Coronavirus in Italy: measures taken to contain the epidemic

Text by: RFI Follow

Italy has become the third country most affected by the coronavirus behind China and South Korea. In northern Italy, the number of people diagnosed has jumped since February 21, reaching 231 cases and 7 deaths. Several northern cities are currently confined and research is continuing on the reasons for this multiplication of cases.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Rome , Anne Le Nir

For the moment, the zero patient remains untraceable. On Monday 24 February, throughout the day, the media spoke of a new track: a 60-year-old farmer, from the province of Padua, who frequented the bars of the village of Vo Euganeo, the home of contagion in Veneto, and who had been to bars in Codogno, the home in Lombardy, for the past few weeks.

But the man, who had flu-like symptoms and was hospitalized, tested negative. So there cannot be the link between the two outbreaks of the coronavirus epidemic. The mystery of the zero patient remains unresolved.

Preventing the spread of the epidemic

The Venice Carnival cut short, canceled football matches, schools and museums closed in northern Italy, in Veneto, as in Lombardy. Italian authorities have taken unprecedented steps to try to contain the coronavirus epidemic .

Eleven cities were quarantined: all public places (bars, town hall restaurants, libraries, schools) except pharmacies, closed on February 21. The main focus is around Codogno, a town of 15,000 people, many of whom work nearby, or in Milan, the economic capital, 60 kilometers away.

The public's concern is coupled with an economic concern, as explained by Gaetano Josè Gasparini, an Italian journalist, who is located near one of the confined areas.

“ The regions concerned are regions which are the economic engine of Italy. All production and the economy are blocked. Milan is the economic capital of the country. In Milan, strong measures have been taken: the metro is blocked, the means of transport are blocked. The trains, which are very frequent in this axis because it is a very important axis for the production and the economy of the country, do not stop any more in certain stations where there are the cities most affected by the contagion of the coronavirus ”.

While Fashion Week has just ended, Gaetano Josè Gasparini does not deny the impact of the coronavirus on the Italian economy. “ We know very well the weight that the purchasing power of the Chinese in Italy could have, especially with regard to luxury. Milan is a city that relies heavily on this sector and therefore the Milan Stock Exchange is in full fall. The purchase of gold is increasing as in the most delicate war situations ”.

Cities in slow motion

Italy is proposing a meeting of health ministers from countries bordering the peninsula to determine " common lines of action " in the face of the coronavirus epidemic. Eleven northern cities are confined, Milan is not one of them, but the Dome remains closed on February 25.

Francesco Daveri is a professor of economics at Bocconi University: “ Today, there are no students at the university. They were told not to come. I tried to make sure that they could advance in the programs thanks to the technologies that we have. So our teachers gave lessons this morning, and the young people connected from their homes and were able to take the lessons . ”

For the economics professor, an emergency situation has been declared, but the Italians are organizing to continue living normally. " In reality, there are always people on the street, there are always cars, because people also go to work. I would not say that the city is at a standstill. Of course, it is striking when you see that the avenues around the university are empty, because there is less traffic ”.

Francesco Daveri clarified that the population is more careful, that some people rely on telework and avoid meetings with many people. " But it's not really because we think the risk is high, but because it is better not to take unnecessary risk ."

The impact on the country's economy

Even if Lombardy and Veneto are not completely paralyzed, the measures taken by the government to curb the spread of the virus have a very significant impact on these economic engines of the country.

In these regions, which have a total population of 15 million, and alone represent 30% of GDP and 40% of exports, companies, particularly in the services, design and fashion sectors, are operating at a slower pace .

Trade fairs, such as the Mido in Milan, the largest international eyewear event, are canceled. Ditto for cultural and sporting events. Schools, high schools, universities, theaters, museums, cinemas, nightclubs are closed. The bars are only open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. We cannot yet quantify all the losses, especially since these measures, initially planned for two weeks, could be extended. But the federation of hoteliers announced that tourism has already fallen by 30%, or 5 billion euros.

The tourism sector is not spared

Francesco Daveri, is not alarmist about the long term consequences, but the epidemic of coronavirus will have an effect on the Italian economy , in particular in the tourism sector.

“ The number of tourists in Venice, for example, has dropped considerably. Some figures indicate that attendance at this time of year has been halved compared to usual attendance. This creates great difficulties for hotels, restaurants, air transport, boats and also for "Made in Italy" ".

" The consequences on the internal market will be more limited , believes Francesco Daveri, for example, with the closure of universities, bars will sell a little less and supermarkets a little more. The effect will therefore be less significant than that linked to the low influx of foreign tourists ”.

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