ONGOING STORY – JAN 21 TO DATE — Medicina solidale and Brigata sanitaria soccorso rosso are volunteering groups in Milan providing healthcare consultancy for free due to the Italian national healthcare system currently being overwhelmed because of coronavirus pandemic. The Brigata sanitaria soccorso rosso ("Red relief health brigade") was created ad hoc to deliver free / low-cost antigen tests with the help of the volunteering Medicina solidale healthcare professionals. The swab test activity is currently getting an official accreditation; however, the authorities only grant the "officiality"—they aren't helping the activity financially in any way, not even by reimbursing the costs.

"Tampone sospeso" ("suspended swab test") — Besides having themselves tested, the patients can also leave money for a test for someone else who otherwise couldn't afford one.; this is referring to a Neapolitan habit of going to bar for a coffee and leaving the money for a coffee for someone else who otherwise couldn't afford one.