Gold Coast‘s Umberto Cardamone flees Italy to dodge coronavirus but holds grave fears for family left behind

A Gold Coast man has given a terrifying account of his trip home from the epicentre of the latest coronavirus outbreak.

LONGTIME Gold Coast Italian Umberto Cardamone is relieved he fled Italy just 24 hours before the country was placed in lockdown but now fears for the health of his 85-year-old grandma.

In a drastic bid to halt coronavirus, 60 million Italians are forbidden to leave home until April 3.

Australia has just banned travellers from Italy, with citizens and permanent residents being asked to self-isolate for a fortnight.

“I’m seriously worried about her because although people aren’t allowed to leave their homes it’s hard to stop them. She’s a tough lady but I’m quite worried because it doesn’t look like they’ve got it under control in Italy,” he said.

The ex-staffer at Costa D’oro Italian restaurant in Surfers Paradise flew out of Italy on Sunday after three weeks visiting. He spent most of his time visiting family in Turin, 90 minutes from Milan.

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Italo-Australian Umberto Cardamone on a flight from Milan to Dubai. Picture: Facebook of Umberto Cardamone

He said all of the 300 or so airline passengers from Milan to Dubai were wearing protective masks, with some taking extreme precautions.

“There was a group of three women, heading back to Beijing, who each had two face masks on. But when a meal was served they had to take them off so they put plastic bags over themselves before removing their masks to eat – it was a bit crazy,” he said.

Umberto Cardamone said on his flight back from Milan to Dubai all passengers were wearing protective masks, some took measure to extreme and wore plastic bags. Photo: Supplied

“When we landed we were not allowed to leave the plane because doctors with medical equipment boarded and checked our temperature one by one at the door.

“I was cleared and went to catch my connecting flight, some people were not and were taken to a different area; I don’t know where they went.”

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Mr Cardamone said on the Dubai-Brisbane flight, no crew had protective wear and only a handful of passengers had face masks. On arrival, passengers were taken to a room and checked for signs of illness. He was cleared.

Umberto Cardamone said on his flight back from Milan to Dubai all passengers were wearing protective masks. Photo: Supplied.

“Back home (in Italy) people can’t work, which means they can’t pay bills. Friends who run beauty salons, restaurants and bars are trying to find out if the Government is going to help,” he said.

Weddings and funerals are banned and his retired parents read books or watch TV as they can’t go outside.

“I’m really pleased to be back in Australia,” he said.

Italy has the highest number of confirmed infections outside China.