Coronavirus: NI journalist living in Italy describes growing ‘panic’

A journalist who left Londonderry to start a new life in Italy has described how coronavirus panic has begun to take hold in his new home town.
Sean O'Halloran with fiancee Michela Rocchi in ItalySean O'Halloran with fiancee Michela Rocchi in Italy
Sean O'Halloran with fiancee Michela Rocchi in Italy

Sean O’Halloran, who presented BBC Radio Foyle’s Breakfast programme until he moved to Italy in September, described to the News Letter how locals have been emptying supermarket shelves and how the normally very sociable Italians have become much more reserved in their interactions.

Mr O’Halloran, who lives in a town of around 30,000 people in the Le Marche region of Italy named Fabriano, said the Italian coronavirus outbreak has had a huge impact on daily life despite most cases being concentrated farther north, in Lombardy.

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“The sense of panic has really ramped up over the weekend,” he said.

Empty supermarket shelves in Fabriano, Italy, as normally sociable Italians stock up on suppliesEmpty supermarket shelves in Fabriano, Italy, as normally sociable Italians stock up on supplies
Empty supermarket shelves in Fabriano, Italy, as normally sociable Italians stock up on supplies

“Italy had only a handful of cases on Friday. By Sunday morning it was 150 cases.

“Now, the newspaper La Repubblica has just reported that another case has been confirmed in Florence, Tuscany, and that there’s another possible case in Palermo.

“There’s so many ex-pats living in Tuscany so that’s something people will have to think about in terms of self-isolation.”

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Asked how daily life had changed since the outbreak, the former Radio Foyle journalist continued: “I went to the supermarket last night and it was just thronged with people. It would have reminded you of the week before Christmas except it was people buying bottles of water, canned foods, and all the kind of things you’d think you’d need in an apocalypse type of scenario.”

Mr O’Halloran continued: “My fiancee, Michela, is a teacher in a primary school and right now she’s waiting to hear the outcome of a meeting between the governors. The expectation is that they may announce the closure of all the schools and even the universities in the entire Le Marche region.

“Everyone is on red alert and the coronavirus is all anyone is talking about.”

He added: “Today is the culmination of what they call ‘carnivale’ which happens before lent kicks in – the thinking is similar to mardi gras or Pancake Tuesday. Usually the men and women greet one another with a great big hug and a few kisses to each cheek. Not this year.

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“Everyone’s backing off and saying ‘not today, we have to be careful’. Ordinarily, the Italians are super sociable. They normally go out during the week for a coffee or for an aperitif. But they’re just not doing it. Anyone who’s been to Milan are also self-isolating.”

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