Day 11: 

Wow.  A lots of doctors and nurses are getting ill.  Cuba has sent a boatload of medical personnel to help out.  Between them and the Chinese aid I'd say the communists are coming out of this looking pretty good.  The virus is still moving through the population at quite a pace so now parks are closed, walks forbidden and dog walks can only be within 300 meters of one's domicile.  Churches have been closed for quite a while but yesterday the police found 30 people packed into an empty warehouse holding a prayer service.  Big no no.  They have all been charged with breaking a government ordinance and will have hefty fines.  The organizer will probably get prison time.

I went out for the first time in days today.  I just needed to pick up a some things at our little local market.  There was a line out front with people spaced a few meters apart, wearing masks and gloves.  They were letting us in one by one.  No one was speaking.  The market is situated near the train tracks and no trains passed.  It was eerily quiet and I have to say it made me feel a little nauseous.  This is so freaking strange.  Or as my charming daughter put it when I sent her a photo, "That looks like some weird apocalyptic shit."  Ya, no kidding.

We are looking now at options to get said child here.  Who woulda thunk that it would be so difficult to get from the UK to Italy in times of crisis?  And do we WANT her to come here?  The epicenter of the virus in Europe?  Have just spent an hour face timing to talk strategy.  Crap, crap, crap.  I am not enjoying this ONE BIT!

Stay well.  xxoo me