So many people have written to me and asked, “Everyone says that we ere in the United States are about 2 weeks behind you, so what’s happening there?”  Well, two weeks ago I can say that we were just about where you are right now.  Two weeks ago, restrictions on movement had been put in place, but since it was still beautiful outside and there was no sign of illness anywhere, everyone was still going outside (because the bars and restaurants were still open until 6:00 in the evening) and we were trying to be careful by staying a meter away from each other.  The waiters wore masks.  But life was pretty normal if you didn’t work in a hospital.  Now, we realize that every day that we “eased” into total lockdown, we were just fueling the spread.  If we had locked down completely a month ago, we would be over the peak and recovering, like China. 

We have been bombarded by information regarding Covid 19 from factual newspaper articles to social media posts sharing medical research and opinions.  I’ve been trying to figure out the most effective way of conveying to you the crucial points that you should be paying attention to.

The number of infected people doubles every 3 days if left unchecked.  That is where the United States is right now (as of March 25 the US has 55,231 cases, so you can do the math).  With proactive social distancing, Italy has been able to change that number from 3 to 7 days, which is still a LOT of cases, but vastly fewer eventually.

The biggest issue which affects EVERYONE (not just the old and infirm) is that the hospitals are overrun.  They are overrun from too many patients at the same time and from losing a LOT of staff from infection and death (2,600 total staff infected in Italy and 15 doctors have died).  Right here in the Padova hospital network there are 119 medical staff that are quarantined and cannot work.  So, there is NO ability to treat other problems.  If you or a loved one has any other type of emergency (heart attack, traffic accident, serious infection, premature birth, kidney stone attack, etc.), there is no one to treat you.  Literally.

We now have been confined to our apartment pretty much 24/7.  One of us goes to get groceries once in a while and that feels slightly uncomfortable.  We wait in line to get in, we feel awful about the staff that have to work there every day (a 37-year-old supermarket clerk died yesterday in Brescia), and we must carry an official document with us when we go out explaining why we are out with a date and time on it.  And I’m grateful every day that I am in the enviable position of “having” to stay home, unlike the workers in the “essential services”.

We are positive and happy here.  Life is good and we are surrounded by love, so we couldn’t (shouldn’t) ask for anything more at this time.  Sending you all our love,

Holly