It's been two weeks since Gabriele Di Blasi has seen his girlfriend.

A few days ago it was her birthday and she lives less than 10 minutes from his house in northern Italy. But he knows their self-isolation sacrifice is crucial if his country is ever going to overcome what has become the most crippling health emergency in living memory.

"We heard about it on television but it was far away, on the other side of the world," he told Hack.

"Nobody was worried that the virus could get this far.

"Now experts are telling us the peak is yet to come."

Until recently, Gabriele was living a pretty average life for a 21 year old in Europe; studying at university full time and working as a DJ on weekends.

Now he's locked down in the epicentre of the global COVID-19 pandemic that's already killed more than 15,000 people around the world, with a third of those in Italy.

The frontline experiences are just as dramatic as the official figures.

In the worst effected parts of Italy patients are waiting seven hours for an ambulance and already exhausted nurses are having to perform prayers on dying patients because dozens of priests have died.

Young people in Italy took weeks to take the situation seriously and Gabriele is urging young Australians not to make the same mistake.

"Now it's very clear that the whole world has a problem. There are no excuses for ignoring the advice.

"You know how it's finishing up in Italy. Don't wait until it's too late."

Learning the new normal

More than 1,500 kilometres away in Sicily, Sara Arria is also thinking about sacrifices.

She's turning 18 next month but it's shaping up to be nothing like she had imagined.

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Whatsapp 17-year-old Sara Arria is urging Australians to take the coronavirus crisis seriously

Drinks with her closest mates are off and the big party she was looking forward to is cancelled. There's no room for variation in Sara's daily routine now and it's starting to take its toll.

"I'm really frustrated and depressed sometimes," she admits.

It's been a surprisingly quick transition to self isolation for many young Italians. Cultural practises that would have seemed bizaare or even rude a few weeks ago are now deeply embedded into the collective psyche.

"At first I thought it was strange not to get too close to people or not to kiss my loved ones," she said.

"Now, when I watch a movie and see people touching each other I think 'why aren't they following the rules'?"

Sara's advice to young Australians is to get to this point as soon as possible.

"Please stay at home. I know it is really difficult but you can prevent this. It is the only tool we have."

The young Italians agree that the sooner Australians can accept the change in our lives, the sooner we'll be able to return to how things were.

Gabriele Di Blasi says that means recognising everybody has a role to play.

"My advice for Australia is to not underestimate the problem.

"I am absolutely sure that we can win this war and I hope it will teach us to respect the world that hosts us."