Milica Kunarac from Italy for NAP: It's chaotic here, fear of the virus and prisoners

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - In Civitanova Marche, where Bosnian Milica Kunarac Colamarino lives, there have been no positive cases of Coronavirus yet, but in the Marche region there are about 350 infected. This region is in the heart of Italy and is blocked from all sides.

Kunarac, in an interview with the Patria News Agency, points out that the people are now truly afraid.

“Since Sunday, all gyms, betting shops, pubs, and all places where larger numbers of people gather have been closed. Schools and universities have been closed since last week, and it is forbidden for all generations, especially children, to stay in parks. It is expected that in a few days an order will come here as well for restaurants to work only from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. All masks and disinfectants have long been bought up, and in supermarkets the shelves are literally emptying at lightning speed,” said Kunarac Colamarino.

She explains that all of Italy is in the red zone because hundreds of people fled the first red zone, Lombardy, mostly from Milan, on the same day the decision was made to close that region and put it in quarantine.

“There was no way to influence those people, because the decision was in effect from midnight, so they had time to escape. It could not be expected that none of those who left Lombardy were infected. Two days later, that is, from Sunday to Monday (March 8 and 9), the number of infected and deceased rose to 25 percent of the total number. And that was the trigger for the complete lockdown of Italy.

People can go to work, but the key thing is to absolutely reduce all outings to work and home, and possibly a visit to the doctor,” said Kunarac Colamarino.

She emphasizes that today is the first day of quarantine and that she has not yet gone outside, but she sees that people are following the instructions, with only an occasional car passing by.

“The people are scared, no one wants to get infected, so everything seems somehow calm, but also eerie. But here, movement is not yet banned, as is the case with Milan; no one can enter or leave the city. It has also been ordered that at all times we must keep a meter apart from each other. Which is quite chaotic because people literally shy away from each other,” says Milica.

She further points out that the whole picture is very sad, because Italy is a beautiful country, and unfortunately tourists have already started canceling their holidays in Italy and the economic situation is getting more difficult.

“The losses are great, and it is not expected that everything will end so quickly. For now, everything is in the red zone until April 4. This country is truly rich, but this is a severe blow. Due to the situation in the country caused by the Coronavirus, extreme decisions have been made and visits to prisoners in all prisons across the country have been banned,” notes Milica.

“Major riots have begun; after those in Milan and Palermo, new protests are being recorded in Sicily in the city of Syracuse and near Naples, in the town of Aversa. After yesterday's riots and a fire in the prison in the city of Foggia, more than 50 prisoners escaped, many of whom have been caught, while a search is underway for the remaining 23. Among these prisoners there are also persons convicted of murder, which adds additional terror to the population. The latest protests are being recorded in Melfi, Potenza province, where prisoners also protested due to restrictions and are holding prison employees hostage. During the night, they released 9 hostages,” Milica points out for NAP.