October 6, 2021 - Italy and Covid 19

When this pandemic first began, Italy was hit very hard and early.  That's why we had to return home early back in 2019.  Milano in the north, with fashion industry connections and daily flights to and from Wuhan China, was devastated.  Some smaller towns lost almost an entire generation of older residents.  Because of this, the Italians are taking vaccinations and the wearing of face masks very seriously.  A "Green Pass" (proof of vaccination) is required for trains, museums, restaurants, etc.  On busses, trains, stores and churches virtually everyone is wearing a mask. Even in crowded outdoor areas people are masked even though it is not required.  

This has not nearly become the divisive political issue in Italy as it is in the U.S. where many argue that mask and vaccination mandates are a violation of civil liberties.  We all are free to choose on which issues we will draw the line. And I admit that wearing a mask is kind of a pain. But currently Italy has a much higher vaccine and mask wearing rate than the U.S., and their incident of Covid infection and death rates are significantly lower. You could call this a coincidence and not cause and effect.  But for the Italians, this is not the hill they choose to die on, because the dying is not just figurative for them.