"Although the evolution of the pandemic is currently unpredictable, our country must prepare to face a winter in which an increased welfare impact could be observed attributable to various acute respiratory diseases, first of all influenza, and to the possible circulation of new variants of SARS-CoV-2, also determined by individual behaviors and the immune status of the population". Thus the Ministry of Health, in a circular issued today to the Regions with the object "Interventions in place for the management of the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in the 2022-2023 winter season".
The circular highlights "the need to intensify sequencing in order to reach a sufficient number to identify the possible circulation of new variants. It is especially important to avoid congestion in healthcare facilities by limiting the incidence of severe COVID-19 illness and influenza complications in people at risk, above all protecting the most fragile people”.
For winter 2022-23, it's “it is essential that the regional health services verify and, if necessary, strengthen the state of preparation in order to face a possible increase in the demand for assistance for SarsCoV2 cases".
The Regions are recommended to check the number of dedicated hospitalization and intensive/sub-intensive care beds to be dedicated to COVID-19 patients, to be identified and activated in a flexible manner:
- based on demand;
- availability and correct application of formalized hospital protocols for the safe management of patients;
- availability and correct application of formalized hospital protocols for the disinfection and sanitization of the living rooms of positive patients in search of the SARS-CoV2 virus; procurement of consumables, instruments, devices, diagnostics, drugs, vaccines, etc.;
- availability of trained and continuously updated healthcare personnel, who can support hospital departments and local services in the event of an increase in the number of cases such as to exceed the current capacity of the healthcare systems and/or the Prevention Departments;
- RSA equipment and procedures e long-term facilities; methods and protocols of home assistance; effectiveness of external and internal communication, including the timely communication of data feeding national information flows.
On December 28, the Minister of Health Horace Schillaci announced an ordinance”which provides for the obligation to undergo an antigenic swab, with relative sequencing of the virus in the event of a positive outcome, for all passengers arriving or in transit from China. The measure is essential to ensure surveillance and the identification of any variants, in order to protect the Italian population. "