It seems like a century ago, but it's only been eight days. Until February 20, the coronavirus was a problem for China and in Italy we were discussing whether to quarantine children returning from infected areas. But then, from the following day everything changed: in short, our country becomes the third in number of infections in the world (in second place is South Korea) and Italians are blocked in foreign airports as possible spreaders. But how did we get to this point in such a short time? And most importantly, how did the first week of epidemics change our lives?
THE “RED ZONES”
The first strong countermeasure to the emergency arrives on February 22, when the government orders 11 Municipalities to be closed with a cordon sanitaire. Objective: to circumscribe "red zones" to isolate the coronavirus. Here is the list of municipalities in quarantine:
- Codogno
- Castiglione d'Adda
- Casalpusterlengo
- Fombio
- Malayo
- Somaglia
- Bertonico
- Newfoundland of the Passerines
- Castelgerundo
- San Fiorano
- Vo' Euganeo
The last municipality is in the province of Padua, while all the others are in the province of Lodi.
SUPERMARKET PANIC AND VULTURES ON AMAZON
The next day, Sunday, the decision to close schools, offices and cinemas arrives in the areas affected by the outbreak. At that point mass hysteria starts: the population storms supermarkets and stocks up on food as if the apocalypse were upon us and there was nothing left but to barricade themselves at home for weeks. Meanwhile, speculators sense the opportunity and make the prices of masks and disinfectants skyrocket beyond all limits of common sense: the image of the four packs of Amuchina sold on Amazon for 100 euros will remain in the collective memory. Now the Antitrust has put in the spotlight online platforms and sites.
THE STOCK MARKET COLLAPSES: PANIC SELLING BEGINS
The coronavirus effect hits the financial markets on Monday. The Milan Stock Exchange is the worst in Europe (-5,45%, to 23.422 points) and burns all the gains made in 2020: around 30 billion in capitalization. Deep red also for Frankfurt (-3,98%), Paris (-3,94%), Madrid (-4%), London (-3,33%) and Zurich (-3,59%). The most affected sectors are transport, retail, luxury and banking. Even the spread takes the road to the upside.
ISOLATED ITALY, TOURISM AT PEAK
On Tuesday, the crisis began to infect relations between Italy and other countries. In Mauritius 40 Italian tourists are blocked on the plane just because they arrive from infected areas. Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan and Seychelles forbid entry to Italians. And they won't be the last.
Meanwhile, in our country the tourism sector is being submerged by a wave of cancellations: even 40% of total bookings. And we are only at the beginning. It doesn't get better at the trade fair sector, with the Salone del Mobile in Milan forced to postpone.
THE REACTION AFTER THE CHAOS
On Thursday the bars reopen and in Milan the lights of La Scala come back on. The best news is that 40 people infected with the coronavirus have recovered. The mayor of the Lombard capital, Beppe Sala, launches the slogan "Milan does not stop". A decision is made to no longer swab test people who do not have any symptoms.
Another sign of easing comes from the productive world: banks, companies, cooperatives and unions have put pen to paper that "after the first days of the emergency, it is now important to balance the situation in order to restart all the blocked activities". The appeal is signed by Abi, Coldiretti, Confagricoltura, Confapi, Confindustria, Alleanza Cooperative, Rete Imprese Italia, Confartigianato, Confcommercio, Confesercenti, CGIL, CISL and UIL.
