Matteo de Mayda

Vo’, a community gets tested

Vo’ is a small town in Veneto, Northern Italy, in which the first European victim of COVID-19 was registered in February 2020. By testing all its inhabitants early on, it has managed to stop the contagion and has now become a living laboratory to study the Coronavirus.

Vo’ is a small town in Veneto, Northern Italy, in which the first European victim of COVID-19 was registered in February 2020. By testing all its inhabitants early on, it has managed to stop the contagion and has now become a living laboratory to study the Coronavirus.
The investigation on the entire population directed by Andrea Crisanti, full professor of Microbiology at the University of Padua, was unprecedented and has become an international model published on Nature science journal.
The story of Vo’ is one of a community coming together to save itself and help humanity make one step forward.

Professor Stefano Merigliano at the University of Padua, conducted analysis on all the citizens of the town. Vo’, Padua, Italy, 2020
Saliva and nasal swab. Vo’, Padua, Italy, 2020
The grave of Adriano Trevisan, 78, first certified European victim of COVID-19. Back in February, the small town of Vo’ was among the first areas to be cordoned off in Italy because of the pandemic and the place where the first European victim of COVID-19 was recorded. Andrea Crisanti, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Padua, offered to test all 3,100 citizens of the town, and 95% of the population agreed to participate. The town became a living laboratory to study the coronavirus. Such a thorough investigation of an entire population contributed to quickly zero the contagion in the town and advance the state of the research about the virus worldwide. Vo’, Padua, Italy, 2020
Alessandro, 63, alpine and retired, helps the district of Vo’ in the masks distribution. Vo’, Padua, Italy, 2020
April 2020, Vo’ (Padua), Italy - Giuliano Martini, Mayor of Vo’, in front of G.Negri Primary School, where all the inhabitants of Vo’ were tested. Vo’, Padua, Italy, 2020
Andrea Crisanti, virologist and professor of the University of Padua, father of the "Veneto model", conducted analysis on all the citizens.Vo’, Padua, Italy, 2020
Alberto Sarto, 6 years old, undergoing a nasal swab test at the G. Negri Primary School. Back in February, the small town of Vo’ was among the first areas to be cordoned off in Italy because of COVID-19 and the place where the first European victim of COVID-19 was recorded. Andrea Crisanti, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Padua, offered to test all 3,100 citizens of the town, and 95% of the population agreed to participate. The town became a living laboratory to study the coronavirus. Vo’, Padua, Italy, 2020
Elodia, volunteer nurse at G. Negri Primary School, where all the inhabitants were tested. Vo’, Padua, Italy, 2020
Juliana Cristina Grigorescu undergoing a nasal swab test at the Primary School. Back in February, the small town of Vo’ was among the first areas to be cordoned off in Italy because of COVID-19 and the place where the first European victim of COVID-19 was recorded. Andrea Crisanti, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Padua, offered to test all 3,100 citizens of the town, and 95% of the population agreed to participate. The town became a living laboratory to study the coronavirus. Vo’, Padua, Italy, 2020
Queue of the inhabitants of Vo' outside G. Negri Primary School, where all the community of Vo’ were tested. Vo’, Padua, Italy, 2020