Dear L., alas there is testimony from Italian doctors in the international presss that they are so overwhelmed that they have to make impossible choices about who they put on the respirators first.

I am so sad for Italy, and also for Europe because each country is scrambling to save its own citizens and no one is helping the Italians it seems. To see that they would have to turn to Russia, China, Cuba and Venezuela for help is just breaking my heart. As a matter of fact everything is breaking my heart.

where are the world’s billionaires who were parading their Ferraris around Lake Como?

 

Well said,

 

IIRC there was a case of a child in a vegetative state that British authorities wanted to pull the plug on and his parents were able to get him into an Italian hospital. That was many years ago and I don't remember any details. It was front page news at the time.

 

I live in Romania, and a lot of people here fled the country in search of a better life, most of them emigrating to Italy, the UK, Germany and so on. I know there's a lot of prejudice out there but I'll leave that aside for now. Mass homecomings have happened.
Today the father of a friend of mine passed away at 52 years of age. His wife,a nurse, transmitted the virus to him. He had previous health issues but the virus is what did him good. We have known each other for a very long time and I am good friends with his daugher. It's simply terrifying.
My city is being declared the largest coronavirus infection site in Romania as we speak. I live 50 meters away from the hospital. The manager of the hospital is an incompetent bastard who managed to have the family of all staff members infected by threatening doctors,nurses and other hospital staff with being fired if they would not show up for a conference. People who were tested positive sat with other, non infected members of the hospital staff. 100+ staff members tested positive in the end. No one took the blame.
Now they closed down the hospital for disinfecting. Pregnant women and chronic patients have nowhere to go. No hospital wants to take these patients at the moment(all tested negative). Utter incompetence.
If Italy was brought down on its knees by the virus I cannot imagine what it will do to my country.
And it all started with a pregnant woman who refused to admit that she was in Italy, her nationality being Romanian.
I'm a tough person but all these recent events have taken a toll on me.
I hope you people living in civilized land are better.

 

Hang in there, friend, and keep safe. You have our great sympathy - please keep us posted so we know you are OK.

 

Thank you very much for your kind words. Things are rough here but I have faith in the hospital staff as I happen to know some of them personally, they're not all like the manager. I cannot wait for all of this to settle down and look at this thread as nothing more than a reminder of what was. Thank you OF for keeping my mind busy and thanks god for hobbies!

 

I have a few great friends in Italy so I continue to pray that their situation gets better. We can extend those same prayers and well wishes to Spain and other parts of Europe as it continues to spread. Everyone be sure to do your part and we can beat this virus!

As @ZIELSZIEK said above, I’m very thankful for OF and will become more active as I look forward to embracing this amazing community.

 

I keep trying to post a link here to Italian Mayors giving hell to scofflaws without success. It’s magnificent. Google it ... it’s on you tube.

 

so sorry to hear. I’m afraid many supposedly civilized countries will prove to be deeply flawed in this instance. Other than South Korea, Japan, and Germany I’m not sure anyone has handled this right. I really wish you the best and hope you will weather the storm.

I saw it too and it’s unbelievable. I think it’s also on Twitter.

 

Some real joy in this very sad event - those two sicilian twins Mirko and Valerio playing the violin during quarantine in Agrigente.
https://twitter.com/akkitwts/status/1243734095986909185?s=21

giving hope and faith in humanity.

 

Always question the numbers, especially at this early date when numbers are coming thick and fast, often unvalidated. I just read today that Germany does NOT count deaths that occur out of the hospital or if there were other pre-existing conditions. Voila.....you get a much lower death rate. All of these numbers will have to validated and put into a regime that normalizes them for comparison, something researchers will do after the fact. At this point I don't put much faith in these numbers other than a marker as to how things are going in a particular area.

But here's hoping all health facilities and staff stay healthy and do their work as best as they can. They are the first line.

 

An update to this thread. My word is my bond. I said I’d be back. And I’m so glad things have gotten better, at least on the health front. However and as the signs at the airport say- we mustn’t let our guard down.

 

Venice thanks you for your support by giving you a beautiful blue sky and the pleasure of visiting tourist attractions nearly empty of tourists, isn't that rare.

 

Must be unprecedented since the early 20th century. However I must sadly report numerous mask wearing violations in private businesses — such as shops, my hotel’s reception area, a high end restaurant and even a pharmacy— so it’s a constant juggling act.
In museums and public transportation compliance is basically good.

I’ll have to hope the strongly descending curve of the virus in Europe mean I will be allright— but I intend to report violations for everyone’s sake.

 

Must be lovely. When I visited a few years back, the quiet spaces were few.

 

This is the Galleria dell’Academia right now- in the big room that has the famous “Last Supper” by Veronese and several other master works.
Adding the room with several masterworks by Tintoretto.

 

Thank you @Syrte for gifting us these lovely images

 

Thanks for this Syrte, it's unknown, I think, to get these views in the 21st century. Very tempting to drive over.

 

Brings back great memories of numerous trips....how times have changed.

 

A number of people are driving over from Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. However it does carry some risk and IMO really requires putting up a fight for the regulations to be respected. It’s a pity so many businesses and individuals are failing because they jeopardize the reputation and livelihoods of those who comply.

Talking about which a police patrol just confirmed to me that facemasks are mandatory in public indoor areas inside hotels and violations should be reported to local police. They even gave me a phone number to call.