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Coronavirus: Residents across Italy sing from windows and balconies to boost lockdown morale

One commenter described the videos as ‘humanity at it’s finest’

Louise Hall
Friday 13 March 2020 23:07 GMT
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Coronavirus: People on lockdown in Italy sing together

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Residents in Italy are singing, dancing and playing music from their balconies and windows to boost morale amid their countrywide quarantine.

The phenomenon seemingly began on a deserted street in Siena, Tuscany where a video emerged of people singing a popular folk song down a deserted street.

Since then, videos have continued to emerge of residents all over the country joining in with the show of solidarity and positivity.

A twitter user has compiled a feed of uplifting clips of residents singing, playing instruments and even doing the macarena in a whole host of cities including Florence, Naples, Siena and Turin.

At the start of the chain of videos the twitter user posted: “Italians in lockdown all over Italy are keeping each other company by singing, dancing and playing music from the balconies. A thread to celebrate the resilience of ordinary people.”

The clips have gone viral with the first post of people singing on balconies in Salerno having amassed over 604,000 views.

In one video that says it was recorded in Turin, people can be heard singing along to the macarena and dancing out of their balconies.

Social media users have championed the positive attitudes with one commenter branding the videos as “humanity at it’s finest”.

Another commenter said: “good effort. We are thinking about you. Keep your spirits up.”

“People breaking out in song, lifting each other’s spirits during this tragedy, is an act of striking beauty,” said one person.

Italy announced a complete lockdown that has effectively quarantined nearly 16 million people and shut all shops except essential supermarkets and pharmacies.

The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak rose to more than 1,000 in Italy, and officials confirmed cases increased to over 15,000 on Thursday.

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