Let ‘s Dance
Some great news today: After 45 days my friend Frank is finally Covid-19 free. He was tested two times this week and both tests came back negative. Free at last! We have plans to meet in the queue for the supermarket this week to celebrate. Perhaps I will bring a hip-flask with some champagne.
We are now dancing awkwardly towards Phase 2. (If you have not heard it, I highly recommend listening to the New York Times Daily podcast from a few days ago, and you will understand my choice of the word dance). More information is trickling in, though an official announcement or new decree from Prime Minister Conte is still pending (we will have it by Sunday). The reopening will take place in steps as businesses are allowed to reopen bit by bit starting on May 4th while the government watches the R0 carefully to make sure it does not spike. It looks like most stores may be allowed to reopen with strict physical distancing as of May 11th. The same goes for restaurants. It is hard to envision how physical distancing will be financially viable for many small restaurants. Naturally this is a problem facing owners of small restaurants and businesses in all countries affected by these lock downs. (On this topic, I really recommend reading this article by Gabrielle Hamilton owner of a small cult restaurant in New York called Prune)
There is some hope hairdressers might open around May 18th, with a compulsory ratio of one client to one employee and by appointment only. This would be a godsend as my attempt at doing my own roots while not a total disaster was also not particularly successful. No word on gyms. The newspapers are full of articles about how a large percentage of gyms will have to close. For the time being, it is most likely we will have to stay within the borders of our own states. When we will be allowed to travel within regions is to be seen.
One hotly debated topic is whether people over 60 should be banned from returning to work as they are at high risk. There has been a lot of furore about this issue, not least because there is a seriously geriatric management class here. Most top managers at big companies in Italy are right around if not over 60 (they are mostly men too, so doubly risky). I just think about how funny it would be if the “bosses” will have to stay at home while their staff go to work. To be clear, where possible companies will have to continue to allow their staff to work remotely, so I am guessing that if you have a desk job, you will continue “Smart Working” as it’s known here .
The biggest challenge to Phase 2 will be how to manage public transportation. No city has sufficient metro cars, buses or trams to handle the amount of people needing to travel on public transport while keeping physical distance. The fantastic news is that the city of Milan has announced an ambitious and exciting mobility plan called “Strade Aperte” to increase cycling paths by 35m with work to begin this summer. The plan also involves subsidising the purchase of electric bicycles and scooters. Even Greta Thunberg is happy with us. But let’s see what happens. They say on May 4th 2,7 million people in Italy will go back to work. I suppose a lot of them will get in their cars. May the Fourth Be With us.