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The “model province” is threatened with isolation due to the South African mutant, while the rest of Italy is opening up. Across Europe, only Portugal has an even higher weekly incidence.
In May 2020, South Tyrol was the first province of Italy to reopen, and then it always followed a special path, until now: the Corona tests in November 2020.
Photo: Antonio Calanni (Keystone)
The long self-deception ends, the special path has failed. South Tyrol is rapidly closing everything to control the devastating development of the epidemic in its administrative area. The latest weekly incidence is 763 per 100,000 inhabitants, a very high value. In Europe, only Portugal is worse off. The British corona virus mutation is said to have been in South Tyrol for at least a month. How much it has spread is not yet known. The vaccination campaign is progressing slowly, which is also due to the fact that there are traditionally many opponents of vaccines in South Tyrol. The health system is under great stress. The state government of the autonomous province now had no choice but to impose a strict blockade, for three weeks starting this Monday.
People thought they were “yellow”, but they are “dark red”
Shops, hotels, bars and restaurants, everything closes. Factories and craft shops remain open, but they have to test their staff once a week. Most of the students have to go to distance education. No one can leave their community of residence, except in an emergency. In Bozen, for example, where the municipal limits are almost identical to the city limits, people can no longer even breathe and sunbathe on the Renon, the plateau above the city.
Particularly painful about it: South Tyrol has to close, while the rest of Italy opens. Almost the entire country is now considered “yellow,” which is the most moderate level of danger in the traffic light system. In Milan, Rome and Naples you saw crowds in the streets and promenades again at the weekend, as you had not seen them in a long time, and of course that worries the authorities. On February 15, the ski resorts will begin operating here and there subject to certain conditions. Not in South Tyrol, of all things. South Tyrol is also dark red for European observation points, a red that doesn’t even exist in the Italian Ministry of Health’s color palette.
In the back rooms to play cards, no masks
In general, the South Tyrolese wanted to redo everything according to their own head in this pandemic to prove to themselves and to the world that things are better under control than Rome. Last May, South Tyrol was the first province in the country to break the first blockade. All Italian television stations sent camera crews so they could see the “Model province” and its “model case” reported. In late autumn, when the second wave had already started, it was said that the winter season was being planned as before. And last January, when Rome classified South Tyrol as a red zone, people continued to act like it was “yellow.” Pressure from hoteliers and entrepreneurs has always been stronger than concerns about Covid-19.
“It is a question of solidarity,” says Arno Kompatscher, governor of South Tyrol.
Photo: Alexander Hassenstein (Getty Images)
The general discipline in South Tyrol was always a bit more relaxed than in other parts of Italy. Some did not miss their wedding party, in really closed hotels. At a well-known Val Gardena restaurant, the police recently disrupted a party with 155 guests. Especially in small mountain communities, people did not like to spend too much time wearing masks and keeping their distance. Cards were played in the rooms as before. Now the situation is catastrophic, especially in many small towns.
“Kneel in front of Rome”, headlines the newspaper “Dolomiten”
The abrupt reversal of the provincial government of the South Tyrol People’s Party and the Lega does not convince everyone, despite the obvious need. The “Dolomiten” newspaper ran the headline “Kneeling before Rome”, as if backing down was a sign of weakness. And: “No desire for closure: the economy threatens protests.” The Merchants Association is considering whether to ask people to ignore the lockdown ordinance. And so I felt Governor Arno Kompatscher They urged everyone to see reason with an urgent appeal: “Solidarity is required,” he said. “It is a question of solidarity if we want to achieve the goal of opening up in three weeks.” This is a completely new shade from Bolzano, a much lower one.
