Nurse Treating Coronavirus Patients In Italy Shares How Hard It Is With A Heartbreaking Pic

Italian nurse Alessia Bonari is showing the world just how dedicated she and her colleagues are in the fight against the coronavirus.

The young nurse posted about the reality of working during the Covid-19 pandemic: how physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting it is. And how she wasn’t about to throw in the towel. No, she’s devoted to her job and will do it no matter the difficulties.

Alessia’s post was immensely popular, getting over 817k likes on Instagram. Internet users expressed their support for the nurse and for everyone in Italy on the frontlines in the battle against the virus.

According to The Local, hospitals in Italy, especially in the north, are overwhelmed. Doctors and nurses are exhausted and the number of patients keeps growing. There are now over 15k confirmed cases of people infected with the coronavirus in Italy. The illness has claimed the lives of more than 1k people.

The Guardian also reports that the Vatican ordered that all Catholic churches close until further orders.

Bored Panda spoke with Rick Orford, a Canadian from Vancouver currently living in Italy and who documents the spread of the coronavirus in his blog Travel Addicts. According to Rick, the lockdown in Italy feels surreal. "It's sort of like house arrest. Having to walk around with a certificate in my back pocket just to go to the food store is odd. But it's all absolutely necessary."

Rick said that he and Andrea, the co-creator of Travel Addicts, had a cruise booked for the end of March. "Unfortunately, due to lockdown, we are unable to go. In the end, the cruise was canceled, and we have been refunded."

We also wanted to know how else Rick and Andrea's day-to-day lives changed after the lockdown was announced. "Having to stay home means a lot more TV time. A lot more cooking. A lot more housework," Rick said.

"Finally, we are able to catch up on all the chores, eat better, and maybe lose a few lbs (or kilos). It also means we get to spend a lot more time with Andrea's parents. They are very, very happy about it," he added.

In an earlier interview with a representative from Doctors in Italy, a platform that helps people find English-speaking doctors in the country, we spoke about how the pandemic has affected Italy and how doctors are dealing with the crisis.

"If you happen to have to go out for your work or for buying food, you see an eerie version of your city. Rome is ever more beautiful with the sun shining and the empty streets. The shops are all closed, and no one is around."

"You need to carry a certificate explaining why you need to be out (for work or health reasons). If you have no good reason or cannot demonstrate a real need, you can get a fine. Since very few people are around, it is very likely to be stopped by the police, so it's not a risk to take lightly. Everyone is doing their best to follow the decree. Being caught red-handed —wandering around without a good reason—can even result in jail time," Doctors in Italy explained to us.

"The central health authority has taken full charge of the care and assistance of all subjects who may have been exposed to coronavirus. While usually calling an ambulance is reserved for serious cases, at the moment all those who need medical assistance due to symptoms that could be related to coronavirus are advised to call the central emergency line at 112 or 118. Care at home can be arranged by the hospital, instead of hospitalization, in case it is sufficient," Doctors in Italy explained the current situation.

"All regular care is being postponed, so most private medical offices are either closed or working limited hours. Doctors who work at hospitals are doing double shifts regularly and have stopped all their out-of-hospital activities to reduce any risks."

The representative continued: "Almost every day, official sources such as the Ministry of Health and the Prime Minister release information and guidelines. They are doing their best to make all rules very clear and easy to follow, so everyone's job is to just follow them. They are meant to protect you and everyone else."

"Washing hands thoroughly with soap and not touching your face (eyes, mouth, nose especially) is very effective, as well as staying as far as possible from other people, except for those who live with you. All shops and pharmacies limit the number of people who can go in at the same time so that you can safely buy food, medicine, and supplies without risk to you or others.”