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
https://twitter.com/erkancomlekcii/status/1239014249516666881
These videos have come to the attention of popular musicians with some of them sharing fake videos of the Italian neighbourhoods singing their songs.
https://twitter.com/TaylorLorenz/status/1239292625586356226
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.
https://twitter.com/katyperry/status/1238964946316046337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/kxtysboy_/status/1238965183063752706
katy perry using the hungarian flag emoji instead of the italian flag emoji is sending me https://t.co/OGX6LTVbH5
— Reagan sighed as he drew his katana (@MissPavIichenko) March 15, 2020
GIRL IT’S FAKE pic.twitter.com/N26AR9w1TU
— LegendaryNugget (@legendrynugget) 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
— . (@chainskp) March 15, 2020
I’m not crying 😢 https://t.co/kRq4HCAP5D
— Cheryl (@CherylOfficial) March 15, 2020
https://twitter.com/francescaperks/status/1239239413814697985
https://twitter.com/axnum_/status/1239221670944088069
https://twitter.com/MariahKP5/status/1239208281769496578
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.
https://twitter.com/TaylorLorenz/status/1239293712435417092
KSSKSKSKSKS THEY’RE SO DUMB https://t.co/ByHHBJwnwl
— iki ░ PU$$Y IN BIO (@harajukuhunTy) March 15, 2020
