Before the safety lockdown on Italy was declared nationwide, a man in Rome cracked up millions of people after he was seen wearing a giant, cardboard disc in public to keep people from coming too close and possibly transmitting the deadly coronavirus infection to him. 

Outside of China, Italy is the next country in line with the highest number of confirmed cases, totaling 63,927 with 6077 deaths, according to the latest report from Worldometer [2].

Desperate times call for desperate measures…

This innovative man went about the Testaccio market in his protective disc with a 1-meter radius to promote social distancing. People were forced to clear the way and walk around him. The elderly man was seen picking up litter with a long object and when asked why he was wearing such a ridiculous item, he said in Italian: ‘For coronavirus!’ The person recording then jokingly said: ‘Wonderful. I can’t cope!’  

Since the World Health Organization declared the disease a global pandemic on March 11, people in all corners of the world have been frantic and terrified, a situation worsened by conflicting reports in the media. Although the actual statistics are truly terrifying, it takes more than just a headline to make sense of the numbers, and people are feeling more helpless with each passing day. 

The times are scary and people deserve a bit of cheer now and then – or a lot of it. Social media users were left in hysterics as this creative guy boldly walked about in his weird contraption, proud that he’d come with an ingenious idea to encourage people to stay safe.

Read: Italian coronavirus patient, 79, recovers after taking Ebola drug

Extreme measures

Recent drone footage shows the formerly lively and bustling Italy looking empty and lifeless as the streets have been completely deserted [3]. The country’s government ordered everyone to stay home and self-isolate as the number of active cases is increasing beyond control. For the first in a while, the waters of Venice are clear with no murk since there is zero traffic on the waterways [4]. The entire country of Italy has gone silent.

Current statistics show that there have been 339,910 cases and 14,704 deaths around the world [5]. However, the lights at the end of the tunnel are the 99,016 recorded recoveries [5]. Being diagnosed with the coronavirus is not a death sentence. While countries are still working round-the-clock to discover and approve safe vaccines and antivirals, supportive care is being administered to help patients feel better.

However, the virus is not any less lethal and should be avoided at all costs. At this point, prevention is the only option because there is no cure. Social distancing is strongly being enforced in many countries as people are ordered to avoid crowded gatherings and just stay home. The World Health Organization has debunked several myths being purported about this disease, one of which insisted that young people do not catch it easily. This is NOT TRUE, as the reports only state that the disease is likely to be more severe in older persons above the age of 65 and anyone with underlying medical conditions [6].

New research has found that the “virus can remain viable in the air for up to 3 hours, on copper for up to 4 hours, on cardboard up to 24 hours and on plastic and stainless steel up to 72 hours,” so regular disinfection of your immediate environment is important [7]. 

Helpful tips: Isolate yourself until social distancing protocols are removed, disinfect regularly, wash your hands frequently with antiseptic soaps and water, wear a nose mask if you suspect you may be down with the infection and report to a hospital immediately. Most importantly, stay updated.

Read: Terrifying footage from a hospital in Italy shows a health system overwhelmed by COVID-19 crisis

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