国际英语资讯:Diary in Rome: Lockdown restrictions are real, not a joke_时事

国际英语资讯:Diary in Rome: Lockdown restrictions are real, not a joke

Editor's note: The decree of the Italian government putting the country under lockdown goes into effect on Tuesday, in a bid to prevent the ongoing coronavirus epidemic from spreading.

What does life look like under a lockdown? Below is the diary from Grandesso Federico, an Italian national residing in Padova, northern Italy, recording his life on the third day of the national lockdown.

by Grandesso Federico

PADOVA, Italy, March 12 -- From today, we reached the so-called third level of restrictions -- no more coffee bars, restaurants or unessential shopping.

Midday to around one o'clock in the afternoon used to see normally crowded streets full of students coming back home -- that is, of course, before the epidemic struck and restrictions were imposed. Now, one could only hear the sound of silence.

Just few cars braved the street, suggesting we were not in an entirely dead city. I couldn't think of any other restrictions that would have made my city more deserted and empty.

Today my objective to go out is clear: after days and days of negative answers, I would like to understand why a crucial element in this health battle is missing. I'm talking about the protective masks, the basic tool in the now dangerous pandemic.

However, my daily "pilgrimage" produced only a marginally positive answer: I could now book some masks that may or may not come.

"We hope to get the delivery this week, but we don't know the number, or if the masks would include the filter. Anyway, we will call you when they are available," a pharmacist in the very city center close to Piazza dei Signori told me.