Cities of art, restaurants and deserted bars. Right now, there is nothing more of that Italy that we all used to know.
An Italy just when it was about to finally recover from the 2008 financial crisis, had to face a new enemy: the Coronavirus. An Italy that finds itself with an unknown, uncertain and indefinite future.
On May 4th, the country tried to start again and face a new phase of the pandemic for Covid-19: the so-called Phase 2. During this phase, not very different from the first, you must always circulate with a self-certification sheet filled in with your personal data to go to work or go shopping.
Now, a new entry has been added: to be able to visit, always maintaining social distance, “relatives“, that is, family members and fianceé, if they live in the same region as you. Otherwise, you have to wait until May 18th. Phase 2 also includes taking part in sports and individual walks.
They‘ve even reopened the parks. But children’s areas are still closed.
As far as public transport is concerned, thermal scanners are to be installed in all stations and airports, and there is an obligation on all means of transport (from trains to ships, from aircraft to buses and metro) to distance passengers and wear masks.
Some more activities seem to be restarting: construction and companies that were stopped before, or almost stopped, now are functional; starting from May 18th, clothing stores and perfumeries will open. Bars and restaurants continue, for now, with only delivery or take-away.
Hairdressers and beauty salons continue to be closed with an estimated opening date of June 1st.
Smart (remote) working continues to be encouraged and it is always strongly recommended to move as little as possible except for proven work, necessity or health needs.
Students will not return to school until September. The government is working to define how classrooms can be conducted in complete safety and in the meantime, teachers are trying to keep the school program going through digital platforms with online lessons and courses.
Masses will not yet be allowed — funerals are now allowed, but only with the presence of the deceased’s family members, for a maximum of 15 people.
In Italy, there is little talk of young people: the generation that continues to fight against the high rate of unemployment that, will only get worse due to the pandemic. It seems to have stopped everything, not only in big cities, but also in smaller ones.
At the supermarket, your temperature is measured; same thing before you go to work.
We leave the house only to be able to go on the necessary errands to walk to the village center. The most usual things recently are now a vague and distant memory. The city is no longer as you remember it, and perhaps not even the people.All of a sudden what you used to take so much for granted, now seems to be the most precious thing you had: a mother’s hug, a brother’s visit, chatting at the bar.
What seemed so strange in Phase 1 is becoming familiar, normal. Human beings have the luck, or the misfortune, to adapt to circumstances, and we will have to adapt more and more to this strong change that has suddenly hit us. Now we‘ll have to make today’s fear become tomorrow’s strength.
