The Coronavirus(COVID-19) has grown from being a viral outbreak to now being called a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. So far, there have been 169,387 confirmed cases, 6513 total deaths and 77,257 total recovered cases.
In Italy, there have been 24,747 confirmed cases according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
Italy has witnessed 1800 COVID-19 deaths making the country the worst hit after China.
It appears we are a week or so behind Italy. A ban on flights from Europe isn’t going to change that. More decisive federal action — massive testing and social distancing — appears to be necessary to “flatten the curve.” pic.twitter.com/GP1YcNpuFs
— Atul Gawande (@Atul_Gawande) March 12, 2020
The whole country through their government was put under quarantine orders until at least April 3, an extraordinary measure for a Western democracy — one that hasn’t been tried in modern times at the country level. More than 60 million Italians were asked to stay home.
*BREAKING: Italy's PM Conte just put ALL of ITALY UNDER the same LOCKDOWN rules as the north. He calls it the "I STAY HOME" decree. People can only move around for work reasons (transport of essential goods), for other pressing needs, or for health reasons. Effective tomoro a.m.
— Rachel Donadio (@RachelDonadio) March 9, 2020
Italy has been hit hard by the virus as cases escalate overwhelming the country’s health system with COVID-19 patients occupying over 80 per cent of hospital beds with elective surgeries being cancelled to free up beds and ICUs are getting overloaded.
The quarantine got extended to restrict travel across the country as the government tries to stop the spread. Other public gatherings such as weddings, funerals got banned, sports events got suspended while theatres, gyms, ski resorts, and discos also got shut down. Schools were closed down too.
Most Italians are now joining in singing songs from their rooftops, balconies and windows. They all started with piano chords, trumpet blasts, violin serenades and even the clanging of pots and pans.
“We’re Italians, and being vocal is part of our culture,” said Giorgio Albertini, 51, an archaeology professor who clapped from his apartment balcony in the university district of Milan, calling it a way “to feel a community, and to participate of the collective grief.”
Now our social media feeds are filled with encouraging, sentimental and humorous web videos.
A whole neighborhood in Italy is singing "Fallingforyou" by the 1975 while they're on lockdown and self-quarantined. #COVIDー19 @Truman_Black 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/83ftYT2JsU
— linds (@fisheszoo) March 16, 2020
A whole neighborhood in Italy is singing “Chun-Li” by Nicki Minaj while they’re on lockdown and self-quarantined. #COVIDー19 pic.twitter.com/CPzhXVExhB
— Erkan C. (@erkancomlekcii) March 15, 2020
These videos have come to the attention of popular musicians with some of them sharing fake videos of the Italian neighbourhoods singing their songs.
This is the original audio. For ppl who don’t know the joke/meme is to overlay the Italian ppl signing vids with other funny songs. I know celebs aren’t super online but like come on 😒 pic.twitter.com/K4CSCXcsHH
— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) March 15, 2020
Fans who get the actual videos edit out the actual audio and replace it with audio from live concert recordings of their favourite musicians.
Artists from Katy Perry, Madonna, Cherry and Shawn Mendes have been falling for these fake videos.
You cannot break the human spirit. We are one in this. ♥️🇮🇹 https://t.co/XOa0rTVNwB
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) March 14, 2020
the video is fake but at least you got the right flag 😭❤️ pic.twitter.com/pxra4ybiEp
— 🅹 (@kxtysboy_) March 14, 2020
katy perry using the hungarian flag emoji instead of the italian flag emoji is sending me https://t.co/OGX6LTVbH5
— cruel angel's antithesis (@MissPavIichenko) March 15, 2020
GIRL IT’S FAKE pic.twitter.com/N26AR9w1TU
— LegendaryNugget (@_patryx) March 14, 2020
Let Us All RISE UP. everywhere around the world!! 🌎 🌍 #irise pic.twitter.com/NJv93kWnWs
— Madonna (@Madonna) March 15, 2020
Katy did the same PLSS
— 🌙 (@chainskp1) March 15, 2020
I’m not crying 😢 https://t.co/kRq4HCAP5D
— Cheryl (@CherylOfficial) March 15, 2020
Cheryl Cole thinking self-quarantined Italians are howling 'fight for this love' into the nights sky is so far is my favorite thing to come from corona https://t.co/Rb4Dejf1IN
— francesca (@francescaperks) March 15, 2020
nah who would be singing Cheryl Cole 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/ByAJD4aEqG
— 🤍 (@axnum_) March 15, 2020
FIRST KATY, THEN MADONNA AND NOW YOU JKSKDKSKD. BYE pic.twitter.com/ssZFHEEmKG
— мαяιαн🥀 (@MariahKP5) March 15, 2020
Babe ! … they got me ( Sweet brown voice) 😩 still a beautiful sentiment all the same 💕🥰
— Cheryl (@CherylOfficial) March 15, 2020
Shawn Mendes shared a clip on his Instagram Stories. You can watch it here on this Instagram tea account.
Madonna, Shawn Mendes, @CherylOfficial, and more have been fooled :/ https://t.co/fQXmqFXL03 pic.twitter.com/H8SrfTntIs
— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) March 15, 2020
KSSKSKSKSKS THEY’RE SO DUMB https://t.co/ByHHBJwnwl
— ɪʟɪᴏɴ (@harajukuhunTy) March 15, 2020
