'It is emotionally excruciating seeing them gasping for air while you cannot do anything for them.' - Antonio, an Italian nurse with over forty years of experience.
“Let us unite!/We are ready to die/Italy has called,” is the chilling cry that unites millions of Italians leaning out from windows and balconies. The lockdown was imposed throughout the peninsula on March 11.
These figures convey the epic proportions of an outbreak that is bringing Italy's national health system to its knees. The virus spread to southern Italy, even if not in as high numbers, was helped by the “great exodus” of people who returned from the industrial north to the south during the night the first decree was leaked – the one that would have locked down Lombardy.
The medical staff dealing with the emergency are the ones who are paying the highest cost of this crisis. The shortcomings of the national health system's performance in Italy, given the high number of people who need intensive care, are exacerbated by structural deficiencies. Italy has 12.5 critical care beds per 100,000 compared to the around 29 per 100,000 that Germany has. The country at the forefront of Europe’s battle against the new Coronavirus and the deadliest hotbed, is now planning to build new wards through private donations.
Some governors have requested the entire population to be swabbed in order to get the real proportions of the contagion, but doctors agree on the futility of that operation at this stage.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Italy is requesting US military support for coronavirus battleThe novel coronavirus has sent countries worldwide into lockdown and threatened the global economy. Follow here for the latest news and live updates.
Read more »
Italy Shuts Down All Non-Essential Manufacturing Activities To Fight Coronavirus EpidemicItaly’s prime minister Giuseppe Conte said the measure will be instrumental to fight Italy’s biggest crisis after Second War World.
Read more »
Italy bans internal travel as death toll rises a further 651Italy banned travel within the country on Sunday in yet another attempt to slow ...
Read more »
Russian army to send coronavirus help to Italy after Putin phone callThe Russian military will start sending medical help to Italy from Sunday to help it to battle the new coronavirus after receiving an order from President Vladimir Putin, Russia&39;s Defense Ministry said in a statement. Putin spoke to Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Saturday, the Kremlin
Read more »
Italy coronavirus deaths jump by almost 800, government shuts most workplacesItaly ordered that all businesses must close until April 3, with the exception of those essential to maintaining the country’s supply chain
Read more »