Lockdown lessons from Italy
As Australia commences its shutdown in response to COVID-19, I'm providing some information from Europe to help everyone understand the journey that lies ahead. While it is my greatest wish that other countries could fast-track through this with minimal impact, the truth is Australia's curve (and those of many other countries) is already mirroring Italy's at the same time in its journey. So please consider the lessons from Italy because knowledge is power and preparation is key.
Australian numbers as at 22 March 2020, source covid19data.com.au
There have been minor differences in the approach of each country so far. I'm going to share the Italian experience here because that is where I am living through lockdown. I’m in a small town called Alba in Piemonte.
Before I start, it's important to recognise why there is an initial 2 week horizon set for these lockdowns. Whatever is about to unfold in your country is already in the pipeline and cannot be averted. But what you do from today will dictate what you see in 2 weeks time. It is only once you literally "stop" that you begin the serious work of easing your curve.
Source: worldometers.info
As I write this Italy reaches its 2 week mark and for the first time there is the slightest easing in the number of new cases and the number who died today. It’s too premature to pronounce success because this could be an anomaly, but we pray not.
While Italy introduced lockdowns for particular towns during February when numbers of deaths climbed rapidly, they quickly moved to a nation-wide lockdown on Monday 9 March. The restrictions have been ramped up at least 3 times, each designed to slow the transmission rates and ease the pressure on the health system:
1. Restricted movement between regions and the requirement for all public places to enforce social distancing of 1m and be closed by 6pm (Monday 9 March)
2. Closure of all commercial businesses including all cafes, restaurants and bars. Only essential services to remain open to the public (Wednesday 11 March)
3. More specific restrictions of movement: stay within 200m of your property; carry a form stating your reason for leaving it if you go out; no cycling on the road even for professionals; no more than 2 people in a car and one must be in the back; shop only at the closest supermarket.
Let’s remember that Italy imposed its lockdown very quickly compared to other countries, so it has been refining it and clarifying it as time passes.
What it's like to live this way:
1. The lockdown is the beginning of the calm. Simply doing what is asked is easier than wondering what to do. In fact it was easier to accept the more extreme measures of the third version than the earlier version that allowed people to go to public places like cafes. Partial shutdown was more confusing and in the end proved not to be enough to ensure social distancing.
2. Shopping is more orderly. People queue outside stores and maintain their distance from each other. They wait patiently and enter the store on a "one-out, one-in" basis. It works really well and takes the pressure off the stores. Here no-one is anxious about finding what they need on the shelves and the stores are able to better manage restocking because people are not crowding in. We've been to many stores where there are no queues at all. All shop assistants wear gloves and masks and perspex panels have been rapidly erected in front of all checkouts. These are measures to protect these workers who are fulfilling one of the only roles that continues to be highly exposed to people, apart from health workers.
3. There are all manner of services still operating if you need them. Plumbers can come to fix a pipe. Pet shops are open for pet food. Trucks are transporting goods. Mechanics are maintaining trucks. Farmers are working the land. People are allowed to work, and if they cannot complete their work at home they can travel to their place of work. Even the Ferrero factory making Nutella is open. In fact the streets of Alba smell like chocolate!
4. Distance creates wariness, but also more respect for others. There is no doubt that people here are concerned about the spread of the virus. Alba has only a handful of reported cases and is away from the major centres struggling to cope, but once the restrictions started in earnest, I sensed a little more wariness. People don’t want you to come too close, but they are also respecting each other’s space. People still greet you and smile, and the shop assistants still chat and laugh and overall I feel that it has built an even stronger sense of community.
Every day I am reminded that Spring is here and soon the weather will warm. We wait patiently for good news because that is all we can do.
Italians sing on balconies and the French regularly clap the health workers at 8pm. I look forward to finding out what Australians do!
I believe this will go on for much longer than anyone might have initially thought. There are few countries unaffected, and as each moves to respond to their own challenges, we will discover what it means to be exposed to something that is truly global.
What affects one, affects us all. We don’t just owe it to the country we are in take our lockdown seriously. We owe it to every other country to start now. Because in the end we will all be waiting for the last of us to come through this thing before any of us can breathe easy. We hope for a vaccine but we prepare for the long haul that may lay ahead.
Let’s stand together and deny the virus a free ride. #iorestoacasa #istayathome
I’m sharing stories, information and encouragement regularly on my Facebook page and some additional messages on Instagram. Please join me and please share with anyone you think would benefit. You are not alone.
