Coronavirus: Living in Milan

Dear Easy Milano Readers,

The public ordinance in Lombardy has imposed school closures and suspensions of cultural activities.

Although public opinion may believe the measures are extreme, it is wise to observe them and to follow the indications sent by WHO (World Health Organization) regarding avoiding contact and personal self care:  

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing.
• Avoid close contact with people who have symptoms of respiratory illness.
• Clean surfaces with alcohol- or chlorine-based disinfectants.

Read more here: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

What to do if you feel ill

Be assured that Lombardy has excellent health services and are highly efficient. The ordinance was created with the aim of containing and controlling the spread of the virus.

If for any reason you suspect you or a loved one presents symptoms DO NOT go to the emergency room. Call the official government Coronavirus hotline tel. 1500 for emergency 8 a-m. – 8 p.m. languages available:  Italian English, or Chinese.
Or call 24 hours a day local emergency tel. 112 or tel. 118. Speak clearly and slowly, tell them your location, describe your symptoms and they will give you instructions.

Take advantage of the clam

If you must stay home from school or work, take advantage of the calm to study, read a book,  write that short story you’ve been mulling over, organize your wardrobe, play board games with your kids, or file all those papers piling up on the desk in the corner.

We are also quite fortunate to have nice weather in Milan these days; it is not excessively cold or rainy. Milan museums are closed but you can take a walk in Parco Sempione (MM Lanza) or Giardini Pubblici Indro Montanelli (MM Palestro).

The Milan public transportation system is still working and news on the ATM website states they are taking extra measures towards cleaning and sanitizing.  Read more: https://www.atm.it/it/ViaggiaConNoi/InfoTraffico/Pagine/Luned%C3%AC24febbraio,attivoilservizioditrasportopubblico.aspx

Below is a partial translation of the public ordinance and links to the original source.

Wishing you all well,

Celia

Public Ordinance from Italian Health Minister

Source: https://www.regione.lombardia.it/

The ordinance imposes:

• suspension of events or initiatives of any nature, of events and of any form of meeting in a public or private place, including those of a cultural, recreational, sporting and religious nature, even if held in closed places open to the public;
• closure of kindergartens, childcare services and schools of all levels, as well as the attendance of school and higher education activities, professional courses, masters, courses for the health professions and universities for the elderly, with the exception of specialists and trainees in the health professions, except for distance learning activities;
• suspension of the opening services to the public of museums, cinemas and other cultural institutes and places referred to in Article 101 of the Code of Cultural Heritage and Landscape, referred to in Legislative Decree 22 January 2004, no. 42, as well as the effectiveness of the regulatory provisions on free or free access to these institutions and places;
• suspension of any educational trip, both nationally and abroad;
• provision of the obligation on the part of individuals who entered Lombardy from epidemiological risk areas, as identified by the World Health Organization, to communicate this circumstance to the Department of prevention of the health company responsible for the territory, which provides to communicate it to the competent health authority for the adoption of the fiduciary home stay measure with active surveillance;
• suspension of insolvency proceedings.
• Business closings are arranged in these terms:
  • bars, night clubs and any other entertainment open to the public are closed from 18.00 to 6.00; measures will be defined to avoid gatherings in these premises.
  • for the shops inside the shopping centers and markets, opening hours are by choice on Saturdays and Sundays, with the exception of the food outlets.
  • closing for trade fairs.
  • Merchants are invited to ensure appropriate precautionary measures.

Read full document in Italian:  Lombardy region website – this is a link to the latest update 23 Feb 2020 (in Italian).

Source: https://www.regione.lombardia.it/wps/portal/istituzionale/HP/DettaglioRedazionale/servizi-e-informazioni/cittadini/salute-e-prevenzione/Prevenzione-e-benessere/red-coronavirusnuoviaggiornamenti

You may be interested in:

Main image: Youth in Milan, Coronovirus/ editorial use Shutterstock