MY LIFE IN LOCKDOWN
Sunderland woman describes conditions in virus-ravaged Italy:
A Sunderland-born woman is living in an Italian village which has suffered eight coronavirus deaths – including a doctor who was treating the sick.
Sandra Laws, who hails originally from Farringdon, is now living in Cingoli in central Italy with husband Greg.
Among the olive groves, they run a bed and breakfast accommodation and Sandra admitted: “It has been disastrous for our small B&B and olive oil businesses but we remain positive and confident.
Our region ranks about fifth in Italy for virus cases and deaths.”
She also had a warning for people back in England and said: “You guys don’t know what’s coming!”
Their lives have changed since the Italian government introduced its shut down three weeks ago for 60million citizens.
“Everyone is very frightenedand there are very few vehicles and also very few people who leave their homes. There is lots of information available on the internet and television.
“The Pro te zion eCi vile( similar to the UK’s civil defence force) is spearheading the campaign to protect people’s lives. There are many different police forces here so the shutdown is enforced rigorously with fines ranging from 206 to 3,000 euros and three months imprisonment for serious offences. People remain upbeat, pull together and seem to have adopted a war time spirit.”
Italy is split into comunes which are the equivalent of English constituencies and Sandra said: “Visitors from relatives or friends is discouraged, some co mu ne sal low people to exercise outdoors others do not.
“Virtually all shops have closed and only food shops including supermarkets, chemists, garage sand filling stations and essential shops remain open. Bars and restaurants remainclosed. Weddings and funerals are banned. Schools, colleges and universities closed some time ago. All public venues are closed and our local comune is contactable by either telephone or email.
“Only one person at a time can leave the house and you need to complete a permit (declaration) to show to the police if stopped.
She said: “There have been eight virus deaths in our nearby town of Cingoli. Four were from a care home and the doctor who treated them (he and his wife own olive groves and farmland next to ours). He died from the virus on March 19, aged 67.”