apply to citizens, tourists, and non-citizen permanent residents. It surprised most of the inhabitants when a few days ago they received the news abruptly on television. Of course, I shared the information that we were in the Red Zone with my friends who would be affected by the event. We are in the same boat, which means that we cannot enter or leave the Red Zone without a self-certification stating that we will leave the area for a necessity. In addition, no one can leave their legal municipality without self-certified work, health and absolute necessity reasons, which they must present to the police in case of being arrested.
For now, everything looks the same outdoors in the countryside, and I’ve had a few opportunities to snap some serene photos of Italy! However, this time there will not be many people singing and dancing on the balconies. Most people are not positive about restrictions or confident that they will be adequate.
Instead, small businesses fear for their survival in these tough times. I have heard some conspiracy theories, such as the one that claims that these closures exist to help the government have more control over its residents. A handful believe that God is fixing things with a deep reason behind ‘His’ work. Most of the Italians were hopeful during the first block, as they thought “everything would have been fine”. Having been defrauded, many have been proactive in the protests. Over the past two weeks, there have been several rallies by a wide variety of groups insisting that they should be free to go outside without masks and that the government need not require a strict lockdown.
There are three levels of urgency represented by three separate zones: yellow, orange, and red, with red being the worst. Of course I’m in the red! At this point, gyms, theaters, cinemas, museums, and swimming pools are closed. While middle schools and elementary schools are open, all higher-level schools will have to teach online lessons until December 3, something that most Italian schools are not prepared for. The restaurants and bars in the Red Zone can only serve food and drink at home, and the curfew runs every day from 10 p.m. Until 5 a.m. M.
Traders argue that these closures (in the Red Zone) endanger the survival of small businesses. Many small stores, already on the brink of collapse before the second closing, have loans and expensive monthly rents to pay. They want to know how they can pay their bills if they are not making money while being ordered to close their doors. Furthermore, Italian artists at the lowest levels have complained that they cannot make enough money without producing live shows and concerts, one of the reasons why some of the best artists with excellent financial means have suggested making donations to help. to his less fortunate colleagues.
At this time, the Italian health system (Sanitary system) is tense. On television tonight, I saw reports of churches filled with many beds waiting for Covid-19 patients. Although Italian hospitals are looking for additional medical staff, they generally only offer temporary contracts (six months). This makes me wonder if medical personnel are afraid of risking their lives without job security afterward. It seems that if cases continue to increase, there will be no more room for patients in hospitals. For this reason, doctors are making more visits to the homes of the elderly in need. Fewer people are being treated with non-critical illnesses, and it is concerning that people with suspected cancer and heart attack are often afraid to go to a hospital for fear of contracting the coronavirus or diverting care from critically ill patients.
Longevity in Italy is currently under attack by the evil coronavirus. Sick patients are sent home early for the reason that there is no space or security against coronavirus in some hospitals. This means that families have to provide services in the home for elderly family members when, at regular hours, it would have been possible to access more mobile nurses and doctors. (I asked about getting a flu shot only to find that I had to have a pre-existing condition to qualify for one if I was under 60.) This year, there is a shortage of flu shots, but it is believed that if residents wear more masks, they will be less likely to get the common flu. Interestingly, before the onset of the pandemic, most Italians were opposed to flu vaccines, but lately, those anti-vaccine activists have been quiet.
Covid-19 is onerous! He is a killer to be taken seriously. From what I can see, Italians over 60 are, in general, a little more aware of wearing the masks correctly at all times when leaving the house. While younger Italians are more likely to go without masks, there is a majority who wear masks to protect others, especially when they have elderly grandparents at home. To tour Italy, you need to wear a mask at all times and wash your hands regularly, avoiding touching your face! There are enough people who don’t take the virus seriously, so tourists and retirees need to take care of themselves. After all, masks have been shown to provide defense wherever you are.
Finding delicious food to prepare at home has not been a problem as the stores are well stocked. You can still have a good time in Italy, although I would recommend staying in a home with a patio or balcony in case the restrictions get worse. Someone can deliver food, or one might consider shopping (with protective masks) once a week at a nearby grocery store if there are no crowds. By refraining from buying too much in stores, people residing in Italy effectively protect themselves from exposure.
This is a great time to enjoy healthy, immune-boosting Italian meals. Italian visitors and residents will benefit from a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as other fresh foods that are part of the traditional Mediterranean diet. The online aperitif (i.e. pre-programmed on Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.) now replaces the world-famous Italian aperitif that accompanied the evening ‘passeggiata‘. So no matter where you are in Italy, you can still communicate online with friends and colleagues, embrace ‘smart work’, and even enjoy opportunities to meditate at home with a glass of delicious Italian wine. (November 6, 2020)