A man tells about how maddening it was to realize he had made a mistake in giving his mother a kiss. In March 2020, all of Italy shut down. Everything stopped, to try and limit the spread of Covid-19.

There were a few places untouched by the pandemic, for example, near the North Pole. Some people had a hard time getting out of bed. Others became creative.

Going to school remotely from home was hard for everyone, kids and young adults alike, not to mention for the teachers. And, just imagine trying to train to be a ballet dancer. People had to get creative and at the same time, deal with reality.

Italians adopted English words to describe the new system of working from home. They've called it smart working. No one was happy about the virus, but some people could see the bright side. Others were very stressed out and would go on a disinfecting rampage. The worst situation was in hospitals, where health care workers were pretty much flying blind.

During the first wave of the pandemic, working in the hospital was especially grim. No visitors were allowed, so families had to stay close by phone and with a health-care worker helping out. It was hard for everyone.

Living in a studio apartment during the quarantine was especially challenging. Bergamo was one of the worst hit cities in Italy and the rate at which coffins piled up was shocking.

How can you stay fit if you are shut up in your apartment? It's not easy, but it can be done. And what if you're a musician? Your balcony becomes your stage, and the adjacent buildings, your audience.

During the pandemic, children keep being born, which is a a joyous event. At the same time, people, especially the elderly, die with no loved ones around, no closure, no goodbyes. The doctors and nurses worry constantly about having been careful enough with their PPE.

During the lockdown of 2020, cities were deserted. The urban landscape changed drastically and some strange things happened, too.

During the pandemic, there were those who couldn't do their shopping for one reason or another, so volunteers would help out. Some could pay for their groceries, but others couldn't. At the beginning of the video, we're in the ZEN, a housing project on the outskirts of Palermo. ZEN stands for Zona Espansione Nord (northern expansion zone). Towards the end of the segment, we're at Milan's Pio Albergo Trivulzio, a nursing home and hospital where many people died in the first wave of Covid-19.

Despite the restrictions brought on by Covid, people would still graduate from school, they'd get married, and they'd celebrate birthdays. But of course, they would have to get creative. Health workers in close contact with Covid patients would have to find a way to be affectionate with their loved ones without infecting them.

How did Italians spend Easter in 2020? Certain traditions were able to be maintained, but it wasn't easy!

On April 25th, Italians celebrate being liberated from the Nazis. It's customary for Italians to gather in piazzas all over the country to celebrate, but in 2020, everyone was in lockdown. The famous song Bella ciao provides the soundtrack for this segment, as people talk about their experiences, as well as what they are looking forward to when the worst of the pandemic is over.

We come to the end of this story of the lockdown in Italy, told through amateur videos, all gathered and coordinated by Gabriele Salvatores.

Franco Commisso, an emerging Italian artist, talks about his latest song "Mai, mai ormai," [Never, Never by Now]. The interview covers subjects like his early start in music, competing at age three, and his performing in Korea. Video provided by PA 74 Music.