I thought I would write down a little bit about how the last month has been for us in Italy, fully aware that this is only our experience - other people may have behaved entirely differently! I just wanted to put it down because all the days are blurring into one so I thought I may as well share it for anyone who is interested.
First of all, I am in a city in the north but not in any of hotspots, this meant that the first big event for us was when we heard that schools and universities would not be reopening on Monday 24th February in our region. To be honest, it seemed really over the top at the time. We hadn't been given any warning (it happened over the weekend) so lots of children hadn't taken their textbooks home with them. It seemed a really cautious thing to do and most people thought it would be enough. In fact, for the next week nobody really suggested social distancing - we all carried on going to the parks and bars. Very few people were wearing masks and it seemed a bit OTT. That first weekend when it was announced, there was a bit of a run on the supermarkets and a few things were out of stock, but this soon worked itself out and after a few days everything was back to normal.
The next week (2nd March) we still went to the park but everyone was really careful to keep their distance. We also had some friends round for a meal - the husband is a doctor and he thought it was fine as a plan. We just didn't kiss anyone and checked that nobody was ill - seemed like enough at the time! Bear in mind, we hadn't really been given any instructions at this point, except that schools were closed. We naively thought we were doing enough. Bars were still open albeit with more widely spaced tables so surely, we thought, it was decided that we didn't have to much more, just wash our hands a bit more, stay inside if we felt ill. That week all the schools in Italy were closed, but there still weren't a high number of deaths so it felt like it was being managed. My gym was closed, then opened, then closed again. There was some confusion over whether every sports facility should be closed or not. Eventually they all closed, along with cinemas, theatres etc.
The following week (9th March) is when everything changed. Before only a few hotspots had been "locked down". Now that was extended to the whole of the country - no travelling around, no going out without a proper reason (getting food, medical supplies, going to hospital or essential work). Everything non-essential, including non-food shops closed. Bars were allowed for a while to open until 6pm to allow workers to eat lunch but this was soon changed to complete closure. Every one started taking it more seriously. We no longer went to the park, even keeping our distance. In my town, the mayor issued a decree that all parks and public spaces were off limits. This week is when we had some balcony "occasions": clapping our support for health workers, singing, impromptu concerts etc. My neighbours played their string instruments and everyone applauded.
This week (16th March) the mood has really changed. Everyone now realises the seriousness of the situation. We can go out for food but everyone keeps their distance, the streets are pretty deserted and the police are issuing fines to anyone who isn't obeying the rules. We have been going to local shops (luckily we have lots) so the queues haven't been so bad as at the supermarkets. We don't have a garden and live in a big block of flats so we have been going outside a bit to run in front of the narrow strip of concrete in front of our garages (still on our property so technically allowed). Psychologically it has been tough but I also realise we are lucky - plenty of people are ill or have ill relatives in addition to being in lockdown. A classmate of my son's is in hospital with peritonitis which would be worrying at the best of times but is especially horrible now. We are not even in one of the worst hit areas and I have seen an ambulance with paramedics in hazmat suits turning up to our neighbour's flat. A friend in Lombardy says they hear ambulances all the time.
My kids are taking it all quite well and are supporting each other though my youngest son is finding it really hard to sleep (a combination of worries and not exercising much, I think).
Anyway, that is my experience. I must admit when I hear people on hear say that they think it is still ok to see friends or go to the park I feel worried - that was exactly what we thought two weeks ago and now ...well, we are where we are.