Coronovirus message from Italy

[gardenflowergirl]

Saw this message from an Italian on Facebook, saying it's going to be worse than we've been told:

TO ALL MY FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD

Hello everybody, long post.
It's again about Corona virus. As you might know the situation here in Italy is tragic. With the wrong decisions that have been taken not to stop the economy, we are now at the point in which in the next 2 weeks we can expect to have the doctors to cure those who have a longer expectation of life and not to cure the others. Many many people are sick and many people need breathing support. True that italy has dismantled the best health system in the world (and we are now rushing to buy breathing machines) and we pay he consequences of this but it is also true that his virus is a true calamity, something that we have never seen before. So the message is to warn you. If you have cases in your country and they are telling you it is just a flue, it is wrong. It is just a flue for some but we have also 30 years old or less in intensive care, not to talk about old people or 50/60 years old people. The virus is highly contagious, I need to remark this.... and it spreads also before symptoms appear. From what I see there are cases in Europe, in the US etc. They will probably tell you the situation is serious when it will be serious so please start to take precautions now. It doesn't matter if you feel that you appear over worried, believe me. Some weeks ago we had an important basketball event, February 13th/16th with many people coming from the north. Now, March 10th, we have about 20 people in intensive care (100.000 people city) and in Niguarda hospital in Milan (much bigger) they have 30. Regular hospitals activities are no longer possible, if we don't stop the virus we might die also for a very stupid reason because the regular hospital activities are blocked. Even this past weekend people where at the beach and this happened for 3 reasons: italians tend not to respect the rules, young people think they don't get sick but they don't understand they'll make their parents sick and finally you don't see this enemy until doctors start to literally beg you to stay home because they have been working non stop for days and nights and they know they won't be able to assist everybody...or you start to hear that someone that you know is sick, two of my friends have sick parents for example. Personally I am doing all I can including using all the means I have not to go to work but many firms still haven't understood that they must stop. Please pray for this nightmare to end, it is the greatest struggle we have faced since world war. Schools are closed and we are trying to stay connected and work from home. Supermarkets now force you to keep distances and use masks...I mean, it's an apocalipctical scenario hard to believe and to explain. Do all you can to ask your governments to act immediately and strongly, no economy is worth a massacre like this. The world needs to review priorities. Again please say a prayer for us, we don't deserve to end like this. Take care ❤

[furrytoebean]

'From an Italian on Facebook'

[sprinklemagicinmyhair]

Your source is ‘an italian’ on Facebook?

[Sparklingbrook]

Do they not have paragraphs in Italy?

[Didkdt]

Really

[gardenflowergirl]

I think the message is more important than the paragraphs! English is obviously their second language.

[gardenflowergirl]

Maybe our government is being conservative in the information they give us in order to prevent panic and concerns about the economy if it progresses in the UK. Only time will tell.

[Icanflyhigh]

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Your source is ‘an italian’ on Facebook?

Who can't spell flu.

[seasmize]

Do y’all have to be so hostile to the OP?

I doubt someone fakes a message like this. It’s well intended.

[theflushedzebra]

This is on twitter, a translation posted by a UK friend.

Italy had 168 deaths in one day (yesterday?) - we are two weeks behind Italy according to experts.

Take heed. This could be us very soon. We should all be self isolating as much as possible.

[Butterwhy]

At least it's not ebola.

[Sparkles9768]

**MrsTerryPratchett
English is their second language so why are you shocked they cant spell flu? Do you speak a second language? Doubt it.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

I think it's a sensible message.
Be careful.
Be aware that you might already have it but not have symptoms.
It sucks when you get it.
Be sensible, protect those you love, who are at higher risk.

[AngelicaKauffman]

I doubt someone fakes a message like this. It’s well intended

Maybe, but it's pretty dumb. What is the desired outcome? To whip panicked people into even more of a panic? Or does OP think people are going to see this and think "oh crikey it's worse than I thought, better get on the blower to BoJo right away!"

"An Italian on Facebook". Have you seen what a lot of the "British on Facebook" are posting? There are mad people right across the world.

[Thepigeonsarecoming]

This sounds like the type of message I’d write if I was pretending to be sending a message from Italy. Can someone quote the original post?

[Thepigeonsarecoming]

Or I should say link to the original post

[todayisnottuesday]

gardenflowergirl - I'm not too sure being Italian qualifies people to make all those sort of claims.

Groundhog Day.

[CJsGoldfish]

An Italian on Facebook
🤣

This sounds like the type of message I’d write if I was pretending to be sending a message from Italy
My exact thought when I read it. Hmmmm.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Do you speak a second language? Doubt it.

Parlo Italiano ironicamente. Quite well.

[todayisnottuesday]

I think it's a sensible message.
How is it helpful though, it just states the obvious and promotes panic.

behind Italy according to experts

No, according to some 'experts', not all and many have extremely dodgy credentials

[todayisnottuesday]

Parlo Italiano ironicamente. Quite well
MrsTerryPratchet@

. Touche!Parlo Italiano ironicamente. Quite well.*

[todayisnottuesday]

At least it's not ebola.

That's actually a really good point and way of looking at it.

[Sgtmajormummy]

To be fair to the OP, I’m in Italy and quite a few people are sharing photos on my FB of exhausted hospital staff urging people to stay indoors.

It’s happening.
Undeniably.

[Thepigeonsarecoming]

I’ve no bought it’s happening, just that this inspired message is as it seems. Have you not seen ‘inspiring’ quotes all over social media before?

An example “ I’m in Italy, things are a bit scary, I’m wondering when the shops will be restocked as we’re running low on some items now. We’ve been told tomorrow we’ll get a basic food package, don’t know what that means but we’re alive so that is what is important “

[todayisnottuesday]

It’s happening.
Undeniably.

It is, yes, but in Italy, not here. It could happen over here, yes, but may well not.