Quote Originally Posted by jclay View Post
Just spoke to my brother in Italy. Except for work exemptions and important circumstances (somewhat loosely defined) travel across commune boundaries is prohibited (commune loosely = city + the immediately surrounding area...smaller than a typical US county) on pain of fine or jail. They live in the commune of Modena which is within the province of Modena, region of Emilia Romagna, adjacent to the Lombardia region (Milan).

According to Bill Lombardia is the best medically equipped region of Italy (which has an excellent health care system) and they're at the point where decisions about who may be able to survive, and who can't, are being made so as to best utilize the available resources (ventilators and blood oxygenators).

Apparently patient #1 was a fit, 35yo amateur athlete who has just come off of a ventilator.

The govt was asking folks to stay home as much as possible but that didn't get adequate traction; among other manifestations of non-compliance the local papers noted that the bars and night spots were still hopping. The ask was then ratcheted up to enforcible public orders.

Here is a link to the John's Hopkins Global COVID-19 tracking dashboard: Operations Dashboard for ArcGIS
Furbizia. I love the Italians for many things. Come he!! or highwater, good food and spectacular cheer must abide.

NYTs article from yesterday >> On Day 1 of Lockdown, Italian Officials Urge Citizens to Abide by Rules - The New York Times