L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020 www.italoamericano.org 4 FRANCESCA BEZZONE NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS A virus won't stop the heart of Italy I won't speak about data and numbers, about contagion and hospitalizations: you can get all that type of information somewhere else. I'v e ev en th ough t whether writing this article was a good idea, whether bringing such a stark note into our biweekly journey into the Italian and Italian- American world was really necessary. Then, upon reflec- tion, I came to the conclu- sion the coronavirus epide- mic in our beloved country could not be ignored, quite simply. It would have been the quintessential "elephant in th e room," an d it wouldn't have been honest. So, I've decided to speak about what's happening in our coun try an d tell you about how it is to live in Italy in the times of Covid- 19. Let's get the bad stuff out of the way straight away: yes, we're afraid . We're afraid because no one can remember a time where we were asked to stay in the house as much as we could, as even going to the store for a pin t of milk could mean catch something bad. We're afraid because this thing is new, and really contagious and you cannot know and tell how far you are from someone who has it. We're afraid because peo- ple, especially the elderly an d th ose w ith prev ious pathologies, are at risk of getting extremely serious complications from what is, for most of us, just a pretty bad flu. And who doesn't have a parent or a grandpa- rent in their 70s, a friend w ith a w eak immun e system or suffering from asth ma? Here, take my example: my father is 78 and my best friend is a doc- tor w h o h appen s to also have a heart condition. I'm honestly more afraid for them than I am for myself. This first week of corona- virus in Italy has passed in the most surreal of atmo- spheres, between runs to th e supermarket in th e early morn in g to av oid meeting too many people and cancelling dinner dates w ith frien ds b ecause "they've just been on that business trip to Milan." On Mon day last, a mere 36 hours after the lock down of Lomb ardia an d Ven eto's Red Zones, supermarkets in my city had already run out of bleach and rubbing alcohol, the only two sub- stances known to kill the new coronavirus. I had to check 4 of them to finally find some. And I don't live in a h igh risk area — although we do have a rela- tively high number of peo- ple infected here, too. The elderly feel lost b ecause churches are open, but mas- ses are not celebrated, as by ordinance of dioceses in ev ery region w ith activ e cases. "And the Pope has a cold, too… Let's h ope is nothing serious" (it's not, don't worry). What scares maybe more of the virus are the scars the epidemic is bound to leave on our beautiful country an d on us, as Italian s. I keep fin din g myself thinking what people will think about me the next time I'll fly to the US or take a train to France: will they think I am"infected"? Will they stay away from me and run to the bathroom washing their hands after seeing my passport? Silly, perhaps, but I'm sure I'm n ot th e on ly Italian w h o thought about it. And there is our economy, the idea other countries will refuse our products for fear of con- tagion, the terrible certainty — data already tell us that — our tourism in dustry, this year, will have the most horrible of all annus horribi- lis you can think of: 70% cancellations already, flights empty, our hoteliers and restaurateurs dreading not to be able to keep their busi- nesses open , if "things go on like this." It's all very tragic and Covid-19 is no joke, but this week, believe it or not, we haven't only learned how to wash our hands as they do in hospital to stop the virus from spreadin g, or th e names of some important Italian virologists who've b een puttin g order w ith their wise, knowledgeable words, in a sea of alarmist — and not always real — news. We got to know that, of course — and write this in v ery b old, large letters somewhere you see it every day — coronavirus does not live on products and produ- ce coming from Italy: buy that Parmigiano, enjoy your prosciutto and indulge in some prosecco. Buy th at Italian suit and say yes to that colorful Venetian glass piece: the worst that can happen to you is to develop a healthy addiction to our Made in Italy or, if you have a glass too man y of th at prosecco, a tad of an heada- che in the morning. Nothing more than that. And it's not me sayin g it, it's w orld renowned medical experts. If an yth in g, th is is th e moment to show love, sup- port, and sense of belonging Let's open our arms and embrace Italy: the country needs all of our support (Copyright: Dreamstime) Continued to page 6

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