An Italian couple living in Fife have been forced apart during the coronavirus lockdown and fear it could be months before they see each other again.
Giorgio Cozzolino, 56, was due to be reunited with his partner of 13 years Marzia Carrai, 55, last month after she visited family in the south of Italy.
However, he said the pandemic and unprecedented border restrictions meant it was now “impossible” for them to meet again.
Italy is under a countrywide quarantine after becoming the worst-hit country after China.
The UK is believed to be in the early stages of the crisis with infections expected to rise dramatically in the next four weeks before peaking in around 10 weeks.
Giorgio, who shares a home with Marzia in Anstruther and studies English as a second language at Dundee & Angus College, said he and his partner had no idea how rapidly the situation would escalate when she left.
He said: “I have not seen her for two months and we don’t know how long it will be until we meet again.
“It’s impossible for us right now. It has been so difficult.
“As soon as Italy had its first confirmed infections, we realised the situation.
“I had to spend my birthday alone last month which was tough. In Italy, family is everything.
“It’s even difficult for Marzia to see family in the next village.
“She says every day there is stranger than the last. It takes time to realise what is happening.
“Everything is changing.”
The pair first met in Tuscany and settled in Fife five years ago.
They visited family in the south of Italy for Christmas before Giorgio returned early due to work commitments.
Marzia stayed in Rosignano Marittimo to spend more time with her newborn granddaughter but they had to cancel plans for her return after a wave of COVID-19 infections hit the country.
Giorgio, who runs beverage business Afrodysia with Marzia and his son Gino, said he was worried things were about to get a lot worse in the UK.
“People here don’t yet know how bad the risk is,” he said.
“We should think about the people who have died alone in hospitals in Italy.
“The UK should do what Italy is doing and shut down now. The economy will be damaged but it’s the only thing to do.
“We can make more money but we cannot make a second life.”
