What will happen tomorrow?

by Tatiana Pilipenko (Italy)

A leap into the unknown Italy

Shares

When something bad happens, it happens far away. Necessarily in a distant country, on the other end of the continent. Is it true? We have nothing to worry about. On February 21st, the first case of coronovirus infection was recorded in Italy. But there was nothing to worry about, the patient was quarantined, doctors followed the standard procedure of prevention for people who were in contact with the patient. It is no big deal. But no. Day after day, the number of cases increased. The first deaths were recorded. The media just continued to show even greater panic. However, by the beginning of March, the situation seemed to have begun to stabilize, although people were still afraid. Many of them purchased extra products and in educational institutions it was decided to extend the quarantine measure. March 7th, 2020, Lyon. I came here a week ago from Milan. This trip was planned back in December and I was glad to escape from the panic-stricken Lombardy. I was sure that I would calmly go back, because all the events recorded during the previous week were relatively good. March 8th, 2020, Lyon, train station. I looked at the screen and saw that my train did not go to Milan. It did not even go to Italy at all. It was decided that it would stop in Modane, a village on the border between France and Italy. At the ticket office they did not know anything about it. They said that the order came very quickly, literally 40 minutes before the train departure. They said that now there would have been a videoconference with the Italian government on the issue. They said that they would somehow solve this problem. They said that they themselves were shocked by this decision. Nevertheless, they advised to take this train and go to Modane - maybe Italy would send a special train there and pick up its residents. While on the train, there was an announcement that all the Italians should get off the train at Chambery – one stop before Modane – and from there, most likely, there would be a train to Italy. Dozens of people. «They cannot do this to their residents! » «I live in Turin! » «But I'm from a village near Florence! » «Maybe I have to go back to Lyon... » They announced that we would soon depart. Italy allowed the fast train Paris-Milan to take back the Italians stuck in the middle of the Alps. This is the last train. The following will be gone, even before Turin. These four hours of waiting united the passengers. Nobody knew anyone’s names, but when someone was getting off the train, he or she sincerely wanted, that other companions in misfortune would get to their destination. March 9th The Lombardy region has been completely closed. You cannot leave and enter. Everything is quarantined. Shops are still working. Bars are open until 6pm. Restaurants can only be opened if visitors can stay a meter apart. March 10th, morning The government has forced quarantine all over the country. Now the borders are actually closed. Police officers stop people on the street and ask for the purpose of leaving the house. Restaurants and bars are closed at will. March 10th, evening I am writing this essay. Meanwhile, there is news that the President of Lombardy has proposed to the Italian government at the legislative level to close bars and restaurants and stop public transport. What will happen tomorrow?