Daily contact with friends and family in Italy is giving Wendy Pojmann, Ph.D., a glimpse into what life in the U.S. could be like in the coming weeks.

Pojmann, a professor of history, is an Italian citizen by marriage and has studied frequently in the Mediterranean nation. She is keeping a close eye on how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting the country and its citizens.

Italy’s death toll from COVID-19 is the highest in the world – it’s currently approaching 14,000, with more than 111,000 confirmed infections. It was the first western nation to record a case. 

“It appears that the U.S. is about three weeks behind Italy in terms of cases and the regulations to address it,” said Pojmann. “At first, only some businesses closed. Then all but essential sales such as food, medicine and gas were closed. Then the parks closed. Restrictions on movement have become much more severe.”

Pojmann notes several reasons why the coronavirus has spread so rapidly in Italy: it has the second oldest average population on earth; the generations mingle frequently; many Italians live in small apartments; many towns have been built within medieval walls. 

“The towns are packed with people who like to walk about, who like to meet for coffee and linger. The climate is lovely, and it supports that kind of sociable lifestyle.”

She reads Italian news every day, and reaches out regularly to her 88-year-old mother-in-law, who lives in Rome with Pojmann’s brother-in-law.  Earlier this week he waited in line for two hours to buy groceries, because the store was only letting in a few people in at a time. 

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte imposed a lockdown on March 9; it has just been extended until April 13. According to news reports this week, the number of new cases and deaths in Italy seems to be declining. 

Pojmann is friends with the CEO of the Treviso-based Elektra espresso machine company, located in a northern region with many smaller, artisanal manufacturers.

“They first thought they could stay open, but they had to shut down due to the national lockdown order.”

Another Italian friend is a geriatric physician who has been making house calls to his patients – something that was not uncommon in Italy even before the pandemic. She said he is seeing a shortage of supplies.

You may have seen the viral videos of Italians gathering on their apartment balconies at sundown to sing. Others are creating music and exercise videos to share online to cope with the social isolation and disheartening health care news.

“The Italian spirit, their connectedness, will get them through this,” she said. “The Italians are a resilient and creative people.” 

Pojmann encourages Americans to pay attention to what’s happening in Italy, as it could portend how the pandemic will impact our country in the coming month.

“Don’t think that what’s happening there can’t happen to us.”