Yesterday, after much back and forth in the afternoon waiting for the Italian government and the relevant Italian ministries to get on the same page, Italy decided to close all schools – and center of instruction, ogni ordine, ogni grado (all types, all levels) –
I don’t have much to report from Florence today. Everything here is calm and normal, minus Jason’s workload and office, since the American programs have almost all taken a hard turn to send students home. He’s neck deep in meetings and logistics and managing people
A light wind ruffles the leaves on the rose bushes in the terrace garden over our heads. If you gaze upward, like a saint, from the casement windows of our dining room, the breeze is almost always moving. Rain spits down even though the sky
Here in Italy, the situation continues to evolve. Italy first declared a Covid-19 outbreak on February 20. On February 23, the U.S.-based CDC raised the threat level to 2 (exercise caution and wash your hands); last night, it was raised to level three (cancel all
The morning broke here overcast and nondescript. Like any other day on the threshold of February and March. The news, on the other hand, feels pretty out of the ordinary. I file this with the First Gulf War and, to a lesser extent, 9/11. Jason
The Italian government has asked the Italian media to tone down their coverage of the virus, so infection statistics are no longer available on the website of La Repubblica, the Italian New York Times. I am continuing to check and get numbers from the Worldometer
Florence is quieter than usual, but business – school, work – continue. The tourists have dropped off; I have been told we are down to 60%. In Florence this is notable, when high season happens year round. There is no low season in Florence. I
An epidemic is like a web, though perhaps less symmetrical than this one. There are contacts and transmissions, points of encounter as the web grows. Florence has now confirmed 3 cases of Covid-19. (These are separate from the two tourists who flew through Florence early
As my readers know, I live and work in Florence. My husband and I live here with our two children. I will resume posting here to keep my global friends and family up to date with our Italian news on the ground. Two months ago,
