A year after the most painful image of the pandemic in Italy: Bergamo’s military trucks

March 18 marks a year since images of convoys of army trucks carrying the dead coronavirus to Bergamo shocked the world. Now, the province of northern Italy, which reached the breaking point during the first wave of coronavirus, is struggling to recover.

An era best known for the Renaissance-era architecture of its historic center, which stands on a hill overlooking the modern city, Bergamo quickly found itself at the epicenter of what was then the worst coronavirus outbreak in Europe.

A year later, people are going daily as much as they can under the current restrictions, but Last year’s nightmare threatens them as the dark anniversary approaches. Covid-19 has killed more people in the province of Bergamo than World War II.

“Obviously now the enemy is different from the one that manifested in the 1940s with bombings, raids and guns. In our case, it was an invisible enemy but just as deadly “said the mayor of the city, Giorgio Gori, in statements to Reuters from his office where he works on preparations for the commemorative ceremonies to be held in honor of the victims on Thursday March 18.

After the appearance of the first case of locally transmitted coronavirus at the end of February, hospitals across the province were quickly overwhelmed.

In a cemetery of Nembro, a town near Bergamo, falls after the grave of coronavirus victims has been marked with a simple wooden cross decorated with a piece of paper with the name of the deceased, the date of birth and death and a small photograph.

“These trucks showed us the enormous number of victims, so high that we could no longer bury their bodies, during those days we could not cremate the bodies of the deceased”

Since mortuaries and funeral services could not keep up with the death toll, Bergamo asked the army to intervene.

As of March 18, long columns of military trucks began to transport the dead to other towns. Bergamo became the center of global attention when the shocking image became a chilling symbol of the global pandemic.

“These trucks showed us the enormous number of victims, so high that we could no longer bury their bodies, during those days we could not cremate the bodies of the deceased.Gori said.

“We knew what was going on, we knew what was going on in our families, in our homes, in our streets and in our workplaces, so for us it was a ‘normal’ situation. But for the rest of the world, this image was perhaps the emblem of the Bergamo tragedy and, more generally, perhaps it has become the most symbolic image of the Covid pandemic, or at least of the first wave that hit our country “, He said.

During the first wave, the northern region of Lombardy was the most affectedHospitals were crowded and overwhelmed, and medical staff were working around the clock.

The front lines moved beyond hospitals whenor special teams have tried to keep patients alive at home, far from crowded rooms where thousands of people were dying.

Villa Giulia, a 33-year-old local doctor, trained some of the USCA call team staff (Special Continuity Assistance Units) which were created by authorities last year to provide specialist treatment during home visits to coronavirus patients, keeping them out of overcrowded hospitals.

Preparing for a home visit took at least 15 minutes, as she was dressed in a full coveralls with plastic hair and feet covers, as well as gloves, a mask and goggles.

“All these people that I saw at that time will be forever etched in my memory”

The personal cost was enormous in caring for sick and frightened people who were struggling to survive or preparing for a family member to die.

Villa said he will never forget the memories that are still so vivid in his mind., one year later.

“I will certainly never forget the images of the faces and eyes of people in need, who were sick at home and saw us, strangers all covered in protective clothing. They were looking for help, they were afraid of our presence, so this was help but also fear“, He said.

“All of these people I saw at that time will be forever etched in my memory.”

The fear of the virus was at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Villa and his colleagues couldn’t sleep, people were constantly calling. Some had to stay at home with the bodies of their loved ones as funeral services could not keep up.

“These people were afraid”, He said.

Villa worked with the USCA, treating patients suspected of having Covid and infected with Covid, for a year.

Despite the resurgence of the virus in Italy, conditions in Bergamo have not deteriorated as much as they did last year.

“The pandemic has changed people, they have become more irritable and desperate to escape this situation, but unfortunately this is not possible”

Yet locals, young and old, say that the pandemic fundamentally changed the people of the cityThey desperately need the pandemic to end, but so many hardships have taught them the value of the simple pleasures in life.

“In my opinion, the pandemic has changed people, people have become more irritable and desperate to escape this situation, but unfortunately that is not possible“, He said Siro Carra, 80, who is retired and survived the virus when he was infected last year.

“We are more aware of the value of each day, We know that we must not waste the time we have. This situation has united us as a city and I hope this situation will be resolved soon because we are tired, ”said Ricardo Baggi, a 21-year-old student.

A ray of hope comes from vaccines. Like many countries in the European Union, Italy got off to a slow start, but the government promised it would step up its campaign significantly.

“We are more aware of the value of each day, we know that we must not waste the time we have”

“We cannot say that we are back to the previous situation and we will not be able to say that until we have completed the vaccinations.”said Mayor Gori.

In Bergamo, was installed a mass vaccination center at the Fiera exhibition center which was turned into a temporary hospital during the height of the pandemic. A large mural thanking health workers covers the entrance, with an image of a doctor in full protective gear embracing Italy.

“The answer is: let’s go back … stronger than before”Gori said.

(With information from Reuters)

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