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“What did we do wrong? Many regions have not done what they had to do this summer to adapt the system, today we are paying the consequences. We have a few weeks to intervene. We need local closures, even regional ones, because the curfew does not work, We have seen it with the poor results of France ».
Teacher Walter Ricciardi, an advisor to the Minister of Health and Professor of Hygiene at La Cattolica, he is part of the group that, even when the curve fell, invited people to keep their guard up; In recent weeks, he has repeatedly explained that the growth rate of new cases and hospitalizations was unsustainable, but he himself did not expect that in such a short time we would reach 20,000 new positive cases a day. Bringing the curve of infections and especially hospitalizations to less significant numbers now will be very, very complicated.
Professor, how worried do we have to be?
“Let’s put it this way: on a scale of 1 to 10, my level of concern goes up to 9.”
READ ALSO -> Covid France, new contagion record: 45,422 in 24 hours. The victims are 138
what did we do wrong? Why are we in such a difficult situation today? This summer we thought the worst was over.
«The approach of the Regions was incorrect. Health Minister Roberto Speranza had drawn up a five-point plan on what to do after the first phase to secure the Italian health system. This plan has been greatly underestimated, in particular some Regions have completely ignored it.
What was the plan for?
“It was the minister’s recovery plan. As mentioned, it was developed in five points. They spoke of the behaviors to respect; Covid Hospitals was financed, therefore, for structures dedicated exclusively to patients with this pathology; Resources existed to restructure emergency rooms so that there were different avenues for cases. COVID-19; We are also talking about financing for the strengthening of territorial medicine, therefore for general practitioners and for follow-up and home care services; finally, it was necessary to focus on technological monitoring, for a greater dissemination of the Immuni application. All these things have often not been done and today we are paying the consequences.
How can we deal with the situation today?
“You may remember that two weeks ago I said that with countermeasures we could stop an epidemic that would have led to 16,000 cases a day by Christmas. In fact, we had all 16,000 cases on Thursday. This is clearly an unsustainable rate of growth. With every day that passes, without very strict measures being taken, the situation worsens. At this point, containment measures are no longer sufficient, mitigation measures are needed. ‘
What does that mean?
“They are needed emergency shutdown aimed at certain provinces or even regions. In other words, if we don’t make selective closings promptly, we will soon be forced to resort to widespread closures. ‘
When you talk about selective closures, are you referring to certain categories or time slots, or to areas that must be protected?
“I’m talking about geographical areas.”
Bottom line: it’s more important to focus on tight shutdowns in areas where the virus is out of control rather than intervene with curfews, time constraints, and activities in some categories.
“Look, the measures linked to schedules have no scientific evidence. Where they were applied, they had no effect on containment. France has been enforcing a curfew for a week, but the rise in infections is still very strong. That is why I say it is more important to intervene promptly in areas where the virus is out of control.
The Covid emergency also runs the risk of serious side effects, as it worsens attendance for other diseases.
“We risk paying a very high price right now. The lack of updating of the hospitals, which had to be done from June, today leads everyone to focus on coronavirus cases that need to find a place in the wards because the hospitals reserved for Covid patients are already saturated. This compromises the assistance to patients with other pathologies, because the rooms are closed or reserved, in fact, only for Covid patients ”.
Today Professor Palù declares that 95 percent of those infected are asymptomatic.
“What does that mean? If 5 percent of tens of thousands of positive cases are symptomatic, we will put pressure on the hospitals of thousands of Covid patients. This doesn’t make sense.”
How worried are you about the Friday night protests in Naples?
“There is no doubt that it was an organized event. That said, there is no doubt that this epidemic can transform from a health emergency into a social emergency. To do this, you need to take courageous and timely action before it’s too late. We have already lost two weeks.
Covid Italia, today’s newsletter, October 24: almost 20,000 cases (19,644) and 151 deaths. Intensive care: +79
Covid Italia, today’s newsletter, October 24, 2020. The new cases of coronavirus in Italy are close to 20 thousand (19,644), for a total since the beginning of the emergency that has exceeded 500 thousand infected (504,509). 151 deaths are registered (yesterday there were 91), bringing the total to 37,210.
Last Updated: October 25 at 10:01 AM M.
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