Coronavirus lockdown: the heroes risking their health for Italy’s 'red zone'

Life inside a red zone: A lockdown resident wears a protective mask and gloves as he shops for food at a large supermarket in this picture taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in Codogno, Italy, February 25, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS

"There is me and my shadow," primary school teacher Marzio Toniolo says, standing alone in a usually bustling car park in northern Italy's coronavirus "red zone".

The car park in Casalpusterlungo, one of the 10 small towns that have effectively been closed off from the outside world by a quarantine order, is next to a street full of bars and restaurants that would, in normal circumstances, be packed.

"This is the first time in my whole life that I have seen this car park so empty," he says. "Unbelievable."

Life inside a red zone: 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, in this picture taken by her father, schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 25, 2020. Picture taken February 25, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS

Toniolo, 35, has been filming a daily diary as his family copes with being unable to leave the zone.

He is one of around 50,000 people whose lives are on hold as Italy tries to contain Europe's worst outbreak of the new coronavirus.

The number of cases confirmed in Italy stood on Wednesday at more than 370 in five days, with 12 deaths.

Life inside a red zone: Ines Prandini, 85, takes food from a shopping bag full of food supplIes, as her two-year-old granddaughter Bianca Toniolo sits with her mother Chiara Zuddas, 31, at home in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by Bianca's father Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 25, 2020. Picture taken February 25, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS

With most local shops closed, and Toniolo's family running out of food, he drives 6.5 km (four miles) to a large supermarket to stock up.

To protect the staff, the store limits the number of shoppers let in at the same time.

"It is extremely well run," Toniolo says, after buying 300 euros ($325) of supplies. "Everybody is very kind, they work non-stop."

Life inside a red zone: 35-year-old schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo's car boot is seen full of bags of 300 euros worth of supplies from a supermarket for his family who are living in one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture he took in Codogno, Italy, February 25, 2020. The Toniolo family live in another red zone town some 6.5 km away, San Fiorano. Picture taken February 25, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS

Another of Toniolo's 'heroes' is Rudy Tagliaferro, a young chef who cooks bread in his kitchen and then hand delivers it for free to people in need in their red zone community.

Then there is the woman who works the local chemist. Her husband and children live in nearby Brescia but she decided to stay in the red zone to keep the pharmacy open. The town mayor found an apartment for her so she didn't have to pay rent.

"The community of San Fiorano will come together even more tightly, because the village is small, but the community is strong," Toniolo said.

Life inside a red zone: Rudy Tagliaferro, a chef living in the lockdown town of San Fiorano, who has been baking loaves of bread that he takes to the homes of residents in the community to help them cope as their quarantine continues, is seen in this picture taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 25, 2020. Picture taken February 25, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS

Eerily, even the local graveyard is closed for business. "Attention," reads a sign, "for health reasons, the cemetery will remain closed until a later date."

(Writing by Emily Roe; Editing by Crispian Balmer)

Life inside a red zone: 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, in this picture taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 25, 2020. The local mayor has paid for an apartment for the chemist, who did not give her name, as she chose to stay in the town to help instead of travel to Brescia with her family. Picture taken February 25, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: A sign outside a closed off cemetery reads "Attention: For health reasons, the cemetery will remain closed until a later date" 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. Picture taken February 25, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: A protective mask is seen left in a car park by a cemetery in Codogno, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in Codogno, Italy, February 25, 2020. Picture taken February 25, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: A security guard wearing a protective mask stands at the entrance of a large supermarket in Codogno, one of the towns on lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak, as a long line of residents queue with trollies waiting to enter, in this picture taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in Codogno, Italy, February 25, 2020. Picture taken February 25, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: 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. Picture taken February 25, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: 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. Picture taken February 25, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS