Italy Lockdown Update: May the 4th Be With You
/It’s hard to believe it’s going on two months since I originally wrote about the coronavirus in Italy, and in turn pleading for my fellow Americans across the pond to take the virus seriously.
If you would like to read the original post on coronavirus in Italy, click here.
The husband spying on abandoned green houses because, apparently, we’ve been quarantined too long.
8 weeks and a day I since started quarantining. So much has changed since then. I had originally planned on updating my original blog on coronavirus periodically, but it really didn’t make sense to me when all TV channels, new sources, social media feeds, and conversations already revolved around this world pandemic. As it has affected everyone, and many in very real and very tragic ways, this makes sense, but I didn’t feel that my voice had anything important to add to the din. I had already given my two cents worth and given a little glimpse into the window of Italy when it became one of the worst hit countries after China before the rest of the world went under, too. Shortly after we were all in the same boat, anyway, under some kind of lockdown, travel restrictions, feeling the fear and uncertainty, wondering what is going to happen to our loved ones, our jobs, our economy, weddings, graduations, planned and saved for vacations…the list goes on and on.
However, although much still seems bleak, there is some light at the end of the tunnel, especially for those of us who have been living in Italy under one of the stricter lockdowns.
Today, May 4th, starts phase two. Many rejoice, as it feels like the first breath of fresh air (literally, for many!) in 8 long weeks stuck in small apartments. Maybe dark. Maybe all alone. Maybe with too many family members. Maybe without a balcony or any way to get some decent sunshine. Maybe struggling to get food on the table. But there is hope, the weather has turned warm and sunny, and the daily new cases and deaths have dramatically decreased in recent days.
At its worst, Italy saw 6,000+ new daily cases, and 900+ new daily deaths. Today, May 4th, there were only 1,221 new daily cases and 195 new daily deaths. For more information on the numbers in Italy, see here.
With the country slowly reopening I think many are waiting with baited breath…will it work? Or will there be a second wave? Especially in a country where people have been locked up for 8 weeks and maybe are overly zealous to get out? Hopefully, if we don’t let our guard down, everything will progress smoothly.
So, what does phase two in Italy look like? I’ll highlight here the most important updates, leaving out some of the nitty gritty boring stuff.
Italy Phase Two, May 4th
While the essential reasons for leaving home have basically stayed the same, Italians are now able to travel within their region instead of only within their city/neighborhood. Those essential reasons remain for work, health, and now necessary visits to family members, including boyfriends/girlfriends. Movement beyond your own region is consented for work, health, emergency reasons, and for returning home. (Some workers, students, etc. found themselves locked out of their own regions/unable to return home when the lockdown started. They are now finally able to go back home.)
The “autocertificazione” or self-certification is still required when you leave home, to justify your reason for being out. An updated version, the sixth edition I do believe, is available starting from today. With more shops opening, the necessary reasons stated above have also somehow been stretched to include errands to get any type of good used in every day life, newspapers, and of course still pharmacies and grocery shopping.
As of May 1st we are now allowed to walk/exercise freely, instead of having to stay within 200 meters of our home. This is my favorite, favorite, favorite part of phase two! One source said we could go as far as we can physically walk, but don’t try leaving your region. You must maintain 1 meter distance from other people (people who don’t live with you) and 2 meters if you are running, and you may not take public transportation to a certain area to exercise.
Too many people have tried to profit off the demand for masks, so the government has stepped in to cap surgical mask prices at 50 cents a piece. Masks are required if you leave home.
Masks must be worn on public transportation. This has already been in place in Florence for the past week or two, I believe. The exception is for those under age 6 and anyone who has a medical problem that would prevent them from wearing a mask.
Public parks and gardens will reopen.
Funerals will be allowed, with only family members of the first and second degree and a maximum of 15 people.
Restaurants will now be allowed to provide take-away instead of just home delivery. However the take-away food must be consumed at home or in the office, to avoid assemblies of people in front of buidlings, etc.
Industrial, construction, furnishings, and wholesale commerce can recommence.
Individual sports can restart, behind closed doors, not out in the open.
April 14th
In mid-April there was a very soft opening of a few types of shops. Cartolerie (paper and stationary type stores), kids’ clothing stores, and bookstores. Not essential, but it at least helps some store owners to be able to reopen but with very low risk of crowds.
I had an appointment this day, and was surprised to see how many people were out. They were clearly not all rushing to get fountain pens and stationary, but it’s also hard for me to blame people who have been cooped up for so long, if they’re at least respecting the distance…
Hoping and praying things can start going back to some semblance of normal!
Thanks for reading, and if you need me, I’ll be up in the Tuscan hills, walking as far as my legs will carry me…
