Black Spring

My name is Francesca Volpi, I am a photographer. I was born and live in Brescia, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. Brescia and its province is one of the areas in Italy mostly hit by the dramatic health and humanitarian crisis linked to the outbreak of Covid-19. According to researches based on the analysis of the data provided by the Local Health Protection Agency and by the various municipalities, the local newspaper Giornale di Brescia has been able to confirm that since the beginning of the declared epidemic, in Brescia there's been 2816 deaths related to Covid-19 and there are 190 thousand people infected, meaning 15% of the population.
Why have Brescia and its province been so affected? The causes are many and interconnected: the failure to close some areas in the southern area of the province where already at the end of February the first outbreaks occurred, the lack of a protocol to ascertain the number of infections, the lack of protective devices available to doctors and nurses, the scarcity of beds in hospital IC units, the inability of the twenty-five laboratories in the area to process and analyze the high number of swaps and the bad management of the residences for the elderly, that have been asked to host the Covid-19 patients discharged from hospitals with the risk of infecting the other guests: more than 600 guests died in the month of March. What are the implications of the epidemic and how will individuals confront circumstances differently?

Brescia

Medical personnel evaluate the case of a man who arrived with an ambulance and declares symptoms that might be associated with the virus, in one of the emergency structures that were set up to ease procedures outside the hospital of Brescia, March 13, 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Brescia

Medical personnel care for patients in an emergency temporary room, set up to ease pressure on the healthcare system, at a hospital in Brescia, Italy, on Friday, March 13, 2020. Hospitals in the worst-affected areas of Italy, like Brescia, hav reached a breaking point, not being able to cope with high number of patients. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Bergamo

A member of the italian civil protection placing a rose on a coffin containing the body of a victim of COVID19, in Ponte San Pietro, Bergamo, Italy. On April 4, 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Brescia

A patient with suspected COVID-19 symptoms being checked in his home by doctors, in Brescia. On April 9, 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Bergamo

Coffins of people who died as consequence of the COVID-19 infection, are stored in the San Giuseppe church in the town of Seriate, in the province of Bergamo, Northern Italy. On April 2, 2020.

Brescia

Medical personnel prepare to evaluate a patient who arrived in an ambulance at a hospital in Brescia, Italy, on Monday, March 16, 2020. Europe's largest coronavirus outbreak is putting unprecedented strain on the Italian health-care system, with hospitals in the worst-affected areas close to the breaking point. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Brescia

A priest giving a blessing while at the phone with the relatives of a man who died from COVID-19, in a cemetery in Brescia, on April 1st, 2020. The funeral was held with no-one else but the priest.

Cremona

A doctor watches over a Covid-19 patient in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital in Cremona, Northern Italy. On April 9, 2020.

Brescia

Doctors who volunteer in the USCA program about to enter the house of a couple, where both have symptoms of the COVID-19. USCA doctors are the one in charge of visiting at home the people that have symptoms, when their family doctor is unable to go. On April 9, 2020.

Brescia

A patient with suspected COVID-19 symptoms being checked in his home by doctors, in Brescia. On April 9, 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Brescia

A patient with suspected COVID-19 symptoms being checked in his home by doctors, in Brescia. On April 9, 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Brescia

A patient with suspected COVID-19 symptoms being checked in his home by doctors, in Brescia. On April 9, 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Brescia

Eleonora, a family doctor practicing in Cologne, province of Brescia. Here portrayed in her home during the times of the COVID 19 emergency in Italy. Friday, March 20, 2020. Photographer: Francesca Volpi

Brescia

The bishop of Brescia giving a blessing to the coffins of those who died because of the COVID 19. The coffins have been placed inside the church of the cemetery of Brescia, which is closed to the public due to the sanitary emergency. On Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Photographer: Francesca Volpi

Members of the civil protection and carabinieri, are seen transporting the bodies of the victims of the COVID19 from in temporary deposit in Ponte San Marco, Bergamo, Northen Italy, on Friday, April 3, 2020. Francesca Volpi/Blooomberg.

Bergamo

In a wearehouse used to stock coffins, in Ponte San Pietro, near Bergamo, Northen Italy. The warehouse of a road maintenance company, turned by the Mayor in one of the temporary deposits in the Bergamo area, waiting to be carried by the army to the crematoriums. Here get the coffins from the West part of the province. On March 30, 2020. Photographer: Francesca Volpi.

Bergamo

Brescia

Patients who either wait to be hospitalized or wait for the result of the tampon in an emergency temporary overflow building that used to be an industrial laundry, set up for the COVID 19 patients only and to ease pressure on the first aid unit, at the hospital in Brescia, Italy, on Monday, March 23, 2020. Europe's largest coronavirus outbreak is putting unprecedented strain on the Italian health-care system, with hospitals in the worst-affected areas close to the breaking point. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Brescia

Medical personnel take care of a man who came to the medical checkpoint with symptoms that might be associated to the virus. March 13, 2020. Photographer: Francesca Volpi

Brescia

A patients being brought into the X ray room in a ward of a temporary field hospital that has been set up outside of the main hospital in Brescia, where are treated and accepted only people with positive to or with symptoms of the COVID 19 virus. Monday, March 23, 2020.

Brescia

Medical personnel communicates with the ambulances arriving at a hospital in Brescia, Italy, on Monday, March 16, 2020. Europe's largest coronavirus outbreak is putting unprecedented strain on the Italian health-care system, with hospitals in the worst-affected areas close to the breaking point. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Brescia

Medical personnel care for patients in an emergency temporary overflow building, set up to ease pressure on the healthcare system, at a hospital in Brescia, Italy, on Monday, March 16, 2020. Europe's largest coronavirus outbreak is putting unprecedented strain on the Italian health-care system, with hospitals in the worst-affected areas close to the breaking point. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Cremona

A medical worker sanitizes her boots at field hospital to be run by non-governmental organisation, Samaritan's Purse, outside of Cremona hospital, in Cremona, Italy, on Sunday, March 22, 2020. Italy banned any movement inside the country and reported another 651 fatalities on Sunday. Photographer: Francesca Volpi/

Brescia

Tents and other emergency structures were set up to ease procedures at a medical checkpoint outside the hospital of Brescia, Northern Italy. March 13, 2020. ((Photographer: Francesca Volpi / Bloomberg)

Brescia

A woman who came to the emergency checpoint with symptoms that might be associated with the coronavirus sits in one of the tents and other emergency structures were set up to ease procedures outside the hospital of Brescia, Northern Italy, Friday, March 13, 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Brescia

Medical personnel works inside the trage tent, one of the emergency structures that were set up to ease procedures outside the hospital of Brescia, Friday, March 13, 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Brescia

People who came to the emergency medical chekpoint with symtomps that might be associated with the corona virus, wait to be checked by medical personell where tents and other emergency structures were set up to ease procedures outside the hospital of Brescia, Northern Italy, Friday, March 13, 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Brescia

People wearing protective masks are seen passing by one of the entrances of the Brescia hospital, in northen Italy, where Tents and other emergency structures were set up to ease procedures, Friday, March 13, 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Medical personnel works inside the trage tent, one of the emergency structures that were set up to ease procedures outside the hospital of Brescia, Friday, March 13, 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Brescia

During a church service with no public at the Brescia Cathedral, in Brescia, Italy. On Saturday, March 21, 2020. Photographer: Francesca Volpi

Brescia

A priest giving his blessing during a funeral in the street, outside the crematory of Brescia. Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Photographer: Francesca Volpi

People wait in line to enter a supermarket in Brescia, on Friday, 20 February 2020. Photographer: Francesca Volpi / Bloomberg

Brescia

Caritas activities at the canteen for poor people. Usually it’s open and people can eat inside in a common room, but because of the current COVID19 emergency, staff members only deliver food to people in a plastic bag. Many poor canteens in Italy have closed due to the emergency in the country. In Brescia, north of Italy, March 23, 2020. Photographer: Francesca Volpi

Brescia

A man on a scooter wearing protective masks is seen passing by one of the entrances of the Brescia hospital, in northen Italy, where Tents and other emergency structures were set up to ease procedures, Friday, March 13, 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Venice

A gondolier waits for tourist in his spot in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi for The Wall Street Journal)

Milan

A young man wearing a protective mask to counteract the possible infection of the ''CoronaVirus' while being checked by security people at the entrace of the Milan Dome. The entrace to the Dome has been rescrtricted to those who wish to pray, whereas tourists are banned for the entire week due to the protective measures put in place by the Italian Government. Milan, Italy, on Monday, February 24, 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Venice

Only two people in a bar on Friday night in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi For the Wall Street Journal)

Milan

A couple looking at their phone wearing a protective mask to counteract the possible infection of the ''CoronaVirus' in Duomo square, Milan, Italy, on Monday, February 24, 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi / Bloomberg)

Venice

Empty tables at bars in San Marco Square in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Venice

Porter Service people are left with no job due to the lack of tourists in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi for The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

Ferries that serve as public transport but also mean of transport for tourists, travel empty on the gran canal river in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Venice

A couple of tourists from France visiting Venice look out at the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge while wearing protective respiratory masks in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi for The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

A couple of tourists film while on a ferry while going through an almoust empty Gran Canal in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi for The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

A view of street vendors stalls in an empty road with behinde the San Marco Square tower in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi)

Venice

A gondolier awaits for clients in San Marco Square in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi for The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

The bar “Arcicchetti” in Venice, that usually has a lot of costumers that fill up the square, is seen almost empty at night in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb 2020. (Photographer: Francesca Volpi for The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

General view of the streets at night in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (For The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

A view of an almoust empty Grand Canal in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (For The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

A view of the most iconic “Bridge of Sights” and an almoust empty canal (which is usually full of tourists and gondolas) in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (For The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

A view of an empty riverside next to San Marco square which is one most visited spots visited by tourists in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (For The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

Gondoliers await for clients in San Marco Square in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (For The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

A view of an empty San Marco Square in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (For The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

Tourists with protective masks pass by a stall in an empty San Marco Square in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (For The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

Few tourists (one of which wears a protective respiratory mask) on the Paglia Bridge, an iconic touristic spot in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (For The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

Gondolas are parked and not used because of lack of tourists, on the riverside next to San Marco Square in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (For The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

A woman wearing a protective respiratory mask looks at some food in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (For The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

Gondoliers await for clients in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (For The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

A view of an empty Gran Canal from the iconic Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (For The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

Tourists wearing protective respiratory masks look at the map in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (For The Wall Street Journal)

Venice

Gondoliers await for clients in Venice, Italy, 29 Feb. 2020. (For The Wall Street Journal)

Lodi, Lombardy Region

At a roadblock on in the town of Guardamiglio in the provice of Lodi in the Lombardy region, Italy, on Monday, February 25, 2020.

Milan

People read the signs that warns people about the temporary closure of the famous Teatro della Scala, due to the measures issued by the Italian Government in regards to the spread of the CoronaVirus in the Lombardy Region. Central Milan, Italy, on Monday, February 24, 2020.

Below: Some of my photos and video testimony featured in this short film by The New Yorker, about how photojournalists are covering the Covid- 19 emergency in Italy.