The coronavirus causes the first victims in Italy: at the moment, they are a man from Veneto and a woman from Lombardy. The Chinese epidemic is therefore starting to make our country tremble too. Do not panic, the institutions repeat, but in the meantime the Chinese flu has arrived in our country: there are already dozens of infected people, especially in the North and in Lombardy, with the main outbreak in the Codogno area, in the province of Lodi, where a 38-year-old fell ill who met a friend returning from China in January (but negative to the test and asymptomatic).
Of these dozens of confirmed cases, many are in serious condition and entire areas are isolated: there are hundreds of people in quarantine, and the advice now - for those who live in areas at risk, which are increasing patchily - is not to leave the house. In addition to Lombardy, there are cases in Veneto and Lazio, but the virus is probably destined to spread to other regions as well.
The arrival of the virus in Italy is already having other consequences, including on economic life and on people trade between Italy and China. Already a few days ago, for example, the news according to which Taiwan has banned the importation of pork from Italy.
The provision has all the appearance of being a retaliation for the health emergency measures launched by Italy (including the stop to air connections), even if Taiwan has instead specified that it is a precautionary measure for avoid the veterinary risk of introducing African swine fever (PSA) on the island, due to a worsening of veterinary conditions in Sardinia.
The first package deals linked to trade fair events are also flocking: while the Salone del Mobile will open its doors in two months (albeit closing its doors to Chinese exhibitors), the CODEWAY EXPO 2020, scheduled at the Rome Fair in May, postponed in November. The event dedicated to sustainable and shared cooperation, and open to companies, NGOs, institutions and buyers in the profit sector of international cooperation, is therefore postponed to facilitate international participation.
