Where is the Method in this Madness?

The curve is flattening. The crowd roars. Yesterday’s bulletin showed an increase of only 2,8% in infections.  Noises about “Phase 2” are getting louder and louder. The more I read about this second phase the more I feel restless. It’s easier to accept absolutes. The government’s wishy-washy approach to this second phase doesn’t help. First of all, there is the difference between federal government and local government. What the federal government decides may not be applicable to the regions. This is especially true for Lombardy, which is the heaviest hit by the pandemic and where I am.  I scour the newspapers for some concrete information.  I find some key dates: On 14th of April some factories might reopen. The 4th of May some other businesses might reopen. The 18th of May some areas may lift the travel ban. Lifting the travel ban. Music to my ears. But the rest? Unclear.  Prime Minister Conte keeps giving interviews to the foreign press where he trickles new bits of information. This doesn’t help. Will this phased reopening be accompanied by antibody testing of the broader population?  Or is the plan just to play hide and seek with Covid19?

 Businesses are chomping at the bit to get back to work. The economy cannot continue to stand still. Confindustria members of Northern Italy (Confindustria is the main association representing manufacturing and service companies in Italy) have written a letter to the government pleading to put an end to this lockdown. Some companies are taking matters into their own hands, rightly. Applause to them. This is how private enterprise and government can work together to find solutions.  

Ferrari (full disclosure, I used to work there) has announced that it will reopen with a “Back on Track” program. It has teamed up with the region of Emilia Romagna and group of virologists and experts to create a program with the objective to protect the health of its employees and the broader Ferrari community.  In addition to following the safety protocols dictated by the government, there will be a volunteer screening program (blood testing) for employees as well as their family members and company suppliers. There is also an App available to employees to receive medical support in monitoring the symptoms of the virus. Naturally, the App will also allow tracking of infected individuals and tracing of their contacts. Not only, Ferrari will provide health and psychological assistance to employees as well as a special free insurance cover and accommodations to self-quarantine, with medical and nursing support at home. The outcome of the project will be shared with the Emilia Romagna Region.

 This kind of private-public approach makes sense, right?  Sounds expensive too. But if companies like Ferrari that are cash rich don’t take this kind of initiative, then the consequences for Italy will be beyond disastrous.  The Tifosi are certainly thankful. Of course, there are a lot of issues around privacy and medical data that make me ever so uncomfortable, but do we have an alternative?  Giuseppe Conte take note. You may have a group of fangirls, but a man who can’t make up his mind quickly loses his appeal.