THREAD: 821 infected (NOT "confirmed cases*), 21 deaths (elderly people with preexisting conditions) and 46 recovered. Italy has been aggressively screening thousands of suspected cases, and the official data released consist of POSITIVES. #CoronaVirusUpdates #CoronaVirusitaly
In this context, the definition of "confirmed case" is a case that shows the symptoms of Covid-19 AND has come out positive in a laboratory test (a tampon, usually tested by a local hospital, and then confirmed by ONE unique centralized laboratory--this process takes a few days).
Other countries are signaling only confirmed cases, as per WHO's recommendations. Since the discovery of a cluster in the south of Lombardy, the Italian health services have applied a strict screening of the probable transmission chain. More extensive testing, more positives.
The first cases were 2 Chinese tourists hospitalized on 01-29 in Rome. These patients recovered and were discharged on 02/26. The 1st case of secondary transmission (not linked to China) was on 02/18 at a hospital in Codogno, south of Milan. At first one thought it was the flu.
10 small towns (population about 50K) to the south of Milan are cordoned off. In the nearby city of Lodi, the ER sees about 100 patients each day (for all kinds of critical illnesses) and Covid-19 strains the availability of Intensive Care beds.
After pre-triage and an observation period in hospital, those that are positive but have no symptoms at all (**half of the infected**) and their families, are voluntarily quarantined at home under healthcare supervision. All people in critical conditions are in Intensive Care.
Today, of the 851 people who have tested positive, only 345 are in hospital-- 64 of which are in Intensive Care units.
The Coronavirus is highly contagious. In the "yellow" zones (namely, Lombardy and Veneto) schools and universities are closed, public events are postponed.
The Coronavirus is highly contagious. In the "yellow" zones (namely, Lombardy and Veneto) schools and universities are closed, public events are postponed.
In conclusion, as a few Italian virologists put it, the Coronavirus is not the bubonic plague, but it's not "just" another kind of flu either.
Take care.
Take care.
@threadreaderapp unroll
