My neighborhood in quarantine times

Ela Vasilescu — Coffee in the garden, while my people play in the background

To the rest of the world: ‘You are us two weeks ago.’

A few hours after I published this article two days ago, Italy has decided for a national lockdown. Most of us expected it; some of us wanted it. I spoke to some friends and family across the borders. When I answered their questions about our situation, they all had the same reaction: ‘It sounds like an apocalyptic movie scenario.’ In reality, it’s not; at least not for us.

So what does the lockdown look like, and what does it mean for our everyday lives?

We can leave our homes only for serious reasons. Those could be a trip to the pharmacy, to the supermarket to buy supplies, to work (for those who can’t work from home). There are police checks on the streets and forms to fill out if we cross our city’s borders; going to other neighborhoods it’s also advised against, and meeting friends for dinner or playdates are certainly not allowed. In bars, there are strict rules about keeping one’s distance from others, and in the supermarket, only a few people can go in at once, the rest have to patiently wait outside until it’s their turn to go in.

My neighborhood is quiet. The weather is perfect, the sun shines over the empty streets, and if it wasn’t for the occasional cars passing, you could swear the neighborhood is abandoned. I watch from the balcony two…