Coming to a Theater Near You (unfortunately)

A week ago - only 7 days ago - I was out with a big group of friends for an 11 mile walk through the Mugello valley north of Florence.  Half way in, we stopped at a local trattoria for one of those Italian lunches the whole world swoons over.  It was a sunny day of camaraderie, all of us feeling grateful we could be out and about, lots of talk of the poor people in the north under lockdown. We thought we were being careful.  We knew about washing hands.  One of us took extra precautions and ate outside.  We were good… 

Today, a week later, I realize, we were not good. We just didn’t know. 

If we could turn back time and have a do over, knowing what we know now… we would close the schools and the restaurants and the bars and the shops way sooner.  We’d make people work from home from the git go. We would Just Stay Home as soon as we knew this virus was present in the country.  If we’d have done that… the number of people carrying the virus (with and WITHOUT symptoms) would be greatly reduced because that sneaky little devil wouldn’t be finding pathways to propagate. But we didn’t. And here we are. 

Yesterday the number of new cases in Italy was reported close to 3,500.  The hospitals in the north are at capacity. There are no more ambulances.  There is a burial EVERY HALF HOUR.  Apparently we are still on the way up the curve - there won’t be a downturn in cases or deaths until maybe mid-week, if we are lucky. 

Bottom line? Less cases on the outset means less exponential growth of the number of cases as your country or continent moves through this process.  And everyone will have to move through it in one way or another. It’s a numbers game. 

We didn’t have anyone to look to.  YOU DO.  You can start now… JUST STAY HOME.  

Walking from Borgo San Lorenzo to Vicchio in the Mugello Valley