Six days after the appearance of the virus in Italy, the infected infected reached 424, 12 died. The health minister Roberto Speranza in his urgent briefing last night in the Chamber: "At first they seemed distinct but proved to be connected". According to the special commissioner for the emergency Angelo Borrelli, over half of the positives do not need hospital treatment, among the infected 221 are in home isolation and 128 are hospitalized with symptoms, of these 36 in intensive care. Three of them healed. On 10 thousand swabs made less than 4% were successful, said the director of the Superior Health Council Franco Locatelli.
WHO said yesterday that new cases of coronavirus are more numerous outside China, an important signal that the peak has already been reached there: a epidemic is now expected to decrease.
In Europe and the Middle East, especially in Iran - 139 infected with 19 deaths -, with infections recorded in Pakistan, Georgia, Lebanon, Kuwait, Iraq and Bahrain. In Seoul there are 1.261 sick and 12 victims.
Il German Health Minister Jens Spahn admits: "We are at the beginning of an epidemic in Germany”, Where there are 18 infections, not all connected to Italy. Fourteen cases in France, where after two deaths there are fears of a rapid spread of the virus in the Channel region. And if Israel thinks of the quarantine for those arriving from Italy, Kuwait evacuates the compatriots from our country.
Tampons only with symptoms
The decision to change lines and not swabs on "asymptomatic" citizens was taken two evenings ago, in a night meeting, at the end of a day marked by the stance of numerous governments that have decided to ban or otherwise limit entry of Italians beyond their borders.
A choice dictated by the lack of devices, but also by a need for communication as an "own goal" was made: highlight the fact that Italy had a high number of positive results because unlike other European countries it performed a number much higher than testing. Basically we have advertised excessively, even if not necessary, causing irreparable damage to the Italian economy.
Palazzo Chigi and the Ministry of Health have also evaluated the possibility of providing only the numbers of patients who tested positive for the verification of the Higher Institute of Health and not the first analyzes carried out in the hospitals and laboratories of the various Regions.
But then with the passing of the hours it was realized that it would not be possible to keep the situation under control and it was decided to continue to provide the updated financial statements, not to be accused of wanting to hide the real situation.
Politics think of an institutional government
Matteo Salvini, faced with the danger of recession, especially in the northern regions, made it known that he had asked for a meeting with the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, letting it be known that he was willing to have a government of purpose provided that with a certain date for vote that, however, technicalities in hand, will not take place before spring 2021. Even the Democratic Party is thinking of a way out, writes the Corriere della Sera, given that the governors and entrepreneurs of the north are already on a war footing.