Italy’s death toll from the outbreak of coronavirus reached 1,016 on Thursday, according to the country’s Civil Protection Agency.
And Australian radio presenter Kate Langbroek, who has been in lockdown with her family inside their Bologna apartment for a week, has shared the stark reality of life in Italy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bologna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, has become a ghost city amid the global health crisis.
Kate, 54, has documented her experience on Instagram, sharing confronting photos of abandoned streets and empty churches, as well as describing some of the restrictions being enforced in public spaces.
Abandoned streets, empty churches, home schooling and sitting one-meter apart at dinner: Australian radio presenter Kate Langbroek (PICTURED), 54, has shared the stark reality of life in Italy amid coronavirus – as the country’s death toll reaches 1,016 with ‘red zones’ enforced
A city in lockdown: On Thursday, the mother-of-four shared a photo of the empty Basilica di San Petronio church at the deserted Maggiore Piazza in Bologna, within the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy
Kate is one of millions of Italian residents staying at home as parts of the country are placed under ‘red zone’ quarantine restrictions
On Thursday, the mother-of-four shared a photo of the Basilica di San Petronio church looking completely deserted in the Maggiore Piazza.
She also uploaded a photo of her eldest son, Lewis, 16, at a local restaurant ahead of its closure due to an enforced lockdown. The plates were spread out on the table to ensure diners weren’t sitting too close together.
‘Today we went to our mate Giovanni’s restaurant for the last time in… we don’t know how long. He’d invited us there to finish his fresh pasta and meatballs before he closes for the lockdown,’ she wrote in the caption.
‘We sat a meter apart from each other in his empty restaurant, as per lockdown decree. Life is good. Challenging – but good.’
‘We sat a meter apart from each other in his empty restaurant, as per lockdown decree’: Kate dined at a local restaurant before its ‘lockdown’ closure, explaining they had to sit 100cm apart
Australia: As of Friday, March 13, there has been 162 reported cases of coronavirus in Australia and a total of three related deaths
Safety precaution: Kate has been home schooling her four children since last week due to the nationwide closure of education facilities. Pictured: Son Lewis and daughter Sunday
Schools in Italy are also shut down, so Kate and her husband Peter Allen Lewis have been home schooling their four children for nine days.
‘There’s no school so kids aren’t getting it [coronavirus] from each other and spreading it through the community,’ Kate said.
Last week, she shared footage of her children studying in their bedrooms, along with the caption: ‘Home school. Day two of coronavirus lockdown.’
Kate’s children appeared to be fed up with the situation, with 14-year-old Sunday asking her mother to stop filming her.
‘We can get to shops’: Despite reports that she and her family were trapped in her Bologna apartment, Kate said they can travel around freely
‘The noose is tightening here’: Kate revealed all businesses that were ‘essentials’ were allowed to remain open during Italy’s ‘lockdown’ period
Kate has also shared a photo of Bologna’s central square, Piazza Maggiore, looking eerily empty without its usual mix of tourists and locals.
Despite reports that she and her family were trapped in her Bologna apartment, Kate said they can travel around freely.
‘The noose is tightening here: all businesses to close except essentials. This means food, banks, post offices – but because it’s Italy – also includes tobacconists!’ she wrote on Thursday.
Kate and husband Peter Allen Lewis relocated to Italy with their four children, Lewis, Sunday, Artie and Jan, in January 2019 for what was supposed to be a ‘gap year.’ They have since extended their stay for another 12 months.
‘Until further notice’: Kate said she was unclear when the ‘lockdown’ in Italy would be lifted
Family life: Kate and husband Peter Allen Lewis relocated to Italy with their four children, Lewis, Sunday, Artie and Jan, in January 2019 for what was supposed to be a ‘gap year.’ They have since extended their stay for another 12 months