Letter from... Rome

By Maurizio Maione

We’ve all watched some post-apocalyptic movie about humans being segregated due to environmental or nuclear threats of some kind from the sofa. Now that we happen to be living in such a movie, our sofas might be not the comfortable place we once thought of.

Last Thursday, we watched the news about the lockdown extension in Italy from these same sofas. The current conclusion is that we are to remain at home until 13 April, an extra 10 days.

The lockdown will include Easter Monday, traditionally, a bank holiday dedicated to family reunions and picnicking. For the first time, the emergency quarantine will impact on a widely recognized (and religious) feast, far more attractive and powerful than any Sunday roast with parents. 

Despite this new first which we are to face this Easter weekend, we are definitely getting used to the abnormal conditions such as silence at noon or queuing for food.

Similarly, every now and then, we get our share of satisfaction. For example, when we learn that the daily ratio of positive cases has decreased for five days in a row, and suddenly we find ourselves discussing whether we are peaking, climaxing or plateauing, the new dialect of this emergency. Or again, as we see the temporary COVID-19 hospital in Milan built from scratch in 14 days and fully equipped with intensive and semi intensive care units, thanks to donations by individuals and companies.

This along with the platoon of 30 medics from Albania which is volunteering to help us are the lintels supporting our spirit and determination.

We don’t know if the lockdown will be lifted after this first extension. Almost certainly schools will not reopen until September, which is a long time to manage childcare and in particular access to technology. Tech has been invaluable in terms of working remotely, providing education to our children and intellectual stimulation, as well as keeping them entertained. However, I do fear that we may become reliant on the digital nanny more than ever, but, perhaps this is a hurdle to face once we are set free again.