Lockdown: a day in the life of a teacher in Italy's coronavirus red zone
Life inside a red zone: An ambulance is seen driving down a road in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by 35-year-old schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 22, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS
Primary school teacher Marzio Toniolo would usually spend his weekday mornings cycling to work and teaching children in the small, quiet northern Italian town of San Fiorano.
Now, he is one of around 50,000 people whose lives are on hold after they were placed under quarantine as Italy tries to contain Europe's worst outbreak of coronavirus that flared up in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto.
Shops are shut, the bar is closed and people speak to each other from a safe distance.
Life inside a red zone: Gino Verani, 87, sits a table in a piazza in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by his grandson, schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 21, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS
"We told my grandpa 100 times that the bar is not open because of the Spanish flu, to make him understand," Toniolo told Reuters, referring to the deadly disease that killed millions after World War One and remains a byword for pandemics.
"He is very angry and very old," he added.
San Fiorano is some 70 km (44 miles) from Italy's financial capital Milan, and has effectively been closed off from the outside world along with nine neighboring towns that were the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.
Life inside a red zone: Residents of San Fiorano, one of the towns under effective quarantine due to a coronavirus outbreak, gather in a park in this picture taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 23, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS
Toniolo lives with his grandparents, who are both in their 80s, his wife Chiara Zuddas and their two-year-old daughter.
"We can take walks, we can walk our dogs, we can go jogging, we can ride bikes, but the authorities have suggested that we should avoid contact with other people," he said.
Police blocks were put at the entrance to the town and anyone who tries to escape the blockade faces up to three months in prison or a fine of up to 206 euros ($223).
Life inside a red zone: 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. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY
Zuddas is a primary school teacher too and she has created a WhatsApp group to keep in touch with her students.
"Even if they are very young, I understood that they needed to hear from us and we needed to hear from them. I didn't do this to carry on with the school program, but to maintain human contact," she said.
"Next Wednesday, I am going to do an English exam via WhatsApp," she added.
Life inside a red zone: 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, in this picture taken by their husband, schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 23, 2020. Picture taken February 23, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE
The family regularly tests their temperature with a thermometer to make sure none of them are falling ill, and they are counting down the days to when the 2-week quarantine expires.
"We know that we may be infected and that we may already have contracted the coronavirus," said Toniolo, adding that they were watching 24-hour television news stations to stay informed of what was going on.
"Let's hope everything will be fine. I have friends who have contracted the coronavirus these days, but they already feel better," he said. "They told me not to worry."
Life inside a red zone: 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. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE
(Reporting by Antonio Denti and Angelo Amante; Writing by Emily Roe; Editing by Crispian Balmer and Mike Collett-White)
Life inside a red zone: 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, in this picture taken by 35-year-old schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 21, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: Ines Prandini, 85, watches the news on television at home in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by her 35-year-old grandson, schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 21, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: Gino Verani, 87, looks outside a window in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by his grandson, schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo, in San Fiorano, Italy, February 23, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: Massimo Toniolo, 61, speaks on the phone in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by his son Marzio in San Fiorano, Italy, February 23, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: Codogno hospital is seen at night in one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by 35-year-old schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in Codogno, Italy, February 22, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: Gino Verani, 87, sits at home in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by his grandson, 35-year-old schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 22, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: 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, in this picture taken by their husband and father, schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 23, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: A WhatsApp conversation between father and son - Massimo Toniolo, 61 and Marzio, 35 - where Marzio asks his father to reach him as soon as possible, is seen on his phone screen in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by 35-year-old schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 23, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: Schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo, 35, holds a thermometer at home in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture he took in San Fiorano, Italy, February 23, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: Gino Verani, 87, sits at home in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by his grandson who lives in San Fiorano, Italy, February 22, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: 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. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: Empty shelves are seen inside a shop 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. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: An empty playground is seen in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by 35-year-old schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 21, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: The sunset is seen through a car window behind an empty road in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by 35-year-old schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 21, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: 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, in this picture taken by 35-year-old schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 22, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: 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, in this picture taken by Massimo's son and Bianca's father, schoolteaher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 22, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: A sign in Italian reads "Oratory closed until a new order" on the gates of a Church in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by 35-year-old schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 22, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: Residents of San Fiorano, one of the towns under effective quarantine due to a coronavirus outbreak, play basketball in this picture taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 23, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: An empty street at night is seen in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by 35-year-old schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 22, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: Two-year-old Bianca Toniolo sits on a sofa at home in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by her father Marzio, in San Fiorano, Italy, February 23, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: An empy street is seen in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by 35-year-old schoolteaher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 22, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: Signs announcing closure due to coronavirus protection measures are seen on the door of a building in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by 35-year-old schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 22, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: An empy street is seen in San Fiorano, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by 35-year-old schoolteaher Marzio Toniolo in San Fiorano, Italy, February 22, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: An empty street 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 23, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERSLife inside a red zone: A monument is seen in Codogno, one of the towns on lockdown due to a coronavirus outbreak, in this picture taken by schoolteacher Marzio Toniolo who lives in another red zone, in Codogno, Italy, February 22, 2020. Marzio Toniolo/via REUTERS
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
