With relief and uncertainty, Italy regains certain freedoms

ROMA – Without euphoria, with relief, but also uncertainty about what will happen, Italians have regained certain freedoms today. They were able to sit down again for lunch or dinner in a restaurant – but only outside – and toast the long-awaited reopening of the country, economically and psychologically devastated by the coronavirus.

Thanks to a decree approved amid controversy last week by the unity government of Mario draghi and after more than two months of restrictions, just over 47 million people, living in the 15 regions that have turned yellow again – where the risk of contagion is lower – have recovered some oxygen.

Although this is a freedom still kept because a curfew from 22 to 5 is still in force, Italians in the yellow zones have also been able to find pleasures such as going to the cinema, the theater, museums, exhibitions, of course. respecting the quotas, the use of the chinstrap and other protocols. They could also get together to practice contact sports and play soccer five, provided it is done outdoors, or to roam freely in another region of the same color.

Gyms remain closed until further notice. The schools, which never closed for those who attended kindergarten, primary school and children up to 13, for secondary schools, 70% were again face to face.

Far from the euphoria experienced on May 18, when a first reopening took place after the hard lockdown of the first wave, this time a different climate reigned. In the bars and restaurants with tables outside, satisfied customers have been seen, finally seated, having a coffee, an aperitif or lunch.

“Finally, I can sit the cappuccino and read the newspaper, without having to drink it from a cardboard glass, which is a fear, and go get a plaza bench, like a refugee,” she said. commented. THE NATION an elegant Roman lady, retired. “Hopefully this lasts,” she added, skeptically.

After intermittent openings and closings, the same feeling of uncertainty, mixed with skepticism, could be felt among the owners of bars and restaurants in the historic center, the most punished by quarantines. “Yes, it’s better than nothing or the delivery. But you have to see how long it will last, ”said Sandro Marchi, manager of a restaurant in the historic center who, more than happy, looked worried. “If they don’t let us have customers inside and they don’t extend the curfew until at least midnight, the sector won’t be able to lift their heads either,” he said. added shaking his head.

It is estimated that more than half of the 350,000 gastronomic businesses – large and small – in Italy, do not have outdoor spaces to set tables outside. Hence the bad mood of many. According to the government’s reopening schedule, restaurants that only have internal spaces will not be able to reopen until June 1; then they will only be able to receive clients up to the age of 18.

Although in truth the gradual reopening will depend on the epidemiological situation, which is not so rosy either. Although the infected curve has fallen in recent weeks, as has the contagion index Rt (0.8), More than 10,000 cases continue to be recorded daily, which for most experts, with today’s reopening, will multiply.

“The problem is people’s behavior. It makes sense that it should be reopened gradually because the crisis is huge and if not, the cure is worse than the disease. But if people don’t take care of themselves, in three weeks, for example, my area will be full again, ”Andrea Campana, head of the Covid center at the Bambin Gesú hospital in Palidoro, told LA NACION.

“The difference from last year, people are less afraid of illnessThey saw that it can be cured and then they have less attentive behaviors, ”he said. In fact, this past weekend, dangerous crowds of people marched in squares and shopping avenues across Italy, forcing police to intervene by erecting fences and imposing fines.

“My forecast is that if now we don’t continue to vaccinate as many people as possible, in Italy we will continue like a roller coaster, with ups and downs,” Campana predicted.

Beyond the enemy always on the lookout and the recommendations according to which “we must not let our guard down”, everyone agrees that until the return of tourists (tourism represents 13% of Italian GDP) , everything will remain paralyzed.

Despite today’s long-awaited reopening, the iconic Piazza Navona at noon seemed deserted: customers sitting for a few months in the bars surrounding Bernini’s magnificent Four Rivers fountain were counted on the fingers of one hand, despite the sunny spring day. And it was striking that a historic restaurant like ‘I tre scalini’ was still completely closed, with shutters closed, a destination which, due to the coronavirus crisis, has affected thousands of other economic activities.

“If the tourists don’t come back it will still be dead and there will be no resurrection for anyoneCommented Romeo, a waiter at a restaurant who also looked empty, with no customers. “But at least we were able to reopen … Tourists will already discover on TV that we have relived and that we are waiting for them.”

THE NATION