What a year for Ashley Young to move to Italy. After nine years at Manchester United, Young joined Inter Milan in January. A couple of months later, with 16 people in quarantine in Northern Italy, Young finds himself in the middle of the worst hit Covid-19 area in the world.
As of now, Italy have reported over 6000 deaths from the coronavirus, and total lockdown has become a way of life. Fears around the world continue to mount that other countries could be in for a similar outbreak in coming weeks.
Young, who has stayed in Milan during the pandemic took the Twitter yesterday to offer some advice on those back home dealing with the mounting crisis, given he's living in the "epicentre of the virus". Perhaps unsurprisingly, Young's advice is clearer, more accurate and a lot more helpful than anything the British government have offered its citizens.
Hi everyone, just wanted to share my thoughts given I'm currently living in Italy, the epicentre of the virus.
— Ashley Young (@youngy18) March 24, 2020
Realistically a supermarket is now your main risk at spreading this virus and even catching it. Speaking with family and friends at home it sounds like going to get food is just crazy. Remember, lockdown means lockdown!
— Ashley Young (@youngy18) March 24, 2020
In Italy going to the supermarket is surprisingly calm... no fights over food, no stripped shelves and most certainly no abusing staff members for limiting food or any reason at all! And in almost every case it’s usually just one person shopping for a household!
— Ashley Young (@youngy18) March 24, 2020
‼ Queuing to go into supermarket is standard, but not because it’s for stockpiling or greed. Supermarkets have limited the number of people entering at any time so it’s never over-crowded! So wait and be patient to go in if your supermarket is doing this.
— Ashley Young (@youngy18) March 24, 2020
‼ Always use gloves from moment you get out of your car! You don’t want to touch trolleys that other hands have been on. Keep the gloves on until you are getting back in the car.
— Ashley Young (@youngy18) March 24, 2020
‼ Always keep your distance at the till. Keep the trolley behind you when you unpack at the till as it stops people from being able to to get too close.
— Ashley Young (@youngy18) March 24, 2020
‼ This may sound harsh but treat everybody that’s not in your household as if they have the virus, you just don’t know!!!
— Ashley Young (@youngy18) March 24, 2020
‼ Most importantly, just stay safe! This is what we are doing here, it’s not an overreaction, it’s staying safe. And just remember others should be looking at you in this way as well. It’s not horrible, it’s a way of keeping your distance to ultimately help save lives.
— Ashley Young (@youngy18) March 24, 2020
Given the state of Irish supermarkets over the last week, it's not just people in Britain to would do well he heed the advice of Young and learn from Italy's experience.
