“We had warned the government about the second wave, but they did not listen to us” – Libero Quotidiano

“We said the second wave was coming. They didn’t listen to us.” Making this complaint is Walter Ricciardi, consultant to the Minister of Health Roberto Speranza and professor of Hygiene in Cattolica. The expert, invited to What’s the weather like, reiterated that the return of the coronavirus had been widely expected: “We have proposed a whole series of measures and we have largely unheard of. It’s not just me, but my colleagues around the world. We said: be careful, you have to prepare. “According to Speranza’s consultant, what we are experiencing now could have been avoided, through the strengthening of Covid hospitals, first aid and tracking systems. But some blame is also attributed to citizens: “The population was asked to be more cautious. This was absolutely ignored. “Time was lost, according to Ricciardi, also because the chain of command in Italy was not unique:” fact time has been lost in an epidemic. “

The expert then suggested intervening immediately in out-of-control metropolises, especially Milan, Genoa, Turin and Naples: “We need real citizen closures and it’s up to the governors to proclaim them. I see too many people still walking the streets “, said in an interview with Print. And he also explained the reason for his alarm: “The simple recommendation not to move from home reduces the incidence of infections by 3%, the 25% lock. If we combine this with smart work, which is worth another 13%, and the 15% that determines school closings, we get to the 60% needed to cool the epidemic. This is why I say that stop everything for a moment where the situation is already out of control is the only possible solution “.

Ricciardi is also concerned about the situation in hospitals: “The beds are already saturated, the postponement of hospitalizations and interventions is already taking place increase mortality from oncological and cardiovascular diseases by 10%“He explained. However, according to the expert, it is not easy to handle an epidemic of this type,” especially after years of cuts to health. “And he added:” But there are also the responsibilities of those who had one billion and 400 million to hire staff and secure hospitals and instead he did not. “