"We've been talking about it for months, so we decided to lighten the mood," Feeling Bar manager Cristina Mattioli told AFP.

¨Evietato parlare di coronavirus¨ 

The order is posted on a card on the counter of this small bar on the outskirts of Rome: talks about coronavirus, confinement and virology-related matters are prohibited

To help clients, Cristina Mattioli posted another poster with ideas for talks, including history and culture.

"It's a sensible initiative, I would even say indispensable", says hairdresser Maurizio Ciocari, another regular client. "We must stop talking about it and solve the problem, not talk about it".