Pakistani students share ordeal from new pandemic epicentre – Italy

They say virus surge, lockdown affecting studies and mental health

KARACHI: With over 90,000 active COVID-19 cases and at least 10,000 fatalities as of March 29, Italy, the once bustling and vibrant country in the Mediterranean, is fighting an apocalypse of incomprehensible proportions.

It is battling the worst coronavirus outbreak in Europe that continues to take countless lives and shows no signs of abating.

Six hundred and eighty-three, seven hundred and twelve, seven hundred and ninety three, nine hundred and nineteen; the count varies and soars.

Reuters cites Italy’s head of the Civil Protection Agency as saying that the actual number of infected people was even more – probably 10 times higher – as Italy was only testing people with severe symptoms.

The country has been particularly vulnerable to the deadly contagion owing to its vast elderly population also. According to OECD data, Italy has the second oldest population in the world after Japan. And now that the country is entering the third week of nation-wide lockdown, things have gotten complex – marred by uncertainty and fear for its citizens – particularly expats and foreign students.

Italy coronavirus death toll surges past 10,000; lockdown extension likely

Pakistani students in Italy hope that the worst is over but say the looming crisis is affecting their studies, future plans and mental health.

For Maimoona Asif, a graduate student in Cesena, being stranded at home for the past two weeks now is coming across as the biggest challenge. She is fortunate to have done all the documentation before the virus brought life to a standstill but says other students, including her flatmate, are facing troubles in extending their residence permits due to the closure of government offices.

“Biggest challenge is not being able to go out (even for a walk) since March 10 as it's technically illegal at the moment. The only trips I've taken are for grocery. I did go out for a walk in the first few days but afterwards even this has been disallowed,” she says, adding that keeping in touch with her family was a blessing in times of crisis.

“I worry more for them [family] in Pakistan where people don't even seem to be taking this [virus] seriously,” Asif remarks.

She looked satisfied with the measures taken by the Italian government. However, she believes the response was late in coming.

Talking about the increasing number of fatalities in the country she chose to spend the most formative phase of her life in, Asif says she is shocked, distressed and bewildered.

“I was baffled over the deaths and wondered why so many people were dying in a developed country like Italy. But then I rationalized: Italy has a fair share of the older population and they make a big chunk of those who passed away,” she observes, recalling that her heart sank on seeing the videos of army trucks carrying dead bodies in Bergamo, a city in Lombardy region, where the morgues have particularly been overwhelmed.

COVID-19: 683 new deaths in Italy, spread keeps slowing

Another student, Asadullah Khan, who is doing PhD from University of Parma in the field of Robotics, says students relying on jobs find themselves in a “dramatic situation” because of the pandemic.

“I know some of the students who were doing part-time jobs to make ends meet but because of the outbreak, it has now become difficult for them to go to work and pay rents,” he bemoans, adding that for many using public transport, even going to the supermarkets, is now fraught with risk.

Calling it one of the hardest times, Khan says although he has no symptoms, the daily surge in the number of cases prompts him to be extra cautious.

“In my city we have like 60 to 90 new cases daily...we are worried about the mortality rate in Italy which is quite high compared to other countries,” he maintains.

Italy has reported more than thrice as many deaths as China, where the virus first emerged in late 2019. According to data compiled by John Hopkins University, there had been 10,032 deaths in Italy compared to 3,182 in China as of Sunday. Meanwhile, 145,696 patients have recovered worldwide.

Online classes

Talking about studies, Khan says he is managing from home but many students prefer to go to the libraries, which has become impossible now due to the lockdown. He, however, adds that courses have been made available online and the content is well organised.

“The online lectures, in my point of view, work quite well. The professors are responsible and always available,” he says. “Our teachers in Pakistan should opt for the modern teaching methods, work on IT infrastructure and learn from Italy. I believe there is a wide gap between students and teachers in Pakistan that needs urgent attention and can be fulfilled through these measures,” Khan adds.

Ali Memon, a Pakistani student in Rome’s Sapienza University, on the other hand, thinks online classes are limited to certain content and do not necessarily cater to the learning environment.

“This mode of study is not sustainable long term. It isolates students. During online lectures nobody has proper focus compared to routine classes and activities,” he affirms as most educational institutions in the world, including Pakistan, make a transition towards virtual instruction.

Mental health

Memon further said the lockdown and panic situation is creating anxiety in students.

“Concerning exams, there is extreme uncertainty as we now have to figure out the new online mediums. Moreover, the study plans and future career goals are at stake,” he laments, adding that with the economic losses now, employment prospects too look bleak.

“Those coming here for higher studies have targets and plans but they have been greatly affected by the pandemic and the situation that is prevailing now. Many students give up [on their goals] under such circumstances and go into depression,” Memon continues as he pointed out towards an environment of fear spawned by the virus.

Educating people about the preventive measures against coronavirus through videos on his social media accounts, Memon urges fellow students to utilise their time doing something productive in times of stress and follow rules and regulations for safety.

Meanwhile, Indar Valasai, a student at University of Padova, says most of the international students left the city on their own when the cases spiked. He appreciated his city’s response to the lockdown and said it was one of the prime reasons why they were safe.

Solidarity in crisis

Speaking to The Express Tribune, President of Pakistan Youth Council in Rome, Noman Nazir Malik said students in Italy have isolated themselves and are following the necessary guidelines. He said the Pakistani community stands in solidarity with Italy in tough times.

“We are safe and we are fine. Our government and Italian authorities are trying their best to help us...Pakistani students are very resilient here,” Malik says, urging people to not pay heed to fake news and avoid panic.

He added that the council is working on a video to bring all the Pakistani students together to express their solidarity with Italy in challenging times and present a positive, strong image of the country.