We'll survive

Okay, Coronavirus is in Italy.
Does this mean that we're all gonna die? Are the Chinese to blame? Do we need to kill everyone who's infected?

Absolutely not.

Ok, I get it. You're worried. I'm worried too, or rather, terrified. Well, I was, before educating myself on this topic. I was basically forced to, because here in Italy (and in Milan in particular), all schools, universities and basically all meeting places will stay closed for a week. Normally I would be over the moon about skipping a week of school, but this time is different. It feels like a punishment, like we could get infected any second.

But that isn't the case at all. What I've learnt is that these are only precautions and safety measures, this way we can avoid an epidemic and stay safe. It's only prevention.

I've got to say that my country is handling it pretty well. The authorities are staying calm and everyone is sharing tips on how to stay safe, like washing your hands frequently (which is something that we should always do, but okay) and covering your eyes and mouth when you sneeze. Okay, well, that's basic sanitary info, but it's good to know, right?

But most importantly, we have to know that Coronavirus has the same mortality percentage of the common flu, which is about 3%. Well, I'm not good at math, but it looks pretty low to me. Also this virus is more likely to be fatal to old people and people with respiratory problems, like asthma. That doesn't mean that if you are part of these categories you'll certainly die. You just need to pay attention and keep calm.

I'm grateful that I live in a country that has the possibility to take this precautions and I'm even more grateful about the fact that even though I'm going to stay at home for the majority of this week (I can still go outside, but I can't take public transportations or go in places that are or could probably be full of people) I have many things to keep myself busy with, like a mobile phone, a computer, books, comics and homework.

I recognize the privilege I have. I've heard somebody saying that they feel like they're Anne Frank and that really pissed me off. It made me mad, also because I've read her diary and I kinda feel like I know her, like she's my friend. I've read what she wrote and our situation is nothing like hers was. We just have to stay home for one week, but she lived through the war. Every movement she made had to be silent, she couldn't go anywhere and in the end she was caught. She didn't survive, but we'll do. We'll survive. Our situation is nothing like hers and we should thank God (or whatever you believe in) everyday for this.

Last but not least, IT'S NOT THE CHINESES' FAULT! I'm so sick of repeating this. If a disease comes from a place, it doesn't mean that every single person who comes from that place is immediately infected, especially if they live in another country and haven't been there in some time. Here in Milan we have a pretty high percentage of Chinese people and in the past weeks they've experienced so much racism. Shops managed by them were empty because people were scared of going there, thinking that they'd probably get the virus. C'mon Italy! We're so much better than this! In the end, we're all human beings and we should, no, we must support each other, especially in times of need like this.

What we need to do right now is just stay calm and follow all the advice we're given. We'll survive, as we always do.