In Italy, four generations in a coronavirus lockdown

In Italy, four generations in a coronavirus lockdown

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Even in Italy, where extended family relations run deep,  Marzio Toniolo's tale of a coronavirus lockdown is unusual - four generations cooped up in one house.

They range in age from his three-year-old daughter Bianca to her great-grandfather Gino, 87. The experience tested bonds of love under the stress of cohabitation, and he believes they have passed the test.

. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
The Toniolo family make a toast, clinking their glasses at home after cooking homemade ravioli.

Toniolo, a 35-year-old elementary school teacher, his wife Chiara, 32, and their daughter, were staying in his grandparents' house in San Fiorano, a small town in northern Italy.

They had moved from Milan, found jobs in local schools, and were waiting for their house in the town to be ready for moving in. Toniolo's father, Massimo, 62, was visiting from Sardinia.

. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
A group of young people hang out listening to dance music on a boombox, by a train track.

On Feb. 21, San Fiorano became part of the "red zone", a cluster of towns sealed off in what turned out to be a futile attempt to contain the virus.

. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
Marzio takes a selfie as his daughter Bianca holds his face while they play “mother and baby” on a rainy day at home.

"The worst moment was when the first person in San Fiorano died. I know the son. I was already under a lot of stress," Toniolo said. "That night, I almost had a panic attack and took a tranquiliser for the first time in years."

. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
On the fourteenth day of quarantine, Marzio’s grandmother Ines Prandini, 85, restarted an old alarm clock she's had for 30 years to "give some sound to this time, to give some life to this time" at home.

The clampdown later was extended to cover all of Italy.

After about a month, Toniolo's father returned home to Sardinia.

. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
Marzio and his grandfather Gino play a game of cards at home.

Things began settling down. But the real concern was Gino, who suffers from short-term memory loss.

"At the start, we were really afraid and did not let him go out. My grandmother used to go to church but when my grandfather started getting worse, she stopped," Toniolo said.

. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
Gino and his wife Ines sleep at home on the 16th day of quarantine.

Gino would go to bed early and wake up at 10 p.m. convinced it was breakfast time.

He could not understand why he had to stay inside and  "coronavirus" meant nothing to him, so the family told him the Spanish Flu had returned.

. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
Marzio's family gather to watch a live broadcast of Pope Francis giving an extraordinary global blessing to an empty St. Peter's Square, where he urged the world to see the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis as a test of solidarity and a reminder of basic values.

The Spanish flu hit between 1918-1920 and people of Gino's generation heard accounts about it when they were young.

"He knew what that was and he started to understand," Toniolo said.

. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
Gino goes for a walk close to his home.

Gino now wears a mask and goes for a walk, sitting on a bench while neighbours keep a discreet, watchful eye.

Bianca also helps Gino adapt. "No, grandpa, there's coronavirus about. You can't kiss me!" she told him.

. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
Marzio takes a picture as he participates in a video conference call with colleagues and the headmaster of the primary school where he teaches, to see how everybody's classes are doing.

Toniolo and his wife Chiara send their students lessons and homework project via the internet.

On Sunday, Italy announced a gradual easing of restrictions.

. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo
Marzio takes a picture of Bianca painting his toenails.

Toniolo, his wife and daughter look forward to moving into their new home when possible, knowing that, if needed, they are just metres away from the older generation.

It will continue to be a family affair.

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Slideshow

Ines takes food from a shopping bag full of food supplIes, as Bianca sits with her mothe.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Ines takes food from a shopping bag full of food supplIes, as Bianca sits with her mothe.

A group of men play a game of cards out on a street.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

A group of men play a game of cards out on a street.

Medical workers, some in protective suits, stand by an ambulance in Codogno.
. Codogno, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Medical workers, some in protective suits, stand by an ambulance in Codogno.

Gino and Ines link arms at home.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Gino and Ines link arms at home.

Ines prepares homemade ravioli with the Toniolo family.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Ines prepares homemade ravioli with the Toniolo family.

Ines brushes Bianca’s hair on a rainy day.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Ines brushes Bianca’s hair on a rainy day.

Gino eats biscuits.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Gino eats biscuits.

Bianca draws a microscopic view of the coronavirus on the 14th day of quarantine.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Bianca draws a microscopic view of the coronavirus on the 14th day of quarantine.

Marzio goes for a bike ride with his wife, Chiara on the 16th day of quarantine.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Marzio goes for a bike ride with his wife, Chiara on the 16th day of quarantine.

Carabinieri military police check documents of a man wearing a protective mask in a car at the checkpoint in San Fiorano, on the 17th day of quarantine.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Carabinieri military police check documents of a man wearing a protective mask in a car at the checkpoint in San Fiorano, on the 17th day of quarantine.

Bianca plays with her doll.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Bianca plays with her doll.

Chiara sleeps cuddling Bianca.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Chiara sleeps cuddling Bianca.

Ines ties the shoe laces of Gino.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Ines ties the shoe laces of Gino.

Chiara has a picnic with Bianca by a blossom tree in the woods 200 metres from their home.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Chiara has a picnic with Bianca by a blossom tree in the woods 200 metres from their home.

Ines helps Gino get ready for bed, with the help of their great-granddaughter Bianca.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Ines helps Gino get ready for bed, with the help of their great-granddaughter Bianca.

A plate of homemade 'pane fratau' - a Sardinian recipe made of a thin flatbread, tomato sauce and pecorino cheese - is dished up ready to eat at the Toniolo home.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

A plate of homemade 'pane fratau' - a Sardinian recipe made of a thin flatbread, tomato sauce and pecorino cheese - is dished up ready to eat at the Toniolo home.

Bianca takes a picture on her toy camera of her great-grandmother Ines while she prepares a meal.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Bianca takes a picture on her toy camera of her great-grandmother Ines while she prepares a meal.

Bianca plays outside wearing a ballerina skirt as Ines sweeps the floor.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Bianca plays outside wearing a ballerina skirt as Ines sweeps the floor.

Prandini adjusts a protective face mask for Gino.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Prandini adjusts a protective face mask for Gino.

Ines organises various medicine.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Ines organises various medicine.

Gino shaves.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Gino shaves.

Bianca plays outside.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Bianca plays outside.

Priest Don Giuseppe leads a mass to an empty church.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Priest Don Giuseppe leads a mass to an empty church.

A notice board for people to pay tribute to their loved ones who have passed away is seen by a wisteria tree.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

A notice board for people to pay tribute to their loved ones who have passed away is seen by a wisteria tree.

A worker in a protective suit carries debris inside a cemetery after it was heavily damaged by a small tornado, in Corno Giovine.
. Corno Giovine, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

A worker in a protective suit carries debris inside a cemetery after it was heavily damaged by a small tornado, in Corno Giovine.

Mayor of San Fiorano Mario Ghidelli distributes protective face masks door-to-door of residents in his town.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Mayor of San Fiorano Mario Ghidelli distributes protective face masks door-to-door of residents in his town.

A man delivers flowers to Ines and Gino at their home.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

A man delivers flowers to Ines and Gino at their home.

Bianca holds a torchlight inside a tent set up in the courtyard of her family home. As they are not able to go more than 200 metres from their home, the Toniolo family went camping in their driveway instead.
. San Fiorano, Italy. Reuters/Marzio Toniolo

Bianca holds a torchlight inside a tent set up in the courtyard of her family home. As they are not able to go more than 200 metres from their home, the Toniolo family went camping in their driveway instead.