We in Italy are in the process of emerging from two continuous months of being strictly “confined to quarters.” Most people have paid attention to the guidelines for staying at home, social distancing and wearing gloves and masks when outside. And it has worked, as both the number of virus cases and deaths plummeted to low, pre-lockdown levels.

Today, in mid- May, Italy isn’t even in the top five problematic countries. While parts of the US are only now beginning to see their figures spike upward. So we are all ready to re-open. Under new guidelines, we will soon be able to move about the country, see friends and family, shop and visit places as we wish with no special “self-certification” forms. We will even be able to visit other countries in the EU and vice versa.