Lombardy Lockdown
 

Does anyone have any info as to how this is affecting flights?

Are MXP and LIN today? What about VCE?

At this moment, MXP, LIN and VCE seem to be operating normally.

Train traffic to Switzerland also normal https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/coro...rkehren-normal .

This is a hysteric reaction of an overwhelmed "presidente del consiglio" whose blueprint leaked yesterday causing panic. The subsequent decree which was softened still allows traveling for work and essential things (very unclear) and mentions train and planes still be functioning. But the major of Asti (among others) not being happy about this either, the whole will probably be revised and be valid from tomorrow onward. https://milano.corriere.it/notizie/c...?refresh_ce-cp

The whole will most probably only damage the economy and is very elastic to appease the population. There are no red zones anymore and we have to accept that the virus will sweep through as it will later everywhere in the world.

The Italians are rightly worried about their elderly, the average age of the many deceased is 81 years - an age I would be happy to attain :).

By the way, life expectancy in Italy is 82.5 years...

Mr. Fink’s mother is 94 and living in Liguria, surrounded by the red zone. We are understandably worried as this will almost certainly kill her if she gets it. We just spoke to her and she said that there was a mad rush to escape the shut down zones last night before the midnight deadline. People were cramming onto trains, hiring cars, anything to get out. Kind of totally defeats the purpose of the lockdown as they have now all migrated to various other cities and towns, quite proud of themselves for escaping before they were trapped. There is no containment, it is pointless. One article about Padova https://www.washingtonpost.com/healt...760_story.html

The scary part is that in her town, on the Italian Riviera on the water, a huge number of apartments are owned by Milanese and other Italians who use them in the summer as second (vacation) homes. They are flocking to her town now to escape the lock downs.

Alitalia has suspended all flights and activity from Milan MXP (Malpensa). AZ are only operating some regional flights from Milan LIN Linate - those domestic services still operating are severely reduced.
https://www.repubblica.it/economia/2...C12-P5-S1.4-T1

(Am not fluent in Italian, have just enough to get the gist)

As you said, they are suspending all operations at MXP and operating certain domestic flights from LIN.

International connections are being offered via Rome.

The positive thing about Liguria is that is seems virus is not spreading that fast here with respect to Lombardy and hospitals are not overwhelmed yet. Hopefully your mother won't need any medical assitance.
I live in Genoa and weekend situation here and in riviera was rather embarassing.

She is in Chiavari so not far from you. The worst part for us is our inability to get there if anything happens to her, virus-related or otherwise. It is unbearable to think of her hospitalized or worse, dying alone if it comes to that. She has a live-in caregiver but Mr. Fink is an only child so there is no other family. Hopefully, she will stay healthy until this blows over.

What a nightmare. I am so sorry for you, Mr. Fink and wish good health to your Mother-in-law.
Sending all best wishes. Please keep us updated.
O2K/Mod

I really hope that your mother in law remains healthy and the emergency won't touch you. ​​​​​​In any case, situation with hospitals in Liguria is not that bad as in Lombardy, there is still enough room for new recoveries. Moreover, other hospitals in Liguria start converting their departments into covid emergency. Hospital of Lavagna and Sestri Levante are rather close and well equipped.
Completely understand your frustration and keep fingers crossed. As of today Liguria is not that much hit by this disaster.

Unfortunately, the worst has happened. She was taken to hospital in Lavagna yesterday with pneumonia and is now in critical condition, but still hanging in there. She is a tough cookie at 94 years old. She was tested today for Covid-19 and we are awaiting the result. The worst part is the feeling of helplessness being half a world away and unable to get there. And even if we were there, we could not do anything anyway as the country is on lockdown and there is no way the hospital would let us in. Mr. Fink is an only child but he has very close childhood friends who have been amazing. Her live-in caregiver is understandably upset and worried about her own future but we have assured her that she can stay in our apartment for as long as she needs to, regardless of what happens, as we won’t be able to get over there to do anything for many months anyway, which was a huge relief and comfort to her in these trying times. We call the hospital daily for updates and the doctors and nurses are incredible - true heroes in this terrible situation.

I’m very sorry to hear this, Finkface. This doesn’t sound promising so I can only hope that your Mother In Law is as comfortable as she possibly can be, extraordinary that the hospital staff are able to give such emotional support as well as the medical care under these circumstances. They really are an inspiration. I wish you the best in this very difficult time.

Oh, I am so sorry. I can only imagine the horrific feeling of helplessness that you are feeling. She is so lucky that she has a loving family able to communicate with the "true heroes in this terrible situation."
All best wishes...
O2K

A delegate from the Chinese Red Cross tells Italy that the measures being implemented in Milan are not close to being enough to stop the spread.

Saw this in a Spanish paper, but have found the English language version
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/soci...ina-second-day