Italy's lockdown: just rockin' the quarantine away

Life inside a red zone: A group of young people hang out listening to dance music on a boombox, by a train track 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 28, 2020. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

Teenagers with bottles of beer in their hands listen to loud music on a patchy lawn as a train speeds by the northern Italian town of San Fiorano, in a "red zone" - one of the areas placed under quarantine at the heart of Italy's coronavirus outbreak.

The Civil Protection Agency said on Monday the total number of confirmed cases in Italy had jumped to 2,036 from the 1,694 reported on Sunday. Fifty-two have died.

As Italy struggles to contain Europe's worst outbreak of the influenza-like disease, the government has placed some 50,000 people in 11 towns under quarantine.

Life inside a red zone: 35-year-old schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo holds his phone showing a GPS map of all the roads that have been blocked in Codogno, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in Codogno, Italy, February 28, 2020. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

One of those is Marzio Toniolo, a 35-year-old teacher who uses his mobile phone to send Reuters daily accounts and videos of life in the red zone.

A presenter on Radio Sange, an internet-based station that provides some distraction from boredom for the trapped residents, asks listeners: "Which red zone is the coolest?"

"Who wins between Casale and Codogno?" another says.

Life inside a red zone: An impromptu street party takes place at night by a bus stop in Codogno, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in Codogno, Italy, March 1, 2020. Red zone residents have been gathering at the bus stop, bringing food and wine, with no-one wearing protective masks. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

The 11th day of Toniolo's video and picture diary shows that some of San Fiorano's shops are starting to reopen, although they have to abide by strict safety rules.

"You must wear gloves and a (protective) mask at all times, and only two people may enter at a time," say two notices fixed to a shop window.

But behind closed doors and in the evenings, things are a little different.

Life inside a red zone: Residents prepare food brought by people gathering at night by a bus stop in Codogno, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in Codogno, Italy, March 1, 2020. Red zone residents have been gathering at the bus stop, bringing food and wine, with no-one wearing protective masks. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

In Toniolo's house, the family gets together to make ravioli with grandmother Ines Prandini, 85. When the job is done, they clink glasses.

At night, other groups of people meet to eat together in the open air, or at a bus stop. Everyone brings something different: cheese, bread or wine. An impromptu street party takes place with no one wearing masks.

Toniolo says many inhabitants worry about how they will be viewed once their quarantine is over.

Life inside a red zone: Ines Prandini, 85, prays in front of a sculpture of a replica of the Grotto of Massabielle from outside a fence surrounding her church that has been closed due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by her grandson, schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo, in San Fiorano, Italy, February 29, 2020. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

"There is a fear that there could be 'racist' feelings towards the inhabitants who come from these zones," he says.

(Reporting by Eleanor Biles, Cristiano Corvino and Antonio Denti; writing by Angelo Amante; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Life inside a red zone: Chiara Zuddas, 31, and her two year-old daughter Bianca Toniolo sit on a balcony at home in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by Bianca's father and Chiara's husband, schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 28, 2020. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: A young child plays with a toy motorbike on a street 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 29, 2020. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: Two-year-old Bianca Toniolo waves at a train as it passes through 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 29, 2020. The driver beeped the train's horn back to Bianca as she waved. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: The Toniolo family make a toast, clinking their glasses at home after cooking homemade ravioli, 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, March 1, 2020. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: Ines Prandini, 85, prepares homemade ravioli with the Toniolo family at home in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by her grandson, schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo, in San Fiorano, Italy, March 1, 2020. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: Presenters ask "which red zone is the coolest?" at the 'Radio Sange' studio, an online rock music radio station based in Codogno that has become an outlet to distract from the boredom of quarantine, in this picture taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in Codogno, Italy, February 28, 2020. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: A pensioner, not wearing a mask, rides a bicycle past a statue that has had its face covered with a protective mask with the words "F**k virus" 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 29, 2020. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: An ice cream van is seen on a street 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 28, 2020. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: Medical workers, some in protective suits, stand by an ambulance in Codogno, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo from his car window in Codogno, Italy, February 28, 2020.Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: A man wearing a protective mask buys cigarettes from a a self-service tobacconist, next to a closed tobacco shop in Codogno, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in Codogno, Italy, March 1, 2020. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: Marzio Toniolo's cousin poses for a photograph as she takes her dog for a walk 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 28, 2020. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: Gino Verani, 87 and his wife Ines Prandini, 85, link arms 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 29, 2020. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: Primary school teacher Marzio Toniolo, 35, took this picture of his pupils with their hands covering their faces by a Carabinieri military police car at the 'red zone' border of in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in San Fiorano, Italy, February 29, 2020. Schools are closed in the red zone, so Toniolo has been uploading homework and lessons online to try and continue teaching. The pupils covered their faces because it illegal to take pictures of minors without parental consent in Italy. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: Schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo, 35, takes a picture of his reflection on a mirror on a street in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in San Fiorano, Italy, March 1, 2020. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: An empty house under construction 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 29, 2020. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS

Life inside a red zone: People warm their hands by a fire 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 29, 2020. Marzio Toniolo via REUTERS