Coronavirus, in Italy checks and doctors increase in Fiumicino and Malpensa

ALAIN JOCARD / AFP

Fear for the coronavirus of the China it rebounds in Italy, amid celebrations for the Lunar New Year canceled, also in solidarity with the sick, and a sad episode of intolerance that has even targeted a couple of Chinese tourists. So far, however, the Ministry of Health assures, the checks on suspicious cases reported in Italy have all been found negative.

Meanwhile, the health authorities remain on the alert and controls have been strengthened with an increase in medical personnel at the Fiumicino and Malpensa airports. This was decided by the task force set up by the Ministry of Health which met in the presence of the minister Roberto Speranza and other authorities involved.

The suspension of parades

In Rome and Milan, the Chinese community has decided to renounce the parades scheduled for Sunday 2 February respectively in San Giovanni and Via Sarpi for the Lunar New Year as a sign of solidarity towards China affected by the coronavirus.

“We are emotionally involved in the epidemic that is hitting China and for this reason we have canceled the parade: our country of origin suffers and we cannot celebrate.” He explained the decision to cancel the Chinese New Year party scheduled for February 2 in Milan, Francesco Wu, member of the Confcommercio board and representative of the largest Chinese community in Italy.

Speaking with the AGI, the entrepreneur explained that the suspension – similar to that of Rome – was agreed this morning after a meeting between the Sino-Italian associations in the city. About twenty representatives of 15 associations from Milan participated, in which immigrants from the Dragon Country gather either according to the region of origin, or based on cultural or commercial purposes.

“After a brief discussion, everyone agreed to suspend the party and use the funds to send masks and other medical supplies to the affected area,” he explained. In these hours the Milanese community is “making contacts with Italian suppliers to buy the best products and then ship them”, Wu said. Many of the Chinese in Milan have relatives who had returned to the motherland for the most important holiday of the year “there is certainly a little fear, but from what we know they are all well”.

A case of intolerance in the lagoon

The other side of the coronavirus alarm is unfortunately represented by cases of intolerance towards the Chinese community and now even towards tourists arriving from China. Until now, mostly empty Chinese restaurants and mistrustful looks have been reported to the Asian community.

Now the news arrives that in Venice, a baby gang of teenagers followed, insulted and spit against a couple of Chinese tourists while walking along the bank of the Giudecca Canal. The appeal to avoid alarmism and psychosis has been renewed by the Chinese communities in Italy and to show solidarity with those who fight against a virus that does not make geographical or race distinctions.

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