When the Covid-19 outbreak broke out in China, a wave of boycotts of Chinese descent erupted in Italy. But now it is Italy's turn to "turn away".

After China became the largest outbreak of Covid-19 in the world, visitors from this Asian nation were shunned, abused, and even violent in Italy. Chinese restaurants here have also become empty because of the fear of nCoV. Italy is also the only country in Europe to ban all direct flights from China.

But now the European nation itself becomes the world's third largest outbreak of Covid-19, with more than 1,100 cases and 29 deaths, making Italians abroad subject to alienation immediately. , rejection.

Many countries have banned travel from Italy. While some other countries, including China, require a 14-day quarantine for those who have been in Italy recently.

Gabriele Battaglia, 53, was on her way from Milan, the capital of Lombardy, the center of Covid-19 in Italy, to Beijing when Chinese authorities announced a new isolation policy earlier this week. He is currently quarantined in China.

"Everyone is shocked. But I understand what China is doing. They need to isolate all those who come from the" black spot "of the Covid-19 translation, just like what they did to the people from. Hubei, isolated by other parts of China, "said Battaglia, who has worked for Swiss television and lived in Beijing for nine years.

"Now to them, Italy is almost like Hubei," he added, adding that he had to measure his body temperature twice a day to report it to local officials.

Since the outbreak in Italy on February 20, officials in the country have asked to limit the crowds and close schools in the north of the country. 11 towns in the Lombardy region are also blocked off with many security posts controlling access to the area.

However, the above measures did not prevent the Covid-19 epidemic from spreading to Sicily in southern Italy, crossing the Alpine mountains to Switzerland and appearing in the Spanish archipelago of Canary, a favorite tourist destination for Italian tourists. . Despite the rapid spread of the epidemic, Italy still opposed the proposal to allow European Union (EU) countries to close its borders to prevent Covid-19.

"The idea of banning Italian citizens from entering is unacceptable anywhere and of course in all 27 EU member states," said Vincenzo Amendola, Italy's Minister for European affairs. , speaking at a meeting with the EU ambassador in Rome earlier this week.

Romania also now requires a two-week quarantine for anyone from nearby Lombardy and Veneto regions. Hungary announced the inspection of all vehicles that cross the land border and demanded the isolation of people with signs of nCoV infection, not just Italians.

Outside the EU, more and more countries have announced their closure to the Italians, including Mauritius and the Seychelles, popular sea destinations with Italians, along with Saudi Arabia and Israel. On February 27, Israel forced an Alitalia plane to return to Rome after landing and only allowed Israeli passengers to enter.

"Hopefully at least we can get the money back," one passenger told reporters upon landing in Rome.

Meanwhile, many other Europeans avoided Italy, causing the number of tourists to decline so that airlines canceled flights and trains in Italy were almost deserted. Soccer matches and other sporting events involving Italian teams are canceled or postponed.

Many Italians realize they are no longer welcome.

"I feel so humiliated. I was disrespectful and bullied for no reason, just because I am Italian," Cristiano Giuriato, a bar waitress in Madrid, Spain, wrote on a Facebook post after a patrons gave him a mask and asked to wear it.

Weeks after the outbreak of Covid-19 in China, Asians or Asian-speaking speakers were also the target of similar discriminatory actions. In an widely shared video online, an Italian told Chinese tourists in Florence that "go home and cough". A cafe near the Trevi fountain in Rome banned Chinese tourists, causing a wave of outrage.

Tensions even escalated among regions in Italy. Nearly all nCoV infected people in Italy are in the wealthy north and southern people are required to stay away from them.

"They are traveling here but they should be staying in quarantine. You should be ashamed of yourself," said a resident of Ischia Island off the coast of Naples when he saw tourists coming from northern Italy.

Italy has issued no travel ban except for the blockade of 11 towns in the Lombardy and Veneto regions. Italy also does not require medical examination for people from affected areas to other parts of the country. However, this policy may change soon.

"How can travelers from Lombardy and Veneto arrive at the airport without having a medical check on them? It would be nice if no travelers from the north came here," said Nello Musumeci, Silicy governor. after detecting several nCoV infections in the Lombardy region on the island earlier this week.