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From the chaos of Sant’Andrea to the Spallanzani spaceship. Dreaming of Japan and the return to Asia, where everything seems really finished
Ten days have passed since the “surprise” of the positive swab. Made for pure control, to be able to travel back and forth to Japan and instead … I found myself positive. Even if, for the moment, asymptomatic (but then the symptoms came). So much so that in the end I had to go to the hospital. From initial disbelief, surprise, and let’s face it, a sense of abandonment (remember my first video / article posted here last Tuesday where I complained that no one had contacted me and that the diligently downloaded Immuni app was not working ) I went through a phase of calm and optimistic resignation. I am not the only one in these conditions and, I must admit, I still feel privileged. Especially now that I have “landed” in Spallanzani, the absolute highest Italian, European, if not global excellence in the fight against Covid. It may be a coincidence, but as soon as I stepped foot in here on Saturday night, my unwanted “guest” immediately calmed down. My saturation, which in recent days, at home, had dropped dangerously and “danced” even below 90, has stabilized again, even without the help of oxygen. It will also be a matter of anxiety, for God’s sake, but here the virus knows how to deal with it, and I think it is already intimidated. Now let’s try to expel him definitively, so that soon he will tell you again what is happening in Asia, the continent of the “future” (in fact, of the present, at this point, although few have realized it yet).
The situation in the emergency room: Sant’Andrea
Unfortunately, not everyone is lucky enough to join Spallanzani and he cannot come directly. There is no first aid post here: it can only be reached after going to other centers equipped for Covid, which then treat the most serious patients, who need hospitalization, depending on availability. Where I initially went to Sant’Andrea, I found a dramatic situation (see photo).
The emergency room (with good reason) tries to welcome everyone who presents (directly, because they are sick, or because the ambulance brings them to us) and make an initial assessment. But the patients, at the time of my arrival there were about fifty, are “parked” in the corridors, corridors, a couple of adjoining rooms. The department is full. We do, and in any case a lot, what we can. Despite the situation, after a few hours (in my case about 4 hours), they register you, take samples, echocardiography and computed tomography and make an initial diagnosis with the suggested therapy. Above all, they always have a kind word, a loving gesture, a joke to cheer you up. And it should not be easy, even for them, to stay calm and do their difficult and very delicate work. If you are not too serious they send you home (the problem is that later you have to wait for a dedicated transfer, because ambulances do not take you home and as a positive you cannot take public transport or taxis … and many times they take hours and hours before it arrives), otherwise you will be hospitalized. And this is where the problems begin. Because there are no places in the ward, and staying, as is happening to many patients, days and days in a cot in the emergency room is not a worthy solution: not even for the patients (I saw a lady, alone, obviously with other pathologies as well from the Covid who shouted constantly and who had been forced to tie their hands because they were injured) or by health personnel. To which we must once again express enormous admiration, gratitude, solidarity. It’s not easy to operate in these conditions, with grueling shifts, sudden injuries, and (I’m told) ridiculous tolerances (when there are any). The lucky ones manage to find a place in other hospitals, which from time to time communicate their availability. Like Spallanzani does. Since I’ve been here I’ve been told that the comings and goings are remarkable. It seems like a good sign, because it means that patients arrive, are “treated” and then, if possible, sent home with their home therapy. That is what I hope will happen to me as soon as possible.
Home therapy: special units
Speaking of home therapy, undoubtedly the only truly logical and sustainable solution for a system at risk of collapse, I must say that after my appeal / complaint and participation in the “Pandemic Numbers” program last Monday, things have moved. And I thank the Lazio Region Health Department that took steps to start the service. A friendly and efficient doctor contacted me and made herself available to follow me home. To get the service, you need to call the local ASL, explain the situation, and wait patiently. They are called Uscar (Special Continuity Units for Regional Assistance) and it seems that they are already operational and destined to be strengthened. In my case it worked, I hope it is for whoever needs it. It also works in the same way at the Asl di Belluno, where I have my Italian “residence”, and from where they also appeared, after my “appeal”, with great efficiency and availability, although unfortunately the situation is also accelerating. there.
This is for me. He went from an “anonymous positive” subject to a “multiple scan” and … watch out. Now let’s just hope the situation continues to improve, the therapy works, and that she can return home soon, leaving this precious place to those who need it most.
Europe (re) closes, the East reopens. It is the Asian century
Before closing, I cannot, as a Tokyo and East Asia correspondent, fail to point out that just as Europe is forced to “shut down”, the situation in Asia seems to be really under control. And this is not only in China, “where it all began” (but it also seems finished …), where infections can now be counted on the fingers and where a new outbreak hardly appears, millions of swabs are made in a few hours ( It happened days ago in Xinjiang), but in all, precisely all the countries in the area. From Korea to Vietnam, to surprise Taiwan, where there has been no new contagion for 200 days and where more than 100,000 people legally and peacefully celebrated the annual Gay Pride this weekend. The only country that can afford it. And even “my” Japan seems to have won “their” bet. A bet that in my services used to call risky but that seems to have worked. Right to amend and admit your errors of appreciation. Of course, they continue to make a ridiculous number of “official” tampons: 1,000 in Tokyo, 6-7,000 a day across the country. But the dead do not hide and hospitals do not report emergencies: we are 1,766 dead since the beginning of the pandemic, 102 thousand infected, of which 93 thousand have already been cured. And this without any real emergency shutdown (which the Constitution prohibits among other things): the healthy social-sanitary habits of the Japanese (masks always and in any case, few physical contacts, no kisses and hugs) and their sense of responsibility and education were enough. And after months of borders (with good reason) first sealed, then ajar, since yesterday Japan announced the total reopening to most Asian countries, including China. For European citizens, including Italians, the current provisions remain for now: you can enter if you have a work visa and a residence permit, subject to a negative swab taken within 72 hours of departure. This for now: but the situation could change again, depending on what happens here in Europe. In any case, and it is not easy, although it is always a duty, to admit mistakes, I must confess. Right now I would love to be “at home” in Tokyo and enjoy the splendid scenery in relative tranquility. kohyo, the leaf-change season, with full, yet responsible, freedom of movement. There is no doubt, Asia docet. Do it, let’s face it, one reason.
