Couple from Italy in Chattanooga give perspective on coronavirus situation

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Like most people, Peppo and Jane Biscarini probably had no idea just how severe the spread of coronavirus was going to get when they decided to leave home in southern Italy to come to Chattanooga.

“We treat it lightly at first. People were still gathering together, having parties, coming together, you know, ‘hey let me kiss you on the cheek’ and you know that was the kiss of death, literally,” Peppo said.

In Italy, there have been tens of thousands of cases and over 6,000 deaths, but the rate of new cases seem to have started to slow.

And, Italians have been under a strict lockdown.

“They’re using drones to monitor different areas. So if you’re caught going on the street without a specific reason I.E. you’re not going shopping, grocery or you’re not going to a pharmacy, you can have fines up to 4,000 euros which is about 4,600 dollars. So people are taking it much more seriously and I think that why there’s also been some of that decline,” Peppo said.

The Biscarinis have remained in contact with friends and family who live in the country.

They said the restrictions have been a big adjustment.

“They have a very different cultural norm whereas we love to open our doors, have friends over, our friends kids are over. They typically do all that out on the streets in the piazzas. They don’t typically gather in homes,” Jane said.

Though separated, residents have still found ways to connect.

“One of the guys that we are working with, we’re mentoring,” Peppo said. “He did this about four days ago at 6 p.m. he just put some loud music outside on the balcony and people were listening. So they say okay we’ll see you tomorrow at 6 again so he put more music and so now he’s doing a full on DJ gig.”

The Biscrinis have some friends in Italy who are currently infected with COVID-19 and others who are on the mend.

They urge people in the U.S. to take the virus seriously.

The couple came to Chattanooga for the birth of their first grandchild a few weeks ago.

They were supposed to go back home at the end of this month, but flights were cancelled.

Now, they’re set to head back in April.