Italiano
Le strade di Roma sono stranamente silenziose, risultato dell’epidemia di coronavirus.
Con le misure di isolamento recentemente annunciate, la popolazione locale si preoccupa dell’economia, del turismo e del sistema sanitario.
La gente racconta di non aver mai visto la capitale così e teme che il peggio debba ancora venire.
La famosa Piazza del Popolo di Roma è deserta.
Si tratta di una scena che si ripete attraverso i centri storici di tutta Italia, con i luoghi d’interesse tradizionali che non attraggono più folle da tutto il mondo.
“It's a real problem for the city, for the economy of the city.”
L’effetto a catena è stato immediato.
La famiglia di Raffaello Sasson gestisce un negozio di abbigliamento nella città dal 1970.
Raffaello ha dichiarato di non aver mai vissuto un momento più difficile.
"This is right now much worse than 11th of September and Chernobyl put together. This is the worse we have seen, right now."
Da Pietro è un’istituzione a Roma, tanto che in genere bisogna prenotare con mesi di anticipo.
Francesco Massotte ha rivelato che ora il telefono suona solo per le cancellazioni.
"Yes the last two weeks have been tragic, in the historic centre here, not even a single tourist. We have been here for 15 years and it's never happened."
Mentre il virus continua a diffondersi, i residenti fanno il possibile per proteggersi.
“You need to apply the things that they say - so, be careful, stay home go out only with a mask"
"I was eating lunch today and in the restaurant there was a sign saying 'stay away from people' like, 'sit a metre away from other people'."
Ma in mezzo al panico, c’è qualcosa di positivo.
Ancora Raffaello Sasson.
"Everyone in the world loves this country, I think that when it's going to be solved, everyone will give us a hand by coming to Rome again, to Italy." (laughs)
Una speranza condivisa dal paese.
English
The streets of Rome are eerily quiet as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
With the newly-announced lockdown, locals are worried about the economy, tourism and the health system.
They say they've never seen the capital quite like this and fear the worst is yet to come.
Rome's famous Piazza del Popolo, the so-called People's Square is deserted.
It's a scene repeated throughout Italy's historic centre with landmark sites no longer attracting crowds from around the world.
“It's a real problem for the city, for the economy of the city.”
The flow-on effect has been immediate.
Raffaello Sasson’s family has owned a clothing shop in the city since 1970.
He says there's never been a more difficult time.
"This is right now much worse than 11th of September and Chernobyl put together. This is the worse we have seen, right now."
Da Pietro is an institution in Rome with restaurant bookings usually needed months in advance.
Francesco Massotte says now the phone only rings with cancellations.
"Yes the last two weeks have been tragic, in the historic centre here, not even a single tourist. We have been here for 15 years and it's never happened."
As the virus continues to spread - residents are doing what they can to protect themselves.
"You need to apply the things that they say - so, be careful, stay home go out only with a mask"
"I was eating lunch today and in the restaurant there was a sign saying 'stay away from people' like, 'sit a metre away from other people'."
But amid the panic is some positivity.
Raffaello Sasson again.
"Everyone in the world loves this country, I think that when it's going to be solved, everyone will give us a hand by coming to Rome again, to Italy." (laughs)
A hope shared by the country.
Report by Hermione Kitson.
