Act I 

Since the month of February, there has been an increasing concern about the COVID-19 pandemic’s evolution.  Everything accelerated the evening before the municipal elections.  To organize the elections, it was necessary to set up a strict protocol:  arrows indicating directions within the voting area, management of voters’ entrances and exits, ban on staying in the voting area, washing with hand sanitizer when entering and leaving.  In spite of the fear of an epidemic, many voters came to vote and respected the sanitary measures.  No case of coronavirus was detected in Oletta that was linked to the elections.

Lockdown

On March 17, 2020 lockdown was declared overnight.  Oletta became a true ghost town where the fear of catching the virus was present in all of us.  No more bars, no more restaurants, no more hairdressers, or other shops with the exception of the grocery store Olittese, Leclerc, Casa de Pan (bakery), Bureau de Tabac (drugstore).  No more people in the streets except a few to go out for a walk in the late afternoon with their certificate allowing them to go outside for one hour.

No more cars, no more celebrations of mass, no more cultural events during the entire lockdown.  The school, daycare center and library were also closed.  The population respected the sanitary measures.

Nevertheless, there were some positive sides:  pollution decreased, and also the noise, which enabled you to hear and appreciate the birds singing and admire nature waking up.

The lockdown ended on May 11, 2020.

The community remained close and attentive to its citizens

During all of this period, City Hall stayed open.  Its administrative and technical service agents maintained their activity either by being present or by remote working for those who could.

All the elected members were present.

All sanitary measures of protection were taken:  Plexiglas barriers were installed in all the offices; hand sanitizers and masks were distributed; the premises were disinfected regularly.

Telephone lines were open, appointments in person could be made.

Meetings were canceled:  assistance center for the population was set up.

Mask shortage

The community had a stock of 5000 masks dating back to the H1N1 flu as well as a stock of hand sanitizers.  The nursing staff was in need of masks.  City Hall decided to give 2000 to the Palmola, 1000 to Bastia’s hospital as well as to all of Oletta’s health care workers who also received hand sanitizer and gloves.  Even though the health risks were the same at the national level, the community was able to buy 5000 masks from China thanks to a Corsican correspondent living in Shanghai.             

3000 other masks were ordered through the Association of Mayors of France, and finally 5000 washable masks were purchased from a company situated in Upper Corsica.

Of course, we must also list the community’s volunteer seamstresses who sewed more than 2000.

This large stock developed by the community enabled all the employees and elected members to benefit from it.  It also allowed the distribution of 3 masks per inhabitant of the community.  The distribution took place by name and the envelopes were put in mailboxes.  That represents more than 5000 masks during a period when it was impossible to find them in a store.

Lab coats, shoe shields and plastic caps originally for daycare and cafeteria personnel were also given to Palmola.

People’s assistance

The crisis center was set up to help the population identify people in the community who were isolated, ill or fragile.  Their phone numbers, accessible day and night, were given to the population through our information and communication system “Info city hall” so that everyone could reach our services and explain their problems and needs in groceries or medicine so that our employees could take care of these requests.

This system, for the entire population, is in addition to City Hall’s complimentary remote alarm for those who are isolated and ill. 

Showing solidarity with food baskets

Partnering with the food bank of Corsica, the Agricultural development Office of Corsica and local producers, the community distributed 80 food baskets to people who were isolated, ill or fragile, five different times between April and June.

These 400 baskets, composed of fruits, vegetables, cheese, meat and wine, were greatly appreciated by those who received them.

Regulatory action of the community 

Given the virulence of the pandemic, especially for the elderly and nursing staff, the community issued a decree obliging all residents of the Palmola and other facilities located in the community who take care of the elderly as well as health care workers of these facilities, to be tested.

The prefect of Upper Corsica asked the Mayor to withdraw this decree on the pretext that, given the state of urgency, this prerogative was no longer within the Mayor’s capacity but that of the government.

Economic action of the community

The economic crisis generated by the pandemic affected business owners and farmers of the community.

As a result, the city council decided to exempt restaurant owners from their public occupancy tax and farmers with leased communal land from their annual usage fee as well as the producers who participate in the market at the convent.

Concerning the project for the Medical Group of Oletta, the Regional Health Agency decided, in agreement with doctors Alessandroni, Duplan and Graziani, to open a COVID center in Oletta.

The center, located in a former daycare center above the medical office, made available by the community, has allowed and still allows patients from Nebbiu and Conca D’oru to undergo a test PCR or serological test.  Afterwards, if the results are suspicious or confirmed the center decides on the most useful measure whether it be a quarantine or hospitalization.

The doctors take turns giving the PCR tests while Virginie Santoni, a deputy mayor and nurse, takes blood samples for serological tests at no cost.

When the lockdown was over, life took on an almost normal aspect with, of course, respect for preventive measures and the ban on organizing gatherings.

As a result, all the programs planned for the summer season were cancelled.

Then came the time when the lockdown was less strict than the first one, then a curfew.

The community, even though it was affected by this pandemic, was relatively not affected.

Unfortunately, we mourned one death due to COVID in our community.  André LECCIA, a former crafts bricklayer and a communal elected official passed away on November 12, 2020.  We keep a memory of a sociable man who enjoyed life, but left too early because of an illness.