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Rome’s Homeless Don’t Have the Luxury of Staying Home Rome’s Homeless Don’t Have the Luxury of Staying Home
(1 day later)
ROME — For more than two weeks, the Italian government has trumpeted a central message for containing the spread of the coronavirus: Stay home.ROME — For more than two weeks, the Italian government has trumpeted a central message for containing the spread of the coronavirus: Stay home.
But for the thousands who are homeless or living in extreme poverty in Rome, keeping off the streets is nearly impossible.But for the thousands who are homeless or living in extreme poverty in Rome, keeping off the streets is nearly impossible.
“The message given to stay home is a message that they can’t respond to because they don’t have anywhere to go,” Francesca Zuccari, coordinator of services for people in extreme poverty for the Community of St. Egidio charity, said of the 8,000 people who typically live on Rome’s now empty streets.“The message given to stay home is a message that they can’t respond to because they don’t have anywhere to go,” Francesca Zuccari, coordinator of services for people in extreme poverty for the Community of St. Egidio charity, said of the 8,000 people who typically live on Rome’s now empty streets.
“The problem is that these are the most fragile members of the population, and those who are most exposed,” she said.“The problem is that these are the most fragile members of the population, and those who are most exposed,” she said.
Italy has recorded nearly 64,000 infections, the most in Europe, and more than 6,000 deaths, the most in the world. As the country struggles to contain the outbreak, the government has enacted strenuous new rules.Italy has recorded nearly 64,000 infections, the most in Europe, and more than 6,000 deaths, the most in the world. As the country struggles to contain the outbreak, the government has enacted strenuous new rules.
The essentials of staying safe and complying with the government’s orders, however, are a luxury to the country’s poorest.The essentials of staying safe and complying with the government’s orders, however, are a luxury to the country’s poorest.
How do you wash your hands without a sink? Stock up on food without money? Or shelter in place without a home?How do you wash your hands without a sink? Stock up on food without money? Or shelter in place without a home?
Though soup kitchens and shelters in Rome remain open, the informal systems of support — spare change dropped in a cup, or a paid-for breakfast pastry — no longer exist. The closing of bars and restaurants has inadvertently cut off access to washrooms.Though soup kitchens and shelters in Rome remain open, the informal systems of support — spare change dropped in a cup, or a paid-for breakfast pastry — no longer exist. The closing of bars and restaurants has inadvertently cut off access to washrooms.
“Citizens keep being told to wash their hands,” Ms. Zuccari said. “The homeless don’t know where to go.”“Citizens keep being told to wash their hands,” Ms. Zuccari said. “The homeless don’t know where to go.”
More than anything, the seismic disruption to street life in the city has meant many are going hungry.More than anything, the seismic disruption to street life in the city has meant many are going hungry.
Three days a week, people can receive a hot meal at the soup kitchen that St. Egidio runs from a palazzo in Rome’s central Trastevere neighborhood. On other days, the charity’s volunteers deliver box dinners in areas where the homeless usually congregate, including the city’s main train stations. Every week, the charity distributes 2,500 boxed meals.Three days a week, people can receive a hot meal at the soup kitchen that St. Egidio runs from a palazzo in Rome’s central Trastevere neighborhood. On other days, the charity’s volunteers deliver box dinners in areas where the homeless usually congregate, including the city’s main train stations. Every week, the charity distributes 2,500 boxed meals.
“The delivery meals have increased, because the demand has grown, but they are also a way to let people know that they haven’t been abandoned,” Ms. Zuccari said.“The delivery meals have increased, because the demand has grown, but they are also a way to let people know that they haven’t been abandoned,” Ms. Zuccari said.
On a recent afternoon, the streets of Trastevere were uncommonly silent. The few stragglers appeared to have the same destination, the St. Egidio soup kitchen.On a recent afternoon, the streets of Trastevere were uncommonly silent. The few stragglers appeared to have the same destination, the St. Egidio soup kitchen.
Because of social distancing, fewer guests can sit together at the long rows of tables in the kitchen’s main dining hall, so the charity stays open longer “to give everyone a chance to eat,” Ms. Zuccari said.Because of social distancing, fewer guests can sit together at the long rows of tables in the kitchen’s main dining hall, so the charity stays open longer “to give everyone a chance to eat,” Ms. Zuccari said.
St. Egidio was founded in 1968 when a group of students decided they wanted to help the city’s poor. Ms. Zuccari joined more than 40 years ago.St. Egidio was founded in 1968 when a group of students decided they wanted to help the city’s poor. Ms. Zuccari joined more than 40 years ago.
“I was very young,” she said of that time, when some 70,000 people lived in shantytowns in Rome. “Now poverty is more hidden.”“I was very young,” she said of that time, when some 70,000 people lived in shantytowns in Rome. “Now poverty is more hidden.”
Updated June 30, 2020
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
“In the city, it’s aggravated by solitude,” she added. “People often end up on the streets because they can’t turn to anyone to help them.”“In the city, it’s aggravated by solitude,” she added. “People often end up on the streets because they can’t turn to anyone to help them.”
Ms. Zuccari said that despite the “great hunger,” the number using the soup kitchen had dropped in the past several weeks.Ms. Zuccari said that despite the “great hunger,” the number using the soup kitchen had dropped in the past several weeks.
“There’s the problem of moving around in the city, and even the homeless are being stopped by the police, so they are afraid,” she said.“There’s the problem of moving around in the city, and even the homeless are being stopped by the police, so they are afraid,” she said.
Those found violating the city’s quarantine laws can face fines of about $220 and up to three months in prison.Those found violating the city’s quarantine laws can face fines of about $220 and up to three months in prison.
Many homeless have moved closer to the Vatican. There, the pope’s charity distributes food and operates showers near the colonnade of St. Peter’s Basilica. The Missionaries of Charity, the congregation founded by Mother Teresa, also minister to the poor in the area.Many homeless have moved closer to the Vatican. There, the pope’s charity distributes food and operates showers near the colonnade of St. Peter’s Basilica. The Missionaries of Charity, the congregation founded by Mother Teresa, also minister to the poor in the area.
Charities struggle for money at the best of times, but St. Egidio now needs additional funds for face masks, food and hand sanitizer. Many of the older volunteers, who once staffed its kitchens or distributed box meals, have heeded government warnings to stay home.Charities struggle for money at the best of times, but St. Egidio now needs additional funds for face masks, food and hand sanitizer. Many of the older volunteers, who once staffed its kitchens or distributed box meals, have heeded government warnings to stay home.
On a recent evening, guests at the soup kitchen included a 34-year-old homeless man, who would identify himself only as Arturo.On a recent evening, guests at the soup kitchen included a 34-year-old homeless man, who would identify himself only as Arturo.
“It’s a disaster right now,” he said. “There are many people suffering.”“It’s a disaster right now,” he said. “There are many people suffering.”