Italy: Bells of hope in Naples

A 21-year-old former Ashton College student never imagined that she would be trapped in one of the most heavily infected countries during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meekah Pizzuti, who has been in and out of Italy for the past three years, is in lockdown in Lauro, in the Campania region of Naples in south Italy.

Pizzuti sees the outside world from her balcony and describes the scene as severe and scary as the number of infections and deaths climb higher each day, with strict regulations limiting personal freedom.

On Monday, April 7, the town was declared an official ‘red’ zone after a family of eight who ran the local grocery store all tested positive.

Fears that most of the town may have been in contact with the family through shopping has seen the army arrive, with concrete barriers stopping movement through Lauro.

“Every supermarket and pharmacy has shut down and the only way things may be transported is by the police,” said Pizzuti, who said the entire district were being catered for by a single supermarket and pharmacy.

“Previously only one member per family was able to leave the house to do grocery shopping, and they needed to have a certificate signed and authorized by the Sindaco (council) of the town to allow them to leave their houses. The police and carabinieri, Italy’s high police, were stationed at every road in the town where you were stopped and asked for your identification and certificate, and also where you were going and for what. This includes both on foot and in the car.”

Failure to produce identification documents or a certificate to be outdoors can result in six years imprisonment for endangering the public.

According to Pizzuti, critically affected areas have seen police barricading supermarkets, and sometimes only allowing three individuals into a store at a time.

The Italian government has been helpful in assisting the public financially in order to keep the economy afloat and the public in pocket during the lockdown.

“The cost of rent, lights and water has been cut,” said Pizzuti. “No family is to pay any of this during the lockdown.”

“A caritas (charity) has been set up for those less fortunate and each family has been given a stipend of 600 euros should they be underprivileged or without income.”

According to the former local, the church bells in her town ring every few hours to give people encouragement.

Neither Pizzuti nor her partner have been tested, though she expects this might happen soon.

Asked if she would like to return to South Africa, Pizzuti said: “I would not wish to leave my beautiful Italy. This is my home and the place I feel happiest. I know the government and President Giuseppe Conte will look after its people at any cost. The Pope has broadcast mass from Rome through all the television networks, giving us a sense of safety.”

The lockdown in Italy is scheduled to last until May 16.

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