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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.
RELATED:
Italian nurse Alessia Bonari turned to Instagram to share what it’s like to fight the coronavirus on the frontlines
Image credits: alessiabonari_
Image credits: alessiabonari_
Image credits: alessiabonari_
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.
“It’s sort of like house arrest.”
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.
Italy is under lockdown due to the virus
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.”
Personal hygiene is incredibly important!
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.”
Here’s how some people reacted when they read Alessia’s post
What do you think ?
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 4 years ago
I work in food production and it's not that different. I can't remember the number of times I had to go on steroids for contact dermatitis. Goggles, glasses and masks. They rub and hurt. I'm not trying to diminish what our brave nurses are doing, I just acknowledge and empathize with their pain. A lot of us industry side feel your pain and thank you for your service.
Daria B 4 years ago (edited)
You people working with food in these harsh times are also great heroes, feeding the hungry. And I'm being serious here. Sure, the sick need medical care, but food as well. And the people who treat the sick need food too. And the regular healthy people need food as well to keep up the health. I hope someday soon you can enjoy a well deserved break as well.
Load More Replies...
Belinda_Vikingheart_🇧🇻 4 years ago
I have been to hospitals a lot, as a patient. I've always said nurses are angels. And here you are, to prove my point ❤ Thank you.
Julie BT 120 4 years ago
Front line nurses get all the "Way-To-Go's" in these situations but lets not forget all the Health Care Administration and Management putting in 16 hr days 7 days week trying to keep the boat afloat in terms of scheduling, staffing, communications, protocols, supplies, angry employees, angry patients, angry everyone..... These guys work just as hard behind the front lines and are rarely acknowledged
Naoko Yamaguchi 4 years ago
Thank you for sharing how hard you're fighting against corona virus... and I really hope you're all right!
Slune 4 years ago
What don't get in my head is the mess Europe is in. Why, the heck the politicians didn't take a look how Asia is reacting to the virus? The are.already probed with epidemics. Until 25 Feb. I visited Vietnam, Thailand and Abu Dhabi. Each Country took hygienic and Desinfektion measures. In all the he Hotels. Shopping Centers and streets and additional temperature checks on the airports. In a Swiss City, where I am living at the time ,I couldn't believe my eyes when People from the City where "cleaning" the Street and Place in front of the train station with cleaning blower whirling up all the dirt ( virus / bacteria) Towards the street coffee where a few customer sitting the mandantory 2 meters from each others . Welcome Corona and Bacteria fellows! Why not disinfect instead ?? The slogan of the city is : culture unlimited! Sorry for being endless, but I am fuming,,,,,,ll
giovanna 4 years ago (edited)
Yes, it seems like a common thing with this epidemic that authorities (and citizens) are in total denial until it hits them. See here the comments where people say "it's just like the flu". Shutting everything down like we are doing in Italy will have terrible repercussions on our economy. I think governments want to avoid that and they have great pressure to avoid that. But at the end, it's the only thing to do. I just hope that other countries can see what's happening here and take measures when they're still in time
Load More Replies...
Full Name 4 years ago
“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"????? This differs from my usual life how?
Kelly 4 years ago
For example, when you touch a k**b, handles, in public places and by chance later you touch your eyes or your mouth without paying attention to it.
Load More Replies...
Christine M Quigley 4 years ago (edited)
Those masks are no joke. They're hard to wear for an hour! If you're claustrophobic, forget it. They do hurt after awhile since they REALLY seal up around the edges. I've had to wear one for maybe an hour, giving a specialized nebulizer treatment, and couldn't wait to take it off. Nurses in China were shaving their heads to get them to fit better! I'm a retired nurse in NC- I'm just waiting to be called up to help.
no one cares about you 4 years ago
Yes by all means...take your mask OFF with your bare hands and touch your phone then everything else
Michael Bradford 4 years ago
Doesn't Italy have National Healthcare System? I thought all of Europe did? 8% death rate is twice the rate in China! What's wrong with the healthcare in Italy???
Kelly 4 years ago
Italy (Country) is not Europe (continent). Of course there is a national health care system for free, but death numbers that are shared consider all pneumonia and cancer related deaths, people who had already a chronic illness with higher risk of being infected. It simply depends on a different way of dealing numbers.
Load More Replies...
Marnie 4 years ago
I don't understand the downvotes. Someone is admiring, respecting a strong young moral hard-working woman and wants such as a person as a wife. I see nothing wrong with that. Obviously, it's a bit flippant in the face of the virus, but is also a way to say, "I think you're so awesome that I'd want a wife like you." I still see nothing wrong with that.
Load More Replies... 
Ilaria Della Casa 4 years ago
This is NOTHING like the flu, please stop spreading fake rumours because people are dying. We have 15,000 people who catched the disease and many of them are in ICU because they cannot breathe in their own. Even people as young as 38 years old, healthy, have been hospitalized in critical conditions. I was among those who were saying it's just a flu but it is NOT. Our hospitals are collapsing, some cities don't know how to deal with deceased people and they cannot even celebrate funerals. An entire country is quarantined, we can't leave the house unless it's something serious and we have to carry a certificate or else we can be arrested. The virus spreads very easily, just plain washing your hands isn't enough, you can catch it bu simply being close to someone who has it (and might not even have developed symptoms yet). The more you underestimate it, the more people will die. You need to raise awareness: for yourself, for weak people and for those who are fighting or have fought with diseases and might die. I watched the news and cried tonight. And yes, I am SCARED.
Load More Replies...
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 4 years ago
I work in food production and it's not that different. I can't remember the number of times I had to go on steroids for contact dermatitis. Goggles, glasses and masks. They rub and hurt. I'm not trying to diminish what our brave nurses are doing, I just acknowledge and empathize with their pain. A lot of us industry side feel your pain and thank you for your service.
Daria B 4 years ago (edited)
You people working with food in these harsh times are also great heroes, feeding the hungry. And I'm being serious here. Sure, the sick need medical care, but food as well. And the people who treat the sick need food too. And the regular healthy people need food as well to keep up the health. I hope someday soon you can enjoy a well deserved break as well.
Load More Replies... Belinda_Vikingheart_🇧🇻 4 years ago
I have been to hospitals a lot, as a patient. I've always said nurses are angels. And here you are, to prove my point ❤ Thank you.
Julie BT 120 4 years ago
Front line nurses get all the "Way-To-Go's" in these situations but lets not forget all the Health Care Administration and Management putting in 16 hr days 7 days week trying to keep the boat afloat in terms of scheduling, staffing, communications, protocols, supplies, angry employees, angry patients, angry everyone..... These guys work just as hard behind the front lines and are rarely acknowledged
Naoko Yamaguchi 4 years ago
Thank you for sharing how hard you're fighting against corona virus... and I really hope you're all right!
Slune 4 years ago
What don't get in my head is the mess Europe is in. Why, the heck the politicians didn't take a look how Asia is reacting to the virus? The are.already probed with epidemics. Until 25 Feb. I visited Vietnam, Thailand and Abu Dhabi. Each Country took hygienic and Desinfektion measures. In all the he Hotels. Shopping Centers and streets and additional temperature checks on the airports. In a Swiss City, where I am living at the time ,I couldn't believe my eyes when People from the City where "cleaning" the Street and Place in front of the train station with cleaning blower whirling up all the dirt ( virus / bacteria) Towards the street coffee where a few customer sitting the mandantory 2 meters from each others . Welcome Corona and Bacteria fellows! Why not disinfect instead ?? The slogan of the city is : culture unlimited! Sorry for being endless, but I am fuming,,,,,,ll
giovanna 4 years ago (edited)
Yes, it seems like a common thing with this epidemic that authorities (and citizens) are in total denial until it hits them. See here the comments where people say "it's just like the flu". Shutting everything down like we are doing in Italy will have terrible repercussions on our economy. I think governments want to avoid that and they have great pressure to avoid that. But at the end, it's the only thing to do. I just hope that other countries can see what's happening here and take measures when they're still in time
Load More Replies... Full Name 4 years ago
“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"????? This differs from my usual life how?
Kelly 4 years ago
For example, when you touch a k**b, handles, in public places and by chance later you touch your eyes or your mouth without paying attention to it.
Load More Replies... Christine M Quigley 4 years ago (edited)
Those masks are no joke. They're hard to wear for an hour! If you're claustrophobic, forget it. They do hurt after awhile since they REALLY seal up around the edges. I've had to wear one for maybe an hour, giving a specialized nebulizer treatment, and couldn't wait to take it off. Nurses in China were shaving their heads to get them to fit better! I'm a retired nurse in NC- I'm just waiting to be called up to help.
no one cares about you 4 years ago
Yes by all means...take your mask OFF with your bare hands and touch your phone then everything else
Michael Bradford 4 years ago
Doesn't Italy have National Healthcare System? I thought all of Europe did? 8% death rate is twice the rate in China! What's wrong with the healthcare in Italy???
Kelly 4 years ago
Italy (Country) is not Europe (continent). Of course there is a national health care system for free, but death numbers that are shared consider all pneumonia and cancer related deaths, people who had already a chronic illness with higher risk of being infected. It simply depends on a different way of dealing numbers.
Load More Replies... Marnie 4 years ago
I don't understand the downvotes. Someone is admiring, respecting a strong young moral hard-working woman and wants such as a person as a wife. I see nothing wrong with that. Obviously, it's a bit flippant in the face of the virus, but is also a way to say, "I think you're so awesome that I'd want a wife like you." I still see nothing wrong with that.
Load More Replies... Ilaria Della Casa 4 years ago
This is NOTHING like the flu, please stop spreading fake rumours because people are dying. We have 15,000 people who catched the disease and many of them are in ICU because they cannot breathe in their own. Even people as young as 38 years old, healthy, have been hospitalized in critical conditions. I was among those who were saying it's just a flu but it is NOT. Our hospitals are collapsing, some cities don't know how to deal with deceased people and they cannot even celebrate funerals. An entire country is quarantined, we can't leave the house unless it's something serious and we have to carry a certificate or else we can be arrested. The virus spreads very easily, just plain washing your hands isn't enough, you can catch it bu simply being close to someone who has it (and might not even have developed symptoms yet). The more you underestimate it, the more people will die. You need to raise awareness: for yourself, for weak people and for those who are fighting or have fought with diseases and might die. I watched the news and cried tonight. And yes, I am SCARED.
Load More Replies...
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