How each of us can help during the coronavirus epidemic

Morally support those who have a harder time

Sitting in isolation and pausing life is difficult and unpleasant. But some of us have a harder time than others. For example, those who live alone and may suffer greatly from a lack of communication. Anxious people who take on all the burdens of the world and experience. Those with coronavirus or their family members. Those who are forced to go to work and contact people, putting themselves at risk: doctors, cashiers, couriers, transport drivers. Think about which of your acquaintances needs such help. Or, if you feel potential in yourself, write on social networks that those who need support can contact you. Even if you don't have a degree in psychology, but you are empathic and good at dealing with stress, you can help someone in an emergency.

Silvio Guareschi

Provides psychological assistance in Parma.

I live in the Emilia-Romagna region, we have a difficult situation here - there are a lot of COVID-19 cases. I am a psychologist by one of my educational backgrounds, so during an epidemic I provide moral support to those affected by the coronavirus. Affected directly, that is, to the patients themselves and indirectly to those who have lost a family member or are stressed in self-isolation. The most difficult moment for people is the unknown. This is an unexplored virus, there is no cure for it, so the sick are afraid of what might await them. In addition, now doctors are mainly concerned with patients in serious condition, so those who suffer coronavirus at home with relatively mild symptoms, can't get attention from doctors, but don't worry less. I call them by phone or Skype. I listen to their doubts, fears, I give the opportunity to express everything that worries them. My goal is to transform their fear and doubt into hope. The worst case was with one elderly patient who was ill with COVID-19 at home and constantly measured the level of oxygen in the blood. He was terrified that the indicator would become less than 90, he would be taken to the hospital and that he would not leave it. We talked every day, and after 10 days his morale became stable. Fortunately, at the same time, he began to recover.

Help with shopping and other household issues

The elderly and those with poor health (diabetes and other chronic diseases) must now be on the lookout and observe the strictest quarantine. Going to the grocery store or the post office for a parcel is the risk of contact with other people who may be asymptomatic with coronavirus. That said, not everyone has access to grocery delivery apps. If there are such people among your neighbors or acquaintances, try to help them with trips to the store, pharmacy or post office. You can post a notice in the entrance with your contacts, samples are easy to find on the Internet. For example, suitable template is available from the Yandex. District ": you can use it yourself and send it to your friends. If you use delivery, but your elderly neighbors do not, invite them to order groceries for them too.

Fabio Perfetti

Helps the elderly in Ronco Briantiino, Lombardy.

I live in a small town north of Milan and it so happens that there are a lot of elderly people here. Now they are advised, if possible, not to leave the house, even to shop: at their age, the coronavirus can be very dangerous. We have no delivery, and not all elderly people use smartphones. Therefore, the young people of the city, including myself, organized help for them. We created a WhatsApp group and gave our contacts to the local pharmacy and supermarket. And they, in turn, notified their clients. It works like this: a person who cannot go shopping himself, calls the supermarket or pharmacy and places an order. Outlets contact us and tell who and where to deliver purchases today. We distribute these orders among ourselves and deliver them to addresses. In fact, it helps not only the elderly, but also the young: it makes it possible not to sit idle, but to do something useful. Naturally, we observe all safety measures: masks, gloves, sanitizer, no close contacts.

Try not to get out of work

If you only need a laptop to work in self-isolation, the problem is solved. But even if you cannot perform your professional duties remotely, try to stay in a working rhythm. First, help your future career by taking a rewarding online course, reading books you didn't have enough time for, listening to podcasts from people whose professional paths inspire you. Second, stay in touch with your colleagues so that neither you nor they feel disconnected from the world. Arrange collective calls and videoconferences, discuss future projects or analyze the past and make work on mistakes.

Yuri Monzani

Coaches the football team in Concorezzo, Lombardy.

I train a junior team, and of course I cannot do this work remotely. At the beginning of the quarantine, sports associations were the first to close, but it was still possible to go outside. We went together with the players and coaches on a sports walk in the mountains (keeping a meter of distance, of course) - at least some kind of activity. Then the quarantine became stricter, so now you can only keep in touch remotely. I try to come up with different challenges, record videos with home workouts, ask the guys to send me video responses, then edit the clips and send them to the whole team. Unfortunately, one of our club employees fell ill with COVID-19. We made a video for him with wishes of recovery. Also, my fellow coach and I organized a soccer quiz in Zoom: we asked the guys different questions about famous matches, players, the Italian League, soccer terms. It was fun! I really want to keep the team spirit until the end of the quarantine.

Understand that self-isolation is not a vacation

Most importantly, minimize contact and reduce your own risk of getting sick. Do not forget that the pandemic has changed the rules of etiquette - now you should not shake hands when you meet. Feel free to remind others of this: health is far more important than social rituals. Try to be careful and take care of yourself. Do not eat foods that make your stomach ache, do not engage in traumatic sports. The health care system is going through difficult times now, so it would be best not to put an additional burden on doctors and hospitals. Just staying healthy now is already helping society.

Alternatively, you can contact local hospitals to see if they need any help. For example, donated blood, mask making, volunteer work. If you have experience in fundraising, look at local charities and help raise funds for COVID-19 projects.

Anna Kutskailis

Helps sew masks in Desio, Lombardy.

I am fond of designing and sewing clothes, so I have a sewing machine at home. A couple of days ago, I accidentally learned from friends that our municipality is looking for volunteers who could sew reusable masks. I immediately contacted them and offered my services. For the masks I use old cotton sheets - I have a lot of them at home. When the masks are ready, the organizers of this project will come for them. They will then be disinfected and transferred to a nursing home. I started sewing last night and so far I have made 15 masks. Hope this work will be helpful.

Don't spread panic on social media

The worldwide shift to online and widespread concern has led to information distortion. People on social media are divided into several categories. Nihilists deny the existence of coronavirus and demand some kind of proof, completely ignoring the reportsWHO: Situation reports WHO and open dataCoronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University about the course of the epidemic in different countries. Alarmists spread terror by talking about the virus flying through the air. Conspiracy theorists are looking for the culprit in what is happening and are trying to convince everyone around that this epidemic is beneficial to someone. Folk healers advise to wear a garlic necklace and eat only ginger. All this only creates confusion and misunderstanding of what is happening. Try to refer to official sources, do not panic and be the voice of reason.

Tonya Rubtsova

She started an Instagram account in Russian about the epidemic in Italy @ toshkatoshka.ru, writes from Uzmate Velate, Lombardy.

I live in the region of Italy most affected by the coronavirus. Quarantine started earlier for us than for others - we have been at home for more than three weeks. Unfortunately, there is a lot of incorrect information on social networks about the epidemic in Italy, from downplaying threat and mistrust to incredible stories about how people are fined if they go to the store in kilometer from the house. To help my friends and everyone who is interested in knowing how things really are, I created a separate profile in Russian, where I write about the course of the epidemic and the peculiarities of life in quarantine, I translate studies of Italian scientists. I try to find a balance: explain how important it is to comply with the quarantine rules, but at the same time show that life does not end with self-isolation.

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