Italian towns shut down due to virus outbreaks

Here's another link:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2020/02/22/coronavirus-italy-towns-lockdown-deaths-virus-spreads/4841539002/

At the moment, the restrictions and closures seem to be focused mainly on Lombardy and Veneto, but if more cases surface, I'm sure this will expand. As I posted in the "Concerns" thread, hopefully the proactive measures implemented by the government will be able to contain this.

Wash your hands, people. And cough into your elbow out of consideration for others

The fatality rate, although impossible to determine precisely at this point, seems to be between 2-3%, higher among men than women, and particularly dangerous to the elderly.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/health/coronavirus-men-women.html

In any case, that is considerably higher than the fatality rate from the "usual" influenza.

But the main concern with travel to Italy right now is the possibility of getting caught up in a lockdown or quarantine situation. We are watching the situation in Lombardy and the Veneto closely as we have travel plans in that area next month. Even before this latest development, my husband (a doctor) said his colleagues in epidemiology consider this virus to be a "big deal". And my husband is not an alarmist by nature; generally the opposite.

It’s not like any other flu. Mortality rate of influenza is less than 1 in 1000. The mortality rate of this virus is more than 20 times higher. But the biggest challenge is the burden on health resources. Unlike influenza, a large number of the patients in this virus epidemic require hospitalization and often ICU treatment. The hospital where I work, a 250+ bed facility, so not a small one, has only 24 rooms in the ICU. Where do we find the necessary hospital beds and ICU resources if thousands need it.

The choice of the word "lockdown" to describe these actions is pretty irresponsible journalism.

I don't like some of the comparisons I have read between seasonal influenza and the Covid 19 virus. The later can be more serious since we are not vaccinated against it and there are no antiviral medicines such as Tamiflu. There is still much that is not known about the virus that we may learn in the future. When I read comments that we should all calm down because most fatalities occur in older people or just wash your hands, that advice only goes so far. Many fellow travelers are in that older age bracket. When I am traveling there are lots of crowds and many not so clean surfaces to touch all day long. It is impossible to wash one's hands each time especially with soap and water when out site seeing all day. Still, I agree we don't need to panic and should use common sense. People should weigh their options regarding traveling during this time and do what they can to keep themselves healthy.

Kaydee, your post displays good common sense. Thank you.

While my husband and I are in the vulnerable age group (70’s), that is not our main concern. If the incidence is vastly underreported as stated above, that means that it has spread faster and farther than we know. And efforts to contain it may be ineffective at this point, but they could become more widespread and stringent, making travel unpleasant rather than the joy we anticipate. And why impose an additional burden on the strained systems?

While we initially thought it possible we would enjoy Italy (especially Venice) with fewer tourists than usual, we now face the possibility of an Italy with everything shut down. We have a week to figure it out before we cancel without losing much.

@Lola the reporting I heard regarding underestimates of the disease's incidence and overestimates of it's mortality rate generally pertained to China. I haven't heard any reporting saying the same is true in Italy or other countries outside of China.

For others who want more information about the situation on the ground in Italy, go to google.it and search for Coronavirus--your web browser can then translate Italian news articles into English. You'll be able to get a lot more information than the basic facts covered in international news outlets.

Thank you to everyone sharing their views so we can assess our own travel situations. Personally, I am not yet that worried about the coronavirus, as it is currently being addressed and is not yet a pandemic. I am more concerned about the racism coming out against people perceived to be of Asian origin, as this affects the security and safety of travelers. The news show instances when people could be so unkind to others whom they believe had caused or propagated this virus.

I've been reading these reports this morning. From a travellers point of view, it is disappointing as I am due to visit Emilia Romagna next month, and I fear that incidence in Italy will be significantly higher. - It's just a holiday and if I need to cancel, so be it.

From a professional point of view (I work in a microbiology laboratory that is currently involved in large scale testing for the virus), the numbers in Italy are extremely worrying - moreso the man who died in Veneto as he had no obvious point of contact with the virus.
In the UK, as of yesterdays figures, we have had only nine confirmed cases - but we are concerned.

This morning Ansa.it is reporting a total of 132 cases in Lombardia, Venezia, Emilia-Romagna, Piemonte and Lazio. The Emilia-Romagna involvement is new today. Of these, 129 are in hospital with 26 in intensive care. Schools have been cancelled in Lombardia, and universities in Friuli Venezia Giulia have cancelled classes until March 1. Authories have still not identified patient zero in the major outbreak in the Codogno area.
https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/politica/2020/02/23/coronavirus-decreto-contagi-morti-isolamento-gite-scolastiche-lombardia-veneto_feab8f1d-bb23-4e52-915a-1834898fa82a.html

While the mortality rate is low this is becoming scary. Trains are being rerouted and not stopping in Reggio Emilia, Piacenza or Lodi. All universities in Emilia–Romagna closed for the coming week. We are not sure about public schools yet. Young people also effected. 17 year old in Piacenza. My friend has helped set up the emergency call system in Lombardia. His colleagues from a town near Codogno have been asked to work from home. In just one day much has changed here.

La Repubblica has a page that is updated regularly. Link below...

https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2020/02/22/news/coronavirus_in_italia_aggiornamento_ora_per_ora-249241616/?ref=RHPPTP-BL-I249215369-C12-P1-S1.12-T1&refresh_ce

Carnaval festivities in Venice have just been cancelled.

(as per the Spanish newspaper I read): https://elpais.com/sociedad/2020/02/23/actualidad/1582453882_750674.html

I had planned a week in Emilio Romagna in early May but I'm seriously thinking of rerouting somewhere else. Just not sure what all this will be like in two months. And it usually takes a lot for external events to cause me to change plans.

Keeping an eye on this. We are booked to travel to Italy at the beginning of May.

Summary of a proclamation closing things down in the Veneto:

https://campaignforalivingvenice.org/author/campaignforalivingvenice/

My husband has been following the Italian news and says the officials are meeting right now to discuss the situation and develop a plan. The escalation in numbers is worrisome, as are the new development of cases in Venice and MIlan.

We are thinking of canceling our trip (ten days from now), not wanting to walk into a situation where we might be stuck in a quarantine. And even if that doesn't happen, we feel it will be difficult to enjoy a visit to a place where museums are closed, events are canceled, and the population on edge.

I don't post often, but I am a lurker.

My husband is leaving on Wednesday for some time in Florence to get a wine certification. He was then going to Reggio Emilia for a few days before meeting me at Malpenza on March 13th. We were going to spend our time in Alba, outside of Trento and a few days in Trieste.

Reading that trains aren't stopping in Reggio has him already thinking about rescheduling that portion of the trip. We will be following closely, as I don't want to vacation where things are on lockdown, restaurants are closed, etc. Perhaps I will meet him in Rome and we will head South.

I am somewhat disappointed, but understand this is all due to trying to contain the virus. We generally go to Italy twice a year - my mom was born in the province of Vincenza in the Veneto and by husband has dual citizenship (US/Italy). So I know we will go again.

I don't want to cancel too soon or be an alarmist, but I also don't want to get caught up in a quarantine situation.

We live in Piedmonte on Lago Maggiore, less than 60 miles from Milan. We had a trip planned to Milan for a soccer match next Sunday, then a couple nights in Alba, and two nights in Torino. With the series A soccer match cancelled in Milan today, it’s likely next weeks match will also be cancelled. I’m not usually an alarmist, But we decided to cancel hotels while we can. (One night passed the cancellation deadline). But for us, it’s an inconvenience, and very minor financial consequence. I can’t imagine trying to make decision regarding your trip to Italy that has been planned and looked forward to for a while.

As residents here, my concern is 1) getting really sick and ending up in a hospital where they don’t speak English and my Italian is not fluent. 2) bringing back the virus to our town. Our building has many senior citizens 3) getting caught up in a lockdown, or quarantine while traveling.

Below website has statistics and details on the where in Italy.
Worldometer Coronavirus

In Piedmont, authorities have ordered all schools closed for the coming week — as well museums and cinemas.

So far there are 6 cases in Piedmont — 3 Italians in Turin, and 3 Chinese somewhere in the province of Cuneo.

Edit to correct: only 3 cases in Piedmont — secondary testing showed the 3 Chinese do NOT have Coronavirus.

Source: La Stampa, an Italian newspaper based out of Turin, my husband’s hometown.