- Title: Train passengers from Milan-Florence checked on arrival
- Date: 9th March 2020
- Summary: FLORENCE, ITALY (MARCH 9, 2020) (REUTERS) FAST TRAIN ARRIVING AT FLORENCE STATION PEOPLE WEARING PROTECTIVE MASKS WALKING INSIDE STATION VARIOUS OF POLICEMEN WEARING PROTECTIVE MASKS PASSENGER FILLING PAPERWORK IN FRONT OF POLICEMAN WEARING PROTECTIVE MASK TOURIST WEARING PROTECTIVE MASK TALKING WITH POLICEMEN PEOPLE CARRYING LUGGAGE WOMAN FILLING IN PAPERWORK (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) TOURIST FROM MEXICO, SILVIA GARCIA, SAYING: "The train stopped, we got off and we were asked to fill in paperwork and policemen took photographs of our documents. Maybe if we bring some viruses with us we will be put in prison, we hope not." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FLORENCE RESIDENT, NICCOLO OMNIA, SAYING: "The policemen asked me why I came to Florence. I live here so I can go home. They asked me for the date and time of arrival. That's all." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) COMMUTER, KIM LAURENTI, SAYING: "I saw that people were careful on the train and they kept a distance of one metre on the train. I have obviously seen people wearing protective masks but apart from that the situation is quite normal." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FLORENCE RESIDENT, STEFANO MARINELLI, SAYING: "I did not perceive any risk because the train was almost empty, only two people for each carriage. I am more worried about the supermarket where there are many people. Even in the centre of Florence, there were no people." POLICEMAN WEARING PROTECTIVE MASK CHECKING BAG WOMAN SHOWING DOCUMENT TO POLICEMAN TRAIN STATION EXIT VIEW OF TRAIN STATION WOMAN WEARING PROTECTIVE MASK TRAVELLERS AND POLICEMEN WOMAN WEARING PROTECTIVE MASK TYPING ON SMARTPHONE PEOPLE WEARING PROTECTIVE MASK CARRYING LUGGAGE
- Embargoed: 23rd March 2020 14:49
- Keywords: Coronavirus outbreak Florence Italy health tourism train station
- Location: FLORENCE, ITALY
- City: FLORENCE, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Reuters ID: LVA001C4C00UF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Passengers arriving on the fast train from Milan to Florence on Monday (March 9) were checked by police on arrival and certificates controlled to be sure they had a right of passage.
Many of those on the train were people who had residence in Florence and are allowed to return home, according to the new government decree that restricts movement in order to try and contain a coronavirus outbreak.
Passengers were requested to fill in a questionnaire which asked where they had been, the date and where they were going.
"The train stopped, we got off and we were asked to fill paperwork and policemen took photographs of our documents," Mexican tourist Silvia Garcia told Reuters.
"Maybe if we bring some viruses with us we will be put in prison, we hope not," she joked.
Many people said there had hardly been anyone onboard the train which is normally packed with commuters.
"The train was almost empty, only two people for each wagon", resident Stefano Marinelli said. "I am more worried about the supermarket where there are many people," he added.
Faced with Europe's most serious outbreak of the highly contagious virus, Italy imposed strict controls on travel from the northern region of Lombardy and parts of neighbouring Veneto, Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna.
But even after the government issued unprecedented measures in Italy's postwar history to stop the spread of the virus, a couple was seen removing their masks for a quick kiss.
(Production: Matteo Berlenga, Gabriele Pileri, Fabiano Franchitti) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None