'You are not alone, we are together': Italy breaks into song amid virus crisis

Hundreds of people stuck in lockdown in Italy are now banding together in song, with music ringing through empty streets and being filmed for social media.

Milan-based Edoardo Brioschi said the phenomenon of whole streets singing classics like Nessun Dorma from their balconies started two days ago, purely through word of mouth on messaging app WhatsApp.

Tomorrow at noon, the entire country has organised a synchronised hand clap, he said, to thank medical staff who are "working really hard for us all".

"I’m really passionate about music in general and in these hard moments hearing music and singing in the neighbourhood totally gives me a feeling of relief and detachment from reality for a while," he said.

"Moreover, it’s beautiful to see the solidarity of people."

A man in Milan plays guitar on the balcony of his home as part of a flash "non-mob" launched throughout Italy to help people cope with being in lockdown.Credit: AP

Emanuela, a resident of Naples, posted a video on Twitter of hundreds voices singing in unison while the city remains in lockdown.

She said she hoped Italy would be a model of resilience for other countries, but warned against the rest of the world treating the coronavirus "like a normal flu or a joke".

"We are playing music and singing out to communicate something: you are not alone, we are together and everything will be fine," she said.

"Basically we just stay at home and we can just go out for essentials, like to the pharmacy and supermarket. We know it’s a very difficult period, but we are really proud of us at the moment.

"We just would like to be a model for other countries like UK, France, USA. They are taking this virus like a normal flu or a joke. But it’s not."