Milan, the fashion capital of Italy, has not yet been blocked by pneumonia but has become quiet.

Schools, restaurants, bars, landmarks in the city of Milan, the capital of the Lombardy region simultaneously close, hourly or all day. Private companies, including insurance company Generali, UniCredit bank, Armani fashion brand all allow employees to work from home, instead of going to the office.

"Everything seems to stop completely this week. If Northern Italy stops working, so will Italy," said Leonardo Miri, 48, IBM Corporation employee after leaving the company headquarters for the ceremony. Tan said no one came to work.

Although not blocked, Milan was still seriously affected after Italy recorded many cases of nCoV concentrated mainly in the towns around the city considered to be the most dynamic, economic machine and the capital city. chemistry of this country.

Although not to the extent of panic, anxiety is covering Milan, not only because of the spread of the corona virus but also its impact on the economy and life of the city. Impacts on the Lombardy region would threaten the weak economy of the rest of Italy.

The influence of nCoV is increasingly widespread. 10 towns in the south and one town in east Milan in the Lombardy region have been frozen. The number of nCOV infections continues to rise to more than 200, with 6 deaths and all of them elderly.

Even before witnessing an increase in the number of cases, the corona virus began to devastate wealthy industrial lands in northern Italy, where the city of Milan was located. Now, greater economic impacts are gradually taking shape.

"The crisis that is happening these days will certainly impact Italy's economy," said Marco Barbieri, general secretary of Confcommercio Milan's leading trade association.

Milan contributes 10% to the Italian economy and the Lombardy region is more than 20%. The Milan stock market fell more than 5% in the close on February 24 for fear of what might happen if the virus spread.

The decision to suspend all flights to and from China made by the Covid-19 epidemic in late January disrupted the supply chains of Italian businesses with branches in China or markets there. Mr. Barbieri estimated that profits of import-export companies with China would decrease by 20%.

On the evening of February 24, the bustling and bustling Chinese neighborhood in Milan, where business was down due to fear of the corona virus, was almost deserted when local authorities ordered all bars and coffee shops to close. 6pm.

"The situation we are going through is really worrying," Giorgio Armani, the designer who plays an important role in the Milan fashion industry, wrote in an email. He said he needed to be responsible for shutting down all the company's factories and offices in Italy, while also complying with regional precautions.

"Last month, I canceled all unimportant trips to and from China for fear of corona virus. I hope that the situation will return to normal as soon as possible. At that time, I will be the first. reboot, "he added.

But for now, getting back to normal life seems a long way off.

Although neighboring European countries do not close their borders with Italy, they still fear being ostracized. Mauritius Island of Africa refuses to accept passengers of Alitaia Airlines from northern Italy, if they do not quarantine.

This also occurred in Italy itself when infections occurred in many different areas. In the Basilicata region of southern Italy, the area long considered obsolete compared to the wealthy north, announced isolation from all people from the north.

"If such moves spread, the whole of Italy will cease to function. Everything that happens in this country is stopped," said Attilio Fontana, governor of Lombardy.

Italian officials have not found the cause of corona virus spread so strong in the north. They are focusing on the activity of the unnamed man infected with the virus, known as the "No. 1 patient", currently treated in the blockade town of Codogno. But "Patient No. 0" remains a mystery, giving rise to the feeling that the corona virus is out of control.

Milan, a city full of energy, creativity and charm, has begun to feel paralyzed. "You can see the difference," said Schynaider Garnero, 30, a Brazilian model, standing outside the Armani Hotel yesterday morning.

Garnero came here to attend Armani Fashion Week but it was delayed. "There are very few people walking on the street and a lot of people have left," she said.

Zeynep Kokrerek, 21, is really anxious to leave this city. Leading Bocconi Economic University in Milan, where Kokrerek is attending, canceled all classes next week. Kokrerek had booked a ticket to Turkey on the morning of February 25 for fear of being stuck in Milan, if the government ordered the blockade.

She said no pharmacy, including where she just left, also a mask to sell. She also added that there are many Chinese students in Bocconi and many of them have just returned to school after the Chinese New Year holidays. They all often study together at the library.

"We don't feel safe," she said.

"All of the students from southern Italy left the school. So were the French friends. They were all leaving," added Kokrerek's friend Tara Kamer, 20.

Many internet users also mocked Milan's plight, including the painting of "The Last Supper" by painter Da Vinci becoming a banquet table. Lombardy Governor also warned thieves who took advantage of the situation to sneak into people's homes, wearing suits and pretending to be public health officials.

Some Milan residents said they were trying to curb their fears.

"It's a plague," Graziella Madda, 55, joked while standing outside the dry cleaner's shop next to the San Carlo al Lazzaretto church, which was once the plague-housing area surrounded by a moat in the 15th century. The church was also the setting in the famous novel "The Betrothed" by writer Alessandro Manzoni, in which doctors and officials defeated the plague disaster in 1630.

Madda said that although it was necessary to close the bars and cancel the events, she decided to open her shop because Milan was the driving force to maintain the operation of Italy. "We have to move forward," she said.

But tourists in Milan feel the city seems much more lonely. At Duomo cathedral, Nichola MacGuinness, visitors from Frankfurt, Germany to Milan with their families on February 23, read the announcement at the entrance that the church was closed on February 24-25 and may take longer depending on actual situation.

"It was scary," she said, expressing her disappointment at the closure of the church, though she understood that this was probably a good thing.

"We walked a lot, looked at everything outside and made a list of places to visit when we came back again," MacGuinness said, adding that "it might be something we have to practice living with." .

Outside the La Scala theater, two women from Naples, south of Italy, sat on a bench in the sunlight and complained about the deserted city. "This is a bad time to travel," Maura Rivitera shrugged.

She changed her flight ticket earlier to return south because she was worried that her Campani region might be the next place to refuse people from the north, or ask them to quarantine if the situation in Milan gets worse. .

As a teacher, Rivitera is considering whether to isolate herself or not because her students are waiting for her return. However, she and her friend did not let that affect the vacation in Milan.

"Last night we were dancing at a disco called Spirit," said Eleonara D'Elia, a friend of Rivitera.

"This is crazy," Rivitera said.

"There are not many people there so there are many dance rooms," D'Elia added.