I’m honest, I didn’t want to write this post … Firstly, because I’m not a virologist and I don’t know the argument as an expert. Secondly, because I think that these days too many persons/experts took advantage of this media case. However, in last days I heard so many irrational reactions and statements that I decided to do this.
The panic reaction of the first week …
First of all, I think that the most important thing is to keep calm and use common sense. During the last week, when in North Italy were confirmed first cases of coronavirus, thousands of Italians literally stormed supermarkets buying anything can be necessary to survive during the next weeks (!) It seemed kind of preparation to a war 🤦♀️… Then all face masks and hand sanitizers were sold out 😷 … actually, they are scarce in the whole country (!) … Then, after the Italian panic, arrived international panic … Many tourists started cancelling their holidays in Italy (!)
What do the experts say?
The coronavirus 👑🦠 is considered only slightly more dangerous than the average flu. What is more, most of the persons (95% in Italy) that were affected by that virus had very light symptoms and healed spontaneously. The group on the higher risk are all persons that already have chronic diseases and their immune system can be compromised. In fact, all Italian victims of coronavirus were persons with previous, chronic diseases. Moreover, they all were older adults (seventy-year-old, eighty-year-old).
How to behave to avoid infection & limit spread of coronavirus?
Below I list the WHO recommendations against spreading the new coronavirus:
- Wash your hands frequently
- Maintain social distancing – at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
- Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough
- Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance.
Should you cancel your holiday in Italy?
The situation is very dynamic but in any case, I would strongly recommend you to keep calm and see how the situation evolve. Now visiting Italy/Liguria is actually impossible … because we all can’t leave our houses without a valid permit and ALL the museums, theatres, ski resorts are closed.
[UPDATE 03/10/20]
As I’ve mentioned before, the situation is VERY dynamic and has changed quite dramatically within the last 10 days. Due to the increasing number of cases and, in principle, the lack of places in intensive care units in many hospitals, the Italian government introduced a ban on moving throughout the country. It means that to get out of any municipality, you must have very important professional or health reasons and you must have proofs for them. Failure to comply with these rules may result in criminal liability and up to 3 months imprisonment. For now, in Liguria 101 cases of persons infected by coronavirus are confirmed, 9 of them are dead.
[UPDATE 03/17/20]
In Liguria, 617 cases of coronavirus are confirmed. 328 people stay in hospitals, 38 are dead and the rest have to stay isolated at home. Almost everything is closed. The only places that are open are supermarkets, pharmacies and kiosks. All inhabitants are invited to stay at home and leave them only in case of real necessity. Actually you can’t move between different towns, to do so you have to have an extremely important health or working or family reasons. For all these reasons, at this moment is actually impossible to visit Italy/Liguria. In the actual situation, my opinion is still the same: don’t panic and if you haven’t planned your Italian holidays in the next days/weeks, don’t make definitive decisions yet.
[UPDATE 03/25/20]
Actually, in Liguria, are confirmed 1864 people infected by coronavirus: 950 people stay in hospitals, 740 stay at home in self-isolation, 231 are dead. However, during the last days, the total number of new infections and deaths (in Liguria and in Italy) started decreasing.
Here in Liguria, we all have to stay at home isolation and we can leave it only for buying food or to have an urgent medical visit. Anybody who is out of his/her home without a valid reason risks a fine that goes from 500€ to 3000€.
Experts say that this week is absolutely crucial and that the whole Italian/Ligurian future situation depends on what will happen in the next days.
[UPDATE 04/01/20]
Actually, in Liguria, are confirmed 2918 people infected by coronavirus: 1332 people stay in hospitals (179 in intensive care), 1174 stay at home in self-isolation, 428 are dead. The total number of healed people is 480. The trend of the total number of new infections and deaths is still decreasing. The governor of Liguria said that if this trend will continue, the current restrictions will be able to lighten about April 20.
[UPDATE 04/07/20]
In Liguria are confirmed 3923 people infected by coronavirus (1964 stay at home in self-isolation, 1246 stay in hospital [156 in intensive care], 620 are dead. The total number of healed people is 925.
The Region has divided all positive cases per provinces and now the actual situation is the following:
- Province of Savona 509
- Province of La Spezia 463
- Province of Imperia 667
- Province of Genoa 2157
+ 127 cases that aren’t attached to any Ligurian province.
The total number of swabs that have been made: 16579
The authorities claim that the trend started decreasing. The total number of new cases and deaths (not only in Liguria but in the whole of Italy) is lower every day.
[UPDATE 04/16/20]
In Liguria are confirmed 4539 people infected by coronavirus (2375 stay at home in self-isolation, 1060 stay in hospital [103 in intensive care], 828 are dead. The total number of healed people is 1774.
The Region has divided all positive cases per provinces and now the actual situation is the following:
- Province of Savona 564
- Province of La Spezia 476
- Province of Imperia 850
- Province of Genoa 2649
The total number of swabs that have been made: 26945
[UPDATE 04/26/20]
In Liguria are confirmed 4904 people infected by coronavirus (2591 stay at home in self-isolation, 842 stay in hospital [83 in intensive care], 1091 are dead. The total number of healed people is 2775.
The Region has divided all positive cases per provinces and now the actual situation is the following:
- Province of Savona 809
- Province of La Spezia 382
- Province of Imperia 935
- Province of Genoa 2771
The total number of swabs that have been made: 41125
[UPDATE 05/05/20]
In Liguria are confirmed 5175 people infected by coronavirus (2776 stay at home in self-isolation, 651 stay in hospital [68 in intensive care], 1230 are dead. The total number of healed people is 3816.
The Region has divided all positive cases per provinces and now the actual situation is the following:
- Province of Savona 846
- Province of La Spezia 314
- Province of Imperia 855
- Province of Genoa 3153
The total number of swabs that have been made: 57.622
05/04/2020 in Liguria and in whole Italy has started the 2nd stage of the lockdown. It consists of the lightening of the last restrictions. Now it is possible to do sports, take a walk and leave your house without particular, important reasons … I mean, you can leave your flat. Ther’s obligation of wearing a mask and maintaining 1 meter of security distance. However, it is still not possible to move between different municipalities or regions. All cloth shops, restaurants, gyms, swimming pools, hairdressers, beauticians, etc. are still closed. Also, all beaches, because they have to be reopened under new regulations that are still in progress.
[UPDATE 05/16/20]
In Liguria are confirmed 4540 people infected by coronavirus (2138 stay at home in self-isolation, 395 stay in hospital [26 in intensive care], 1344 are dead. The total number of healed people is 5232.
The Region has divided all positive cases per provinces and now the actual situation is the following:
- Province of Savona 763
- Province of La Spezia 211
- Province of Imperia 652
- Province of Genoa 2910
The total number of swabs that have been made: 78.068.
From 05/18/2020, another lightening of existing restrictions will begin. It’ll be possible to move freely around the region, actually, all types of business activities will be opened (clothing stores, furniture stores, restaurants, swimming pools, gyms, hotels, beauticians, hairdressers, etc.). It is still required to keep a distance of at least 1 meter between people and wear a mask in public places.
With this latest message, I stop updating information about the coronavirus in Liguria and I believe that there won’t be any reason to go back to this argument!
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I totally agree. Well written, sensible suggestions!
Thanks!
Good luck Liguria, good luck Italy
Stay safe
Thanks 🙂
In view of the rapid spread of coronavirus in Italy, the government in Rome is meeting with representatives from neighbouring countries Slovenia, France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany to discuss what further measures should be taken. The number of infections now exceeds 220. Commentaries range from cool-headed reflection to borderline panic. “In its contingency plans, the state must take into account the uncontrollable human factor. It may seem wise for individuals to buy face masks, for example. But when everyone thinks like that there could be a run on supplies, leading to a shortage that affects those who most urgently need these products: doctors and nurses. That would be really bad news. The state’s biggest task now is to get its contingency plans out of the drawer, prepare hospitals and provide them with sufficient resources. That may sound more boring than plans to stop trains and close borders. But it’s much more efficient.”
Thank you for the statement that you shared!