On a weekly basis both the the Italian national government and the regional governments are increasing restrictions. In Lombardia we now have a curfew from 11pm. This is an effort to bring the selfish bs who can't consider the effect on others in their families, and consider the aperitif the most important thing in their lives, under some sort of control.

It has been shown that more than 60% of those hospitalised have been infected by younger family members who have not been taking adequate precautions. The fact is that one tends to let down their guard with family members and close friends.

Some specialists are calling for increased restrictions on movement now. The government is "ruling out" a complete lockdown because of the economic repercussions however it is likely that schools will move back to on-line teaching on all but laboratory work. Other restrictions will be put in place that will be the lockdown you are having when your not having a lockdown.

We are already stocking the cupboards and getting things done that could be difficult in another week or two.

We have a small dinner tonight at a local restaurant, only 7 of us at two tables, to celebrate the doctorate of a niece. She has graduated with the maximum possible marks. By 11 the restaurant must close.

Peter, I wish you all the best in Italy! Enjoy your dinner. The occasion is very pleasant. My congratulations to your niece. She can be very proud of herself. Maybe it is one of the last dinners in a restaurant again.

Also to everyone else here at TM from everywhere. We will most likely, no matter where in the world, have a hard autumn and winter. I wish everyone good health for the months ahead. Maybe next year everything will be a little better.

+1

Well expressed Heinz

+2 same wishes from this side of the channel.

Have a lovely celebration meal and wishing you best wishes in the troubled months ahead as we all keep our heads down and hope for the best.

Ditto I hope it goes well.

My sister has a house in W Ealing and a flat south of Rome. She has just comeback from Italy & thought it might be interesting for you to get snapshot comparison of how both countries are coping.

" Just got back from Italy before we had to quarantine. Overall strangely enough Italians are obeying the rules. Unlike here. Went for a coffee in Gails after the gym with Rob. Very obvious that people sat together were not of the same household. Mothers with buggies etc."

It is a bit like that here in small towns. The major problem has been the areas of the so called "movida" in the sections of Milan that cater to the night-life socialisation, pubs, bars, restaurants, etc. This is what has brought about the 11pm curfew.

last night in Naples there was a protest march against the curfew, probably in part organised by criminal elements, that turned into a riot with fires and baricades, empty bottles thrown at police from one side and tear gas and baton charges from the other side.

The protestors are obviously young; masked and hooded to hide their identity. 7 police injured but so far only 2 arrests.

Just been watching one of the many videos posted on YouTube showing the Napoli riots. Other than the fact that most there, chanting for liberty seem to think that it is dictatorship to restrict in any way their liberty to get infected and infect others, their liberty to fill up scarce hospital beds, their liberty to watch, or not watch in most cases, parents and grandparents die, their liberty to block hospital places that would otherwise go to the chronically ill, etc. All so they can go out after 11, not wear masks, stay in restaurants and bars until the small hours. Sensible behaviour for a few months is too much to ask of these empty brained idiots.

That, however, is not the most frightening thing. The comments run to thousands, many of them English , with the vast majority in support of the rioters.

What none of these vacuous mentalities seem to grasp is that their action is forcing the government to rapidly move from restrictions to try to keep control of the spread of the virus, whilst trying to save something of the economy, to a complete lockdown such as we had in March.

In other news the medical authorities in Switzerland have just anounced that very elderly and chronically ill elderly will not receive treatment.

We have a lockdown ehere in Wales for the next 17 days or so. Not allowed to leave home except to go to work if not possible to do so from home, for food, exercise or medical appointments. No meeting up with others inside or outside. All retail shut except for food essentials.

Going to be interesting to see what actually happens. Investigations suggest that as few as 18% of those tracked and traced with covi and told to lock down actually do so, and of course there is no follow up to check on them here in the UK. Took the dog out for exercise ( his and mine) this morning and only one of the people I saw on the streets was wearing a mask. Its failry clear that a major factor in the spread of the bug has been the public's reluctance to follow the advise or even laws given out.