Italian culture depends inherently on social interactions. A chit-chat over your first capo-in-b by the bar or a quick banter while buying Il Piccolo at the newspaper kiosk on your street is all it takes for a Triestino to start the day off right. However, the concept of social distancing as civic duty has induced a special sort of fatigue, confusion, and even heartbreak here in Trieste and many people can’t help but wonder – when will Triestini be able to go back to normality?
Our region has had about a week full of unexpectedly granted freedom: the permission to exercise, shop or even just walk around in the confines of our town or comune. While this is a huge step for most residents after almost two months of complete lockdown, it’s still a tiny step for most businesses that remain closed.
Friuli Venezia Giulia’s governor Fedriga has repeatedly stated that the government should let businesses reopen as long as they can guarantee safety of their customers. However, Prime minister Conte has confirmed, restrictions cannot be lessened, so any local body that is deciding the contrary is going against the national regulations set out in the new dpcm.
“On 18th of May and on the 1st of June,” Fedriga said in his interview to a local news channel, “many businesses will not be able to reopen because it will be too late. It is highly important to quickly learn how to deal with the current health emergency while dealing with the economic crisis”.
We’ll just have to wait and hope this difficult moment, or ciàro de lùna as they say in Trieste, will pass soon.
By In Trieste
