Italy Loosens Lockdowns, Businessmen Divided Between Optimists And Pessimists

JAKARTA - Italy has begun to implement the relaxation of lockdowns as the number of COVID-19 transmission has decreased. The government, which initially only allowed factories and parks to reopen, has now started putting shops, barbers and restaurants on its list of businesses allowed to reopen on Monday, May 18.

As a result, Italy began to get busy again. The streets began to fill with many vehicles. The church has been allowed to resume religious activities. And the coffee shops are starting to look full. However, physical distancing is still mandatory in the midst of all these activities.

Launching Reuters, adding to the list of business activities allowed to reopen by policy owners is a big step to restore the wheels of the economy. To the extent that, the restaurant can serve customers, as long as the owner is willing to put a distance of two meters between one table and another.

Roma Valentino Casanova, a bartender at the Canova Café in the center of Piazza del Popolo, said he was very happy with this policy. “Because of the lockdown I haven't worked for two and a half months. Therefore, today is a beautiful and pleasant day, "he said.

Not only that. The salon that houses barbershop has also joined in since the government announced the easing. The phone calls from customers keep ringing for haircut appointments.

"I already have 150 appointments. Everything is very urgent. All of them insisted that they should be first on the list. In fact, the service will be full for the next three weeks. " says a hairstylist at Courmayeur Stefania Ziggiotto.

Among the many remarks, there were some who were still worried that the policy would not have much effect on their business. Because, the not yet subsiding of COVID-19 still makes many Italians stay at home. Meanwhile, foreign tourists who are important to the country's economy have not appeared at all.

Owner Pierre Alexis 1877 Restaurant in Courmayeur Monica Robaldo is one of them. He admitted that he would not reopen the business until the end of May. "We have loyal customers ... Most of them are tourists. So, temporarily, trips between regions and from abroad are not allowed. There is no point in reopening," he said.

Unlike Monica, the owner of Cocco Caffe in the north of Bologna, Angelo Lombardo, is different. According to him, the government has not maximally socialized the lockdown relaxation policy. "A lot of people just walk past and look outside wondering if they can get in or not."

Even so, he was aware. This is only the first day. "Let's give it some time," he said.