The island to which today everyone looks with fear as a source of new infections, was only in July the healthiest area of Italy according to WHO parameters. The trajectory followed by Sardinia in this summer 2020 is the paradigm of what will soon happen in Italy: just loosen the attention and here the time hands engage the reverse gear and bring back the data of its infections to the black period of the lockdown. Experts will tell you how and why this region has seen its epidemiological situation precipitate, passed in a few weeks from a “covid free” island to a matrix of outbreaks, the last of which – emblematic – that exploded at Flavio Briatore’s Billionaire. But here, step by step, how this situation came about.
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Ports and airports closed in March
As for the beginning of March the government declares the lockdown throughout Italy, Sardinia is only marginally affected by the virus and does everything to keep away from it. The governor of the island, Christian Solinas is among the most resolute in calling for a barrier between his territory and the rest of the country. If the natural obstacle constituted by the sea were not enough, Solinas urges more drastic measures. And he gets them. On March 14, the Ministry of Infrastructure signs an ordinance that blocks Sardinian ports and airports: ships and aircraft move but only to transport goods or people who move for proven health, family or work reasons. There are also rumors of a “flight” to second homes by residents in other regions but the data is not confirmed. The naval and air “blockade” will remain in effect until May 17.
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In July the region is “covid free”
The results of the “sanitary cordon” spread around Sardinia were not long in appearing. The civil protection bulletins record a slow progression of infections, a number of cases very far from that which tragically characterizes other parts of Italy. On July 19, two provinces, Oristano and Nuoro, are already “covid free” according to WHO parameters: in fact, they have not recorded infections for 28 consecutive days. At the end of July, the total cases recorded were 1,388, 134 dead, only 19 active ones and no hospitalized in intensive care. In short, Sardinia is an authentic “oasis”.
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The health passport and the controversy with Beppe Sala
But such a state of grace cannot last long. In May, the lockdown in Italy was over and above all the tourist season is upon us, that is to say the main economic item in Sardinia. The months of May and June are good and “burned”, the attendance in hotels and restaurants is 90% less than the previous year. Everything will be played in the second part of the summer. But how to restart tourism and safeguard health at the same time? It is still Solinas who makes a proposal, that of a sort of “health passport”: whoever lands on the island must show health documentation capable of proving that it is not contagious. A controversy also breaks out between the Sardinian governor and the mayor of Milan Beppe Sala. The latter, when he learns that the Lombards could be asked for an “antivirus” certificate, blurts out in an unfortunate phrase: “We’ll remember …”; only to apologize. The idea of the health passport will end up in the cavalry, even judged unconstitutional by the government.
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More tourism, less school
July thus becomes the month of “free all”. The tourist data remains in deep red, but some signs of awakening appear. The Federalberghi-Confcommercio of Sassari reports a 70% decline in the facilities in the north of the island compared to 2019; in June the same indicator marked -95%. Passengers passing through Olbia airport rise to 138,000, however far from 380,000 twelve months earlier. An attempt is made to save goat and cabbage: the discos reopen but Sardinia is one of the regions that impose (or try to impose) a distance of one meter on the track. Always the Region postpones the reopening of schools by one week (from 14 to 21 September) just to extend the tourist season. But not everything goes the way you hoped.
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August: free everyone, even the virus
In August it is clear that the dam gave way. Tourists peep again and in the swear of two weeks the outbreaks reappear: alla Maddalena 450 tourists are trapped in a resort waiting for the swab, at the Billionaire the virus forces employees to quarantine but is the tip of the iceberg. Vacationers come and go without being tested and many of them only realize they have the coronavirus when they have already arrived home and have had contact with who knows how many people. The mayors try to engage the reverse gear, reintroduce the obligation to wear a mask outdoors, regulate the influx to the beaches, for now without too many results. As in other regions, an attempt is being made to shift attention to other factors. For a few days the scapegoats become migrants (in fact, in the south of the island there are small landings). But at the Cpa of Monastir there are just 25 positive cases. “Sardinia has never had an indigenous viral circulation, all cases are imported” the governor tries to defend himself, to avoid possible restrictions on coming and going on the island.
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21 August 2020 (change August 21, 2020 | 17:07)
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