“Rt well above 1 in some areas”

Published on: 10/28/2020 9:22 AM

The “epidemic” of Covid-19 “has now spread throughout the country, it is no longer localized. In recent weeks we are experiencing an increase in the incidence” of new cases. LThe contagion rate of rt is greater than 1 in all regions, with some realities even significantly above 1 “. This was highlighted by the president of the Higher Institute of Health (Iss) Silvio Brusaferro, speaking at the hearing of the Senate Health Commission on the Tsunami study on convalescent plasma and territorial medicine in the Covid era.

“We are in this situation after a summer period with limited figures and a slight and progressive increase in September, which in October reached its peak in the last two weeks”, recalled Brusaferro, underlining the importance of “Identify the asymptomatic” with Sars-Cov-2, “It is essential to continue tracking the positive, make every effort to do so and not give up.” “Identifying people who carry the virus is the first frontier to contain the infection – says the expert – tracing people who have been in close contact” with the positives is important. When this measure fails, because the number of cases is important, then it is particularly difficult to cope. “If there are” ten people to contact it is possible, if there are a thousand it becomes difficult. “

So, Brusaferro notes, “An essential point is to keep the curve for new infections below a certain threshold, making sure that people identified as positive are people who can be easily identified and their close contacts can be traced. This is called containment. “. If the number of infections “is excessive and can no longer be done, measures are taken to reduce the number of positives below the threshold, with a containment and mitigation phase.”

In Italy, “the average age of people who get Sars-Cov-2 infection today is around 40 years, in the peak period we were around 60-70 years old, during the summer it was significantly lower, around 30. This tells us who gets sick. And we see that the incidence by age group is very high up to 50 years, even between 50 and 70 years, but fortunately it is still limited for those over 70 “, highlights the expert .

“The protocols developed since the beginning of September are aimed at reducing the probability of transmission in school settings: it is important to be flexible, modifying and adapting the measures according to the epidemiological trend,” said Brusaferro, recalling that the monoclonal antibodies under development against Covid-19 “It is a very important and powerful tool.” There is also an Italian production, in addition to the American one, which will give results in the first months of next year, says the minister. When we have availability, we will be able to treat more seriously ill patients and this will allow us to have much more favorable prognoses. “.

In the coming days a specific document on the use of the tests will be published, “Brusaferro announced at the time.” The reality of today’s tests sees the molecular swab as a gold standard. Rapid antigen tests now exist that work well and have also been proposed in official ministry documents for use in certain contexts. However, the technological research is very fast and I think that in the coming weeks we will be able to have more tests that are even easier to use and this type of test will undoubtedly be of great help ”, he explains.

Then there is the “subject of adequacy. I give the example of close contact with a positive person.” If this person discovers that he is positive immediately and if a close contact finds out about this positive the next day and is tested immediately, “the result is not indicative of an infection contracted by that person. Because we know the incubation time is longer. It is no coincidence that the ministerial recommendations indicate to remain in quarantine until the tenth day and then do the test. However, there is also the concern of the people who affect this. “

Tsunami Study

“As of October 26, 188 patients are included in the Tsunami study” which aims to evaluate the use of plasma by the cured in the treatment of Covid patients, with Sars-Cov-2 pneumonia and respiratory failure, in association with standard therapies. Ironbrush takes stock.

“The study – explains Brusaferro – has had a slowdown in part fortunately linked to the fact that during the summer months the number of cases with indication for treatment has decreased a lot. We believe that with the current situation we can reach the defined threshold faster. “According to the design of the trial,” the enrollment of 474 patients is expected, “recalls Brusaferro. Currently, he adds,” there are 79 clinical centers and 88 centers. of transfusion involved, distributed in 13 regions “.