“Pandemic, it seems to be in a movie”. This is the common feeling that is experienced by witnessing the events that have been taking place in the last few days in Italy. Total blocking of all movements (except for cases of proven necessity) and prohibition of gatherings. The speech to the nation by the President of the Republic and speeches by the Prime Minister to unified networks. And again, closing of schools, closing of shops with the exception of food and pharmacies. Closing of bars, canteens and in companies of all non-essential departments. All extraordinary and urgent measures to counter the epidemiological emergency from COVID-19.
A script that changes day by day
Unlike a film, however, no script has been written and therefore situations change day by day, our daily lives are turned upside down. And as in all emergency situations, the best and worst of Italians come out. The worse we know it well, it is the one that makes the most news and sensation, the one that attracts the most attention and consequently the one that is talked about the most. Social media and TG they send images of unconscious people who gather in joy or attack trains in order to escape from the red zones. Italians are targeted by satires of dubious taste and shunned abroad as probable infectors.
There is always a way to look at the other with diffidence and there are those who almost feel satisfaction and a sense of revenge for the fact that the center of the problem (at least for the moment) is for once in the north instead of in the south. There are even those who loot by selling masks and disinfectants at exorbitant prices or pretend to volunteer to enter homes for the elderly. We could still give many examples of how the virus has attacked not only the immune system but also the common sense and empathy of many Italians. But we prefer to dwell on the best, on all the positive things that this situation has brought to light and that have not been given the prominence they deserved.
Italy rolling up its sleeves
The best is represented by an Italy that rolls up its sleeves, by doctors, nurses and health personnel who do not hold back and works non-stop. We have to turn the spotlight on what is working right now. We think that elsewhere, even a simple swab costs between 1000 and 4000 dollars. The best are the "girls on the 4th floor" of an apartment building in Turin. They posted an advertisement in the entrance hall of their building making themselves available to older tenants to do their shopping for them.
And the best is Naomi, an unemployed educator and student on a forced break from classes. She offered to provide a free babysitting service to help the many parents forced to keep their children at home without being able to miss work.
The best is the lady who decides to offer the pizzas to the personnel of the resuscitation of Lecco. And the nurse who receives them, moved, finds the time to thank her publicly even if she doesn't know who she is.
And how can we fail to mention Captain Gennaro Arma? The photo of the commander who, in uniform with trolley and mask, leaves the Diamond Princess alone for the last time, has been around the world arousing a wave of respect and sympathy. "A hero", the "symbol of an Italy that never gives up", the "brave captain" who redeems Schettino's mistakes.
The pandemic and solidarity
There have been many free distributions of self-produced disinfectant gel and many donations to the infectious disease departments of various Italian hospitals. Companies, banks, football teams have contributed large sums of money and fundraisers. Just as brands of the caliber of Armani and Dolce and Gabbana, known throughout the world as a symbol of Italian spirit. Even influencers and jet setters who used their popularity to help stop the epidemic did not hold back. Chiara Ferragni and Fedez donated one hundred thousand euros and started a fundraiser that in a very short time reached staggering figures. And to encourage quarantines and make long days at home less boring, "digital solidarity" services have been created in the red zone".
In addition to multinationals such as Amazon and Microsoft, very Italian communication companies and publishing groups such as Tim, Mondadori, La Repubblica, La Stampa, etc. they have devised various concessions to increase the possibilities of working, getting information and reading books without having to leave the house. The schools are closed and, although education in this historical moment is certainly not the flagship of our country, in this emergency situation, in this pandemic, it is pulling out unexpected resources. In order not to "abandon" children and young people, she immediately worked to find alternative but equally effective solutions to the classic lessons. Witness the numerous teachers who, even on Saturdays and Sundays, made themselves available to the students for individual lessons and personalized explanations. Or they immediately committed to reorganizing the educational material in order to make it usable online.
Pandemic, like in a movie, hopefully with a happy ending
In short, in this moment of crisis, uncertainty and fear in which the WHO has declared a Pandemic, the most beautiful part of Italy has stood out for its generosity, his humanity and he has never forgotten that helping, at any time, in any circumstance is the first thing to do to never forget who we are. Not to forget that we are not invulnerable and in a short time we can go from being who helps to be who needs help and vice versa. The most beautiful Italy is the one that doesn't fight against the other but for the other. Because never as in this case the others are all of us. AND if there's one thing that no virus can ever take away from us, it's our humanity.
# Italian in the heart
