Italy is on knees: Woman's post on coronavirus goes viral
What's the story
With Italy emerging as the European epicenter of coronavirus, an American named Cristina Higgins, who stays in Bergamo, described on Facebook what the situation looks like on the ground.
In a bid to warn citizens around the globe, Higgins asserted "the news media in the US has not captured the severity of what is happening here."
Her detailed post has garnered over 410,000 shares.
Context
It started in China, spread across the globe
As is known by now, the novel coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, originated in China in December last year.
The virus has made an appearance in 114 countries, killed more than 4,200, infected a lakh, and adversely affected stock markets.
In Italy alone, the number of confirmed cases touched 12,462 on Wednesday and the death toll jumped to 827, an extraordinary 31% increase.
Lockdown
All non-essential shops in Italy are closed
The rising number of cases forced Italy to launch a massive lockdown, that was intensified yesterday.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced that only supermarkets and pharmacies would remain open across the country. The restrictions will remain in place till April 3.
Conte said the world is looking up to Italy as a country battling a difficulty, while also appreciating the resistance they showed.
Funds
Italy has also increased funds to deal with coronavirus
The administration also pumped more funds, raising it from €7.5 billion to €25 billion.
Hoping to make the gloomy mood optimistic, Conte said in the address that the world will take Italy as a positive example.
"The country needs responsibility from all of us, the responsibility of 60 million Italians that are making small and large sacrifices every day," he added.
Facebook post
Every citizen needs to step up, wrote Higgins
As one can guess from the extreme steps taken by the Italian administration, things are pretty bad in the country. And, Higgins explained it on the social media website.
She said the massive problem can be averted in other countries if citizens stop relying only on governments, local bodies, or schools.
"The only way to stop this virus is to limit contagion," she wrote.
Reasons
Coronavirus is making people "really sick"
Warning that the US and other European countries could soon face this problem, Higgins wrote, "I can hear you now. 'It's just the flu. It only affects old people'." She urged people to be proactive.
Further, she cited two reasons behind Italy's situation. The first is that coronavirus gets people really sick forcing them to spend weeks in ICU wards, which are already overflowing.
Second reason
The incubation period is making things worse
Second, Higgins wrote, the virus has a two-week incubation period. This means that infected people may not show the symptoms immediately, but it is spreading at a fast speed.
She said out of Conte's announcement of lockdown, the sentence which stayed with her was, "There is no more time".
If the numbers don't go down, Italy will collapse, she feared.
Quote
Doctors are deciding who lives and who dies: Higgins
"On Monday a doctor wrote in the paper that they have begun to have to decide who lives and who dies when the patients show up in the emergency room, like what is done in war. This will only get worse," she added.
What she wrote
Even 18 year olds are getting infected, revealed Higgins
She noted that there is, after all, a limited number of medical staff, who are working non-stop.
"What happens when the Drs, nurses and medical staff are simply not able to care for the patients when they are not there?" she asked.
Busting the myth that only older persons get infected, Higgins wrote patients, as young as 18, have also started complaining of symptoms.
Advice
Stay home as much as you can: Higgins
To those who still have a "chance", Higgins said, "Push for the entire office to work at home today, cancel birthday parties, and other gatherings, stay home as much as you can. If you have a fever, any fever, stay home. Push for school closures, now."
She said the argument that schools can't be closed doesn't hold ground, because a week ago, locking down Italy was beyond anyone's imagination.
Facebook Post
Soon you will not have a chance, warned Higgins
Emotions
It's surreal and dystopian: Higgins
In a separate conversation with NBC News, Higgins said she feels nauseous throughout the day because every time she watches the news or talks to someone, something terrible happens.
She said people have masks on all the time and look at each other suspiciously.
"I'm trying to get through the disbelief phase faster. It's surreal. It's dystopian," she told the daily.