Orange is the New Red

Last night we went from red to orange. Prime Minister Conte decreed that instead of having “red zones” for Lombardy and 14 other regions, the whole country would be designated an “orange zone”.  The Coronavirus is spreading too quickly, fatalities are rising, and hospital beds are too few.  More stringent measures are necessary. Schools, churches, public events are closed or cancelled until April 3 in the whole nation. Once again, there was a run on supermarkets. Also, prisons cancelled visiting hours and riots ensued in several penitentiaries. This is very troubling. Red or orange…It’s hard not to feel dark.

The new decree means that Italians must stay in their hometown, except for legitimate, certifiable reasons. It does not mean that people have to stay in their house unless they are sick but going out is discouraged. The new hashtag del giorno is #iostoacasa, meaning I’m staying home. Considering that a few days ago the hashtag was #milanononsiferma: Milan doesn’t stop, I think it’s fair to say that the messaging is confusing. So confusing in fact that it’s not surprising that people are getting paranoid. Today I met a man whose ex-partner is refusing to let him see his children. Apparently, she feels it’s too risky to expose them to their father. Say what?

Pardon me if I am not very witty today, I am sure my sense of humor will return by tomorrow. In the meantime, if you want to book a holiday now is a great time to do so. I hear British Airways is having an excellent promo, it’s offering Great Escapes at dirt cheap prices. I do however recommend you never, ever go on a cruise again. Even if it’s free.