Two weeks of Lockdown

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Art for Housewives

Update:

Numbers of infected according to country: 1st place China, 2nd place Italy, 3rd USA.  Source

For my friends in the States, check out to see how long before you become a character in a sequel of The Shining:  Why you must act now. For Texas: Point of no-return for intervention to prevent hospital overload:  Mar 28 to Apr 3.

Contagions and coronavirus deaths, there is a minimal decrease: The data of the Civil Protection bulletin say that Italy has reached 59,138 cases. The total number of deaths is 5,476 while the healed are 7,024. … “These are slightly lower numbers than yesterday”… Source

There is increasing preoccupation for battered wives forced to be inside with violent husbands who are more nerved out than usual.

A friend in need is a friend indeed. After aid from China, Cuban doctors arrived yesterday, and Russia sent nine IL-76 aircraft with eight mobile teams of virologists and military doctors, machinery for the sanctification of transport and the territory and medical equipment. To be noted, Russians, thanks to Chernobyl, have a certain kind of expertise.

Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, now quarantined.

Odour

This morning when I looked in the mirror, I jumped back and said “Damn, who is that woman looking back at me?” Of course, it was me but, since the lockdown, I look different. Haggard and with a strange look in my eyes. So my vanity, which in general isn’t very boisterous, this morning let itself be heard. First thing, a nice bath with full blast background music. Then make up, perfume, and, of course, big silver earrings. My mornings are now spent on the balcony preparing my victory garden and I wanted to look my best for our plants. They give me so much comfort and I don’t want them to feel like I take them for granted.

Up until Saturday, in addition to grocery stores, pharmacies, and banks, hardware and perfume stores were opened as well as they were considered essential. I couldn’t understand how a perfume store could be considered essential until this morning. In a situation like the one we are living, it’s important to feel good about yourself. When you stay home all the time, it’s easy to neglect yourself as if our appearance was something we cured for the others instead of for ourselves. But I don’t want to live in my pyjamas and slob out. Because it’s like surrendering. I no longer control over where I can move but I do have control over my appearance.

And now, let’s celebrate Cuba and the doctors they sent!

Warm Up

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Day 13 of the Lockdown

Posted on March 22, 2020 by Art for Housewives

Right before midnight last night, Italian prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, announced that all of the country’s production companies will close until April 3rd. This decision came a bit late. Despite the high number of deaths in the Bergamo-Brescia area, many factories and construction sites there were still active. Why? It is useless for the government to bombard us with “stay at home” commercials if they permit companies to force workers out of the house.

And, in Milano, subway service has been greatly reduced yet the metros are elbow to elbow full. The people commuting are, for the most part, workers.

Yesterday the death toll was the highest—793 in one day. However, please take in mind that these people were already infected. The problem is that the number of newly infected increases as well.

And the European community is manifesting its weaknesses. China sent emergency supplies to Italy but the airplane landed in the Czech Republic (to refuel?) and all the supplies (680 thousand masks and thousands of respirators) were confiscated by the Czechs and distributed to their own hospitals. Outrageous theft. “Repubblica Ceca e Polonia si sono intascati aiuti destinati all’Italia tra cui mascherine”

On the Road

Today’s topic is not very glamourous. Today’s topic is bowels. If you don’t move, they won’t either. And that’s another side effect of being shut inside. So, for those of you worried about not having enough sanitary paper, maybe things aren’t as bad as you thought.

Before the lockdown, I walked at least 30 minutes every morning (well, almost every morning). It was my main source of exercise. But with the lockdown, walks are no longer possible. And this lack of movement is having its consequences. Lack of movement not only leads to constipation, it also deprives one of releasing some of the anxiety created by having to stay inside all the time. The idea of exercising at home is not very exciting but I am trying to come up with some solutions. One new habit is that of doing stretching every morning while the coffee is brewing. Another habit I’m trying to create is that of doing Zumba (Zydeco style) every evening. But I don’t have much space and have to limit my enthusiasm so I won’t disturb the elderly lady who lives downstairs from us.

The way I’d like to be doing the Zydeco Dance

The way I’m better suited for.

 

Apanasana

The apanasana yoga pose helps reduce anxiety thus blood pressure as well.

As for sanitary paper, I would suggest, before lockdown comes your way, to transform your toilet into a bidet (see video below).  It will save you the stress of worrying about having enough paper. Also, if you use other kinds of paper, you are going to block up the sewer and then you really will have problems!

see jane drill

Instead of buying toilet paper, why not buy a DIY bidet kit? VIDEO

Related: UK’s sewage system in danger of gridlock from toilet paper substitutes +  Coronavirus, Bergamo: ‘Doctor, how long have I got left?‘

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It’s time to grow your own.

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Art for Housewives

Day 12

Yesterday was a beautiful day because the sun was shining. Since the lockdown, smog is practically non-existent and the air feels good.

One thing you have to know about Italians is that they are addicted to sunshine. It’s not unusual to see them sitting at an outdoor café with their eyes closed and their heads leaning back pointed upwards just to feel the sun on their face. So on a day like yesterday, people were out like snails after the rain. They just had to get some sun. That’s why the line at the grocery store was unusually long.  New way of sunbathing!

Pierluigi went to do the shopping so I got my sunshine on the balcony. Because we generally spend spring and summer in Greece, our balcony is populated by yuccas as they are a DIY plant and need little care. But now it will be difficult to go to Greece as no one knows how long this lockdown will last. So I’ve decided to reconfigure our balcony with the new reality. Here in Italy, at present, we have no problem with food shortages. However, since production of everything has been limited, it’s only obvious that soon less food will be available. It’s, therefore, important to get organized now.

Container Garden

my balcony lettuce

Unlike many of my American friends, we don’t have a yard. The only space we have is that of a very narrow balcony good for a limited container garden. I already have lettuce growing as well as herbs (thyme, parsley, chives, and rosemary) but want to plant even more.

Arugula, bok choy, kale, and chicory, from what I’ve read, only take a month to grow big enough for harvesting. Unfortunately, I have no seeds and can’t buy them because of the lockdown. But I do have some seeds I collected this winter to take to Greece—mainly cherry tomatoes and bell peppers.

There are many vegetables you can grow from scraps but many take time. Lettuce and green onions seem to be the easiest and quickest to do.

See, too, How to Grow Fruits & Vegetables from Food Scraps

Update:

Yesterday, in Italy, the worst death toll: 627 dead and 4670 new infections.

One problem with data given from various countries is that there is no standardization as to how data is interpreted. Some data is interpreted based on those who died only because of the coronavirus whereas other data is interpreted based of those who died of the virus in addition to other pre-existing conditions (such as old age, diabetes, heart problems, etc.). Italy’s statistics are based on the latter.

To determine the number of potentially infected, one method has been to multiply the number of dead by 100. For example, if 25 people have died, potentially 2,500 have been infected. However, there are many variables that can influence this number. In Italy, we have a high number of elderly so we have a higher rate of death. But, again, there is no certainty in these equations.

The peak in Italy is expected on March 25th. If, after this date, the number of infected goes down, we will be ok. If, instead, it goes up, we are in deep trouble.

rai twitter mar 21

Because the death toll is so high and the number of stupid people walking around as if they are on holiday, the military has begun to patrol the streets in Milano and police in Rome are blocking the streets.

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related: Victory Gardens

8 Insanely Fast Vegetables You Can Harvest In One Month

‘If coronavirus doesn’t get us, starvation will’: A growing number of Americans say they can’t afford to stock up on groceries

Coronavirus impact on labour supply fuels food shortage fears

Farmers call for ‘land army’ to sustain UK food production during coronavirus crisis

Will coronavirus affect food supply? First problem: A possible shortage of workers

Coronavirus: What are shops doing about stockpiling? (Britain)

Posted in Ecofeminism, Lifestyle, Plants & Gardening, Rome/Italy | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

The greed of others is going to kill us all.

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Art for Housewives

Mourning

The other day I posted about coronavirus test kits being sent from Italy to the U.S.  It seemed strange considering that we need them here.

Yesterday in La Repubblica, one of Italy’s main newspapers, an article was published  regarding the sale of COVID-19 testing kits (Coronavirus, mezzo milione di tamponi da un’azienda di Brescia agli Stati Uniti).

Copan Diagnostics, with its Italian base in Brescia, the heart of the coronavirus outbreak here in Italy, sold 500,000 test kits to private companies and American distributors. Copan says the kits were not sold to the American government although an American military plane and an American military base in Italy (Aviano) were used to take the kits to the States. The plane’s destination was Memphis.

So first question, why is the American military, subsidized by the taxpayers, sponsoring private companies? This reminds me of the two republican senators who, after being briefed about the coronavirus, sold their stock before the markets crashed (Republican senators sold stocks before markets plunged on coronavirus fears). Once again, the taxpayers are subsidizing the elite who are so worried about socialism. The senators, who are paid by the citizens, have access to information they should use to help those who butter their bread instead of  for personal profit.

As for Copan, they claim they were just doing the typical capitalistic thing to do and feel no shame. Furthermore, they say, there are enough kits for the Italians. The problem is, they claim, it takes time for testing.  (Copan, l’azienda italiana che vende tamponi anche agli Usa: da noi non mancano kit, ma il tempo per l’analisi).

From what I’ve read, although it is true that testing takes not only time but qualified personnel, kits are not in abundance. Many doctors and nurses who work with the infected have not been tested and many have died.

Copan Diagnostics has its Italian base in Brescia, the heart of the infection. At the time kits were sent to the USA, in Italy there were almost 30,000 cases and 2,158 deaths (higher than in China). In the United States there were only 86 deaths and 4,500 positives.

What happens if one of Copan Diagnostics’ employees, busy making kits for Copan profit, gets infected, where will he go to be treated? Certainly not to Memphis. He will be treated in Italy in the very region that is overwhelmed and struggling for survival.

If you have the stomach for hardcore reality, look at this video to see what the doctors and nurses saving lives have to deal with on a non-stop basis: The shocking centre of the COVID-19 crisis

In Italy right now so many people and companies are donating money and equipment. Giorgio Armani donated E100.000 and encouraged the wealthy to do the same. Francesco Totti, famed soccer player, donated therapy equipment. Esselunga, grocery store chain, donated E2.5 million. Ferrari is now making hospital ventilators. And the list goes on and on.

Copan Diagnostics, what have you donated?

I visited the Copan Diagnostics FB page and, although the comments were in Italian, Copan’s answers were all in English. Why? Don’t they have any employees in Brescia capable of speaking Italian?

Maybe I should send them an email customercare@copangroup.com…

 

Day 11 of the Lockdown

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Whereas Trump “spiritual adviser” Paula White begs for cash to heal the “soul sick” during COVID-19 pandemic

(While White claimed the Bible could help people through coronavirus quarantine, it’s unclear how the $91 will help), in Italy the Methodists and the Waldensian churches give E8 million towards fighting the coronavirus (Coronavirus: le Chiese valdesi e metodiste stanziano 8 milioni di euro)

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Why not make a mask for a friend?

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Art for Housewives

Protective Mask

Face masks should be worn to limit infection and to protect those around you. Surgical masks are scarce and should be reserved for health professionals.

There has been much contradictory information as to the use of masks. I’ve even heard one doctor on TV say they do more harm than good. However, it’s obvious that, if every one were to wear one, we’d have less of those dangerous “droplets” flying around. Thus, a lot less infection.

So why not pass some of the lockdown time making masks? You can customized them and make enough so that they can be washed every day. And when you have enough for yourself, make some for your family and friends. This coronavirus is going to be around for awhile.

 

Day 10 of the Lockdown

Today is the feast of St. Joesph, the Italian Father’s Day.

Yesterday 475 died in Italy from COVID-19. The lockdown, scheduled to end April 3rd, has now been extended. Source: Coronavirus: vittime, contagi e tutti gli ultimi aggiornamenti

The city of Bergamo, a city northeast of Milan, in the Lombardy region could not cope with the number of deaths, and bodies have been sent to be cremated outside the region. Source: Bodies of Coronavirus Victims Transported by Military Convoys in Italy

Without tourists and traffic, dolphins are now swimming in the canals of Venice. Source: HERE

The US Air Force has imported half a million Coronavirus test kits from Italy

Thank you Terry Quist for this link: Sharpen Your Razor, With the virus wreaking havoc in Italy, neighboring Spain prepares for the worst

In Sardegna, the doctors have been told not to give out info as to how bad the situation is. Source: Contagiati e imbavagliati, la Sardegna toglie il diritto di parola ai medici

Doctors Making Life & Death Decisions

WANTED IN ROME is an online magazine providing many updates in English.

The nuns praying and singing on the roof in Rome

The days of balcony singing are over as the nation mourns its dead. Source:”Camion militari pieni di bare: basta canti sui balconi, facciamo tre giorni di lutto nazionale”

Mask related:

The problem with outsourcing is that you may end up having things that you need… A company in Umbria starts making masks again and donates 100,000 to the hospital. Source: Coronavirus in Umbria: azienda ricomincia a produrre mascherine e ne dona 100 mila a Prociv e ospedali

Humor: Max Siedentopf suggests alternative masks to protect against coronavirus

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P.s.

Dai commenti che hanno seguito il mio post su di esse, mi sono reso conto di non essere stato sufficientemente chiaro.
Facciamo alcuni esempi:
1) situazione ideale, tutti hanno montagne di mascherine fp3 e guanti monouso. Si indossano i guanti, si indossa la mascherina, si entra al supermercato dopo aver disinfettato con alcool la maniglia del carrello, si cerca di rispettare la distanza di sicurezza, si fa la spesa per la settimana, si esce, si disinfettano i guanti con alcool senza toglierseli, si togli la mascherina, si getta nel contenitore di rifiuti speciali, si tolgono i guanti, si gettano anch’essi, ci si disinfetta di nuovo le mani con alcool e si torna a casa.
2) situazione che si vede adesso: la famiglia va a fare la spesa. nessuno ha mascherine neanche di carta. prendono il carrello senza disinfettarlo, entrano in gruppo, parlano, ridono, tossiscono, toccano la merce, la prendono, la riposano, la CONTAMINANO, e poi escono con un vasetto di maionese. Si portano a casa il coronavirus di altri che si sono comportati allo stesso modo, o se già lo avevano, hanno infettato almeno 10 persone!!
3)Situazione possibile; Non ci sono mascherine ne guanti, ma si cerca lo stesso di limitare la diffusione del virus.
uno solo per famiglia va a fare la spesa. si porta dietro alcool o simili e una mascherina fatta in casa sovrapponendo tre strati di stoffa fitta. Disinfetta la maniglia del carrello, disinfetta le mani, indossa la mascherina, entra nel supermercato, cerca di rispettare la distanza di sicurezza, fa la spesa di una settimana, esce, si toglie la mascherina mettendola in una busta, si disinfetta le mani, prima di entrare a casa butta la mascherina in una bacinella con acqua e varecchina 10%, la lascia 1/2 ora poi sciacqua e lascia asciugare, si disinfetta nuovamente mani. Se tutti hanno fatto cosi Non ha portato il corona virus a casa, non ha contaminato la merce. Se lo ha fatto solo lui, non ha contaminato la merce , ma potrebbe aver portato a casa merce sulla cui superficie potrebbe esserci una piccola carica virale lasciata dagli altri.
Lavare la merce bene ove possibile con varecchina diluita, disinfettare le altre cose con alcool spray.
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Ecco perchè è fondamentale che tutti portino mascherina anche solo autocostruita . Per non contaminare gli ambienti ove possono esserci altre persone!
Tutte le mascherine sono usa e getta, anche le fp3 dovrebbero in una situazione ideale essere gettate dopo l’uso, max 6 ore. Però, nella nostra realtà basta disinfettarle dopo ogni uso con spray d’alcool internamente e esternamente e lasciarle asciugare. Questa procedura può essere ripetuta fino a 15 volte. Molto peggio usarla cinque minuti ogni tanto e reindossarla senza disinfezione.
Quelle di stoffa che impediscono la fuoriuscita delle goccioline infette possono essere disinfettate con acqua e varecchina praticamente all’infinito.
Vedete i post per preparare la soluzione disinfettante per mani e per farsi le mascherine. Anche quelle di carta forno sono valide ma si possono usare solo una volta!

Spero di essere stato chiaro e che abbiate capito che le regole sono queste:

1)NON USCIRE DI CASA SE NON INDISPENSABILE
2)SOLO UNO PER FAMIGLIA A FARE LA SPESA
3)LAVARE E DISINFETTARE LE MANI SPESSO
4)SE SI VA IN LUOGHI FREQUENTATI INDOSSATE MASCHERINA (QUALSIASI) PER NON CONTAMINARLI.

from Studio Polispecialistico “Il Piccolo Principe” Facebook page
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