Two Italians living in Shenzhen handed out free hot pizzas, roasted sausages and potatoes, and beef soup to medical workers and community staff in the Shazui control area, Futian District yesterday, supporting frontline workers who brave the rain and cold every day in the fight against COVID-19.

The pizzas and snacks that could serve more than 30 people were made by chefs in Shark Wine Lounge & Restaurant in Shopping Park yesterday morning and brought by Giuseppe Cerza, one of the restaurant owners, and chef Raffaele Capuano.

Giuseppe Cerza (2nd L), Raffaele Capuano (2nd R) and two community staffers pose for a photo in the Shazui control area. Photos from Daily Sunshine

Futian District designated a lockdown area, a control area and a COVID-19 prevention area in Shatou Subdistrict on Feb. 16 due to COVID-19 cases. “We were moved to see two foreign friends bring handmade hot pizzas to the control area, where residents must stay in their residential compounds until further notice,” said Ge Yanqi, Party chief of Shazui Community.

“It’s very cold these days, coupled with constant rain. Seeing that the COVID-fighting workers in Shenzhen are working so hard under these conditions, our restaurant decided to do something, just a small gesture of appreciation; we are very touched by the people’s persistence fighting against the pandemic,” Capuano told Shenzhen Daily. “We hope to give them a hot and full meal with these handmade pizzas.”

Living in Shenzhen for almost 10 years, Capuano has not been back home in Italy for three years due to the pandemic. He said Shenzhen did a great job in preventing and combating COVID-19, which makes him feel very safe here.

Cerza has also been living in Shenzhen for more than 10 years, co-owning Shark with Riccardo Romboli, and owns AZZURRO Italian Restaurant Homemade in Shopping Park and OH Bay.