Politics

Photos show what life is like inside San Fiorano, one of the Italian towns on lockdown because of the coronavirus

James Pasley

2020-02-26T18:43:16Z

Gino Verani, 87, sits a table in a piazza in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak. — Gino Verani, 87, sits at a table in a piazza in San Fiorano. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Italy has rapidly become Europe's hot spot for the coronavirus. As of Wednesday, there were 322 confirmed cases, and 12 people had died from it.
The government put 11 towns in Northern Italy on lockdown to try and stop the coronavirus from spreading.
San Fiorano is one of those towns. One local teacher named Marzio Toniolo documented what life is like in the lockdown for Reuters.
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In San Fiorano, a small town in Northern Italy, four generations of the same family are taking their temperatures and watching the news, waiting for word about the coronavirus.

Their town, along with 10 others, is on lockdown for at least two weeks. Military police stand guard at the exits. No one is allowed in or out unless they have a special permission. Anyone who tries to leave could face up to three months in prison, according to Reuters.

Italy has become a hot spot for the coronavirus. On Friday there were only three confirmed cases. By Wednesday, 12 people had died from it, and there were 322 confirmed cases. The lockdown is meant to try and stop the coronavirus from spreading further.

Marzio Toniolo, a local primary school teacher, documented for Reuters what it's like inside San Fiorano, where Mass is canceled and bars are closed. Along with counting down the days, monitoring temperatures, and stockpiling food, he said it has been difficult for some to comprehend what's happening.

He described to Reuters the difficulty of explaining to his elderly grandfather why the bar was closed. In the end, he gave up and called the coronavirus "the Spanish flu," since it was a common term used as a catch-all to describe past pandemics.

Here's what life looks like in San Fiorano, Italy, under coronavirus lockdown.

In Italy, where three confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday leaped to more than 370 cases by Wednesday, the government is trying to stop the coronavirus from spreading. Cities like Milan and Venice have emptied out.

Italy coronavirus — Military officers stand outside Duomo cathedral in Milan. REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo

Source: Business Insider

In Northern Italy, 11 towns with about 50,000 people are now on lockdown in what's effectively a quarantine.

Members of the Italian army wearing protective face masks check the permission of a driver to enter the red zone of Turano Lodigiano, closed off due to a coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy, in Turano Lodigiano, Italy, February 26, 2020. — Members of the Italian army check the permission of a driver to enter the red zone of Turano Lodigiano, Italy. Yara Nardi / Reuters

Sources: Business Insider, Reuters

San Fiorano, a small town 44 miles from Milan, is one of the 11 towns now cut off from the world. It's in Lombardy, which along with Veneto, is one of the worst-hit regions in Italy.

Lombardy civil protection officers wear protective masks outside the entrance of the town hall in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak. — Lombardy civil-protection officers outside the entrance of the town hall in San Fiorano. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Sources: Business Insider, Reuters

This road into town looks empty, but far in the distance, military police are standing guard. Anyone who attempts to leave without permission could go to prison for three months or be fined about $223.

A Carbinieri military police car can be seen in the distance, Toniolo was not allowed within 100 metres of the border due to the quarantine. — A Carbinieri military police car can be seen in the distance. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Source: Reuters

Getting in or out requires special permission, but one local teacher named Marzio Toniolo is already on the inside, since he lives there. He documented what life is like under lockdown for Reuters.

A group of residents gather in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 25, 2020. — A group of residents in San Fiorano. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Source: Reuters

It's not just Toniolo who's affected. He lives with his wife, Chiara Zuddas, and his two-year-old daughter Bianca.

Chiara Zuddas, 31, and her 2-year-old daughter Bianca Toniolo sit on their sofa in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak. — Chiara Zuddas, 31, and her 2-year-old daughter Bianca Toniolo. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

His grandparents are there too — Gino Verani, 87, and Ines Prandini, 85.

Husband and wife Gino Verani, 87, and Ines Prandini, 85, eat and drink at home in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by their grandson, schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo, in San Fiorano, Italy, February 23, 2020. — Gino Verani, 87, and Ines Prandini, 85. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

His father, Massimo Toniolo, 61, also lives in town, meaning four generations of one family are affected.

Massimo Toniolo, 61, speaks on the phone in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak. — Massimo Toniolo, 61. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

The quarantine will go on for at least two weeks, and Toniolo's family is counting down the days until it is over. Here, Zuddas marks off "day three."

Chiara Zuddas, 31, writes "Day three" on a calendar, marking the third day of lockdown in her hometown of San Fiorano, one of the towns under effective quarantine due to a coronavirus outbreak, — Zuddas writes "day three" on a calendar, marking the third day of lockdown. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Source: Reuters

They're regularly checking their temperatures and monitoring their health.

Marzio Toniolo, 35, holds a thermometer at home in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak. — Marzio Toniolo holds a thermometer. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Source: Reuters

For the elderly, it's not easy to comprehend. Toniolo told Reuters it was difficult to explain to his grandfather why the local bar was closed.

A closed bar is seen in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 22, 2020. — A closed bar in San Fiorano. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Source: Reuters

In the end he said, "We told my grandpa 100 times that the bar is not open because of the Spanish flu, to make him understand." This is because other pandemics over the years have been colloquially referred to as the Spanish flu.

Gino Verani, 87, looks outside a window in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak — Verani, Toniolo's grandfather. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Source: Reuters

Inside the town, restrictions aren't too intense. People can go outside as they please. They can take dogs for walks, go for bikes ride, or just get some fresh air.

Massimo Toniolo, 61, rides a bike with his granddaughter, 2-year-old Bianca, in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak. — Massimo Toniolo, 61, with his granddaughter Bianca in San Fiorano. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Source: Reuters

But they've been warned against too much contact with others.

Residents of San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak. — Residents of San Fiorano. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Source: Reuters

Traffic is light. This single ambulance drove down an empty street.

An ambulance is seen driving down a road in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

The streets look entirely empty at night.

An empty street is seen at night in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 25, 2020. — An empty street at night in San Fiorano. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Posters have been put up around town to inform the residents that Mass is canceled. The town's cemetery is closed too.

A sign on the entrance to a local Church advises faithful to pray at home and that Sunday's Mass is cancelled in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak. — A sign on the entrance to a church says Mass is canceled in San Fiorano. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Public buildings are also closed. Here, three masked boys sit in front of a poster explaining the closure. They don't appear to have much to do.

Three boys wearing protective face masks sit outside a closed public building in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak. — Three boys wearing protective face masks sit outside a closed public building in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Others made the most of the lockdown by playing basketball. But later there might not be any basketball. Zuddas, who is also a teacher, told Reuters she planned on holding an English exam with her students next week via WhatsApp.

Residents of San Fiorano, one of the towns under effective quarantine due to a coronavirus outbreak, play basketball. — Residents of San Fiorano, one of the towns under effective quarantine due to a coronavirus outbreak, play basketball Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Source: Reuters

The pharmacy is still open. To ensure people had access to medication, the mayor paid for this chemist's accommodation. She stayed in town to help instead of traveling with her family to Brescia, Italy.

A chemist wears a protective mask as she waits for customers in a pharmacy in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Source: Reuters

But the shelves are empty in at least one shop in San Fiorano.

Empty shelves are seen inside a shop in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Source: Reuters

That's because residents have stocked up. The Toniolo family told Reuters they spent about $325 on groceries to keep them fed.

Two-year-old Bianca Toniolo sits by large bags of 300 euros worth of food, bought by her family to stock up on supplies for their home in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak. — Bianca sits by 300 euros worth of food. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Source: Reuters

They're also paying close attention to what's going on outside San Fiorano. The Toniolo family's generational difference can be seen in the way they consume news. Here, Marzio reads the latest update on his phone.

Marzio Toniolo reads news on his phone about his family's situation in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture he took in San Fiorano, Italy, February 24, 2020. — Marzio Toniolo reads news on his phone. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Source: Reuters

Toniolo told Reuters they were monitoring 24-hour news stations to keep up to date.

Ines Prandini, 85, watches the news on television at home in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak. — Toniolo's grandmother watches the news on television. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Source: Reuters

In the evening, Bianca and Zuddas can still play outside.

Two-year-old Bianca Toniolo hides behind a tree as she plays with her mother, Chiara Zuddas, in an empty park in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak — Bianca with Zuddas in an empty park in San Fiorano. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Source: Reuters

Here, they watch the sunset together in an empty park. If nothing else, it means they can at least cross another day off the calendar.

Chiara Zuddas, 31, and her 2-year-old daughter Bianca Toniolo watch the sunset in an empty park in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by their husband and father, schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 23, 2020. — Zuddas and Bianca. Marzio Toniolo / Reuters

Source: Reuters

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