Derald Bulls cousin Marla Beimer is teaching and the American school in Milan, Italy. Here is an update she shared with us on Facebook earlier today:
Things have changed pretty quickly around here. Over the weekend, the number of cases and fatalities dramatically increased, so the government has enacted new restrictions. Italy is essentially shut down. We are now told to stay home unless there is a proven need. Businesses are closed except for things like grocery stores, hospitals, vets, and pharmacies. Any movement outside your own area, you have to carry a document declaring that you are moving around for a necessary reason. Police can and will check that you are telling the truth and if not, you will get a fairly hefty fine. I am still healthy, have plenty of food (and toilet paper), and my internet works just fine. Other than getting a little stir crazy and missing seeing other people, there’s not much for me to complain about. The virus is particularly hard on the elderly and the immunocompromised. Italy has one of the oldest populations in the world with about 1/4 of the population being over age 65. Because of this, the virus has been more deadly here than any other place so far. The hospitals are overwhelmed with people who have significant respiratory distress, and it is exceeding the capacity for care. It is likely other areas of the world will follow suit, the infection just started here earlier. So my advice is to go ahead and be cautious. If they ask you to wash your hands and to not go to do non-essential things, that’s really what you should do. Yes, you would be likely to survive it if you got it, but you may give it to someone who isn’t as lucky. If each person does their part, it can be contained much faster and it won’t be as overwhelming to the medical system. It is not only a human health issue; it is also an economic one. Italy’s economy is going to be hit hard. If you can’t be persuaded by helping keep your community healthy, maybe you can be persuaded to keep the economy healthy.
Things have changed pretty quickly around here. Over the weekend, the number of cases and fatalities dramatically increased, so the government has enacted new restrictions. Italy is essentially shut down. We are now told to stay home unless there is a proven need. Businesses are closed except for things like grocery stores, hospitals, vets, and pharmacies. Any movement outside your own area, you have to carry a document declaring that you are moving around for a necessary reason. Police can and will check that you are telling the truth and if not, you will get a fairly hefty fine. I am still healthy, have plenty of food (and toilet paper), and my internet works just fine. Other than getting a little stir crazy and missing seeing other people, there’s not much for me to complain about. The virus is particularly hard on the elderly and the immunocompromised. Italy has one of the oldest populations in the world with about 1/4 of the population being over age 65. Because of this, the virus has been more deadly here than any other place so far. The hospitals are overwhelmed with people who have significant respiratory distress, and it is exceeding the capacity for care. It is likely other areas of the world will follow suit, the infection just started here earlier. So my advice is to go ahead and be cautious. If they ask you to wash your hands and to not go to do non-essential things, that’s really what you should do. Yes, you would be likely to survive it if you got it, but you may give it to someone who isn’t as lucky. If each person does their part, it can be contained much faster and it won’t be as overwhelming to the medical system. It is not only a human health issue; it is also an economic one. Italy’s economy is going to be hit hard. If you can’t be persuaded by helping keep your community healthy, maybe you can be persuaded to keep the economy healthy.
No comments:
Post a Comment