Never before has there been such a need to demonstrate that the whole country fully understands the seriousness of Covid-19 infection and is relying on experts' advice.

As Rectors of the Universities of Lombardy we feel deeply touched by what is happening and we have immediately responded to the requests of the national and regional authorities by suspending the teaching activities in the classroom and implementing distance learning, not without a great technical and personal commitment. This allows and will allow our students to continue the teaching programme safely, in order to guarantee them a regular course of study.

Our Universities, usually a place of aggregation and intense scientific and cultural exchange, are now sadly empty, but we want it to be a testimony of how social containment is the only and most effective way to prevent the spread of the virus.

However, the country cannot hold out for long if each citizen does not do their part following the most important principle, which is that of social containment, remaining as much as possible at home and reducing external activities to the minimum. So far we have chased and chased the virus and all this has led to the saturation of our hospitals and intensive care to a level of complexity and seriousness never seen before. It's nice to read about the sympathy and esteem shown to the medical and nursing staff of our hospitals, but everyone must understand that if we don't get the growth curve slowed down with the seriousness of our behaviour, all their efforts will be in vain.

We call on all citizens and residents in Italy, regardless of their region of residence, to follow to the letter and as scrupulously as possible the indications contained in the latest Prime Ministerial Decree and the related implementing provisions.

No one should feel far away or – which is even worse – immune to this serious epidemic that we will only be able to face and win with a common effort, first of all of trust in the experts, then of understanding and finally of action.

Rectors of Universities in Lombardy

Prof. Remo Morzenti Pellegrini – Università degli studi di Bergamo

Prof. Gianmario Verona - Università Bocconi

Prof. Marco Montorsi - Humanitas University

Prof. Gianni Canova - IULM

Prof. Federico Visconti - LIUC

Prof. Ferruccio Resta – Politecnico di Milano

Prof. Riccardo Pietrabissa - Iuss Pavia

Prof. Elio Franzini - Università degli studi di Milano

Prof. Angelo Tagliabue - Università dell'Insubria

Prof. Francesco Svelto - Università degli studi di Pavia

Prof. Maurizio Tira - Università degli studi di Brescia

Prof. Franco Anelli - Università Cattolica

Prof. Enrico Felice Gherlone - Università San Raffaele

Prof.ssa Giovanna Iannantuoni - Università Bicocca