generalspeaking

Italy: Desperate People Doing Desperate Things

"Nobody will be left alone. We need to help those who are struggling the most."
"The government won't look the other way."
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte

"If help from the government arrives in two weeks -- and another two weeks is needed to distribute it -- then we run a big risk."
"The distress will turn into violence."
Leoluca Orlando, Mayor of Palermo

The government has already approved a €25bn financial package to safeguard the economy. Photograph: Antonio Parrinello/Reuters

Civil unrest appears to be alerting Italian politicians that citizens in the poorer regions of the country, reacting to lockdowns to be extended until Easter, at least, will result in rebellion by a population that has been stretched to the limits of their endurance while the novel coronavirus sickens tens of thousands and kills thousands in its wake. The overall death toll in Italy is now 11,500, giving the country the dubious distinction of having an 11 percent death rate, where many other countries experience such deathly blows at under one percent.

Another 812 victims died in a single day. Italy now accounts for over a third of the global total who have died of the novel coronavirus that China refuses to own. The daily increase of those struck just the day before stood at 4,050, bringing the country's total infections to 101,000. As the disease rampages through the country, those areas of the nation most affected have seen people resorting to lawlessness as though they have nothing to lose any longer.

People lined up at the supermarket along the street for grocery shopping, wearing masks for fear of Coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Reports emerged of people refusing to pay for their shopping in Sicily, claiming they have no funds after not working for three weeks. In Palermo and Catania standoffs between supermarket staff and shoppers occurred where armed police were sent along to the three largest supermarkets in Palermo in response to calls on social media encouraging a campaign of looting and attacks on responding police.

Two doctors, protected by overalls, masks, gloves and glasses, walk through the streets of the Spanish Quarters and collect the swabs made to some inhabitants of the neighborhood, to check for any contagions from Coronavirus (COVID-19). For the collection of the swabs they also use a mobile sanitary unit.  KONTROLAB

That Italy and its population are under immense strain is indisputable since the government took steps to close all but essential shops, businesses and industry, desperate to dampen the infection rate in the population, amidst fears the virus could spread from the suffering north to the more underdeveloped south of the country. Dysfunctional in the sense that the various mafia-type clans have as much control there as the central government.

Struggling families were assured by the prime minister that a $625-million food voucher scheme has been launched to give them help and hope. While it is badly needed, any delay, according to regional politician, in rolling out the new scheme will ensure a backlash of lowered expectations and hope dissipating.

The mayor of Palermo warned of "exploding" social unrest across the south that might spread to the north, naming bed and breakfast owners, travel agents and gym instructors as "the new poor". Fears that the economic downturn spurred by the raging epidemic is ripe for exploitation by mafia groups such as the Camorra in Naples, the Cosa Nostra in Sicily and the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria come as no surprise.

Police carry out checks as part of the coronavirus lockdown FABIO FRUSTACI (EFE)