Italy, the country hardest hit in Europe by the coronavirus, decided on Saturday to recruit 20,000 reinforcements for its hospitals, while studying the creation of new quarantine zones to stem the epidemic.
This measure, taken at the end of a marathon council of ministers which ended overnight, should make it possible to increase the number of intensive care beds from 5,000 to 7,500, an increase of 50%, and to double the number of places in the departments of pulmonology and infectious diseases.
The 20,000 hires should be distributed as follows: 5,000 specialized doctors, 10,000 nurses and 5,000 caregivers. Faced with the urgency of the situation, the government decree provides for the possibility of recruiting retired doctors.
All these measures represent a budget of one billion euros to be taken from the 7.5 billion released “to meet the extraordinary and urgent requirements due to the dissemination of the Covid-19 and guarantee the essential levels of assistance and ensure the entire national territory an increase in the number of intensive care beds “, according to the government statement.
The prefects are also given the possibility of requisitioning hotels to house people in quarantine.
Finally, the decree provides for aid and funding in the amount of 50 million euros for companies producing protective masks and other useful products to stem the epidemic.
In addition to the health sector, the government has taken steps to adapt the judicial field: until May 31, the courts will be able to limit access to the public and to personnel, and in particular decide to organize trials behind closed doors too both civil and criminal. The use of videoconferences will also be encouraged.
With 4,636 cases and 197 deaths, Italy is in second place behind China for the number of deaths, and in 4th place for the number of cases behind China, South Korea and Iran.
Red areas
The fatality rate of the virus in Italy is 4.25%, compared to 3.8% in China and 0.68% in South Korea. “Let us not forget that Italy has a higher average age compared to China (44.3 years against 37.4 years)”, recalled Friday evening the president of the Higher Institute of Health Silvio Brusaferro, then that the virus mainly kills elderly people already suffering from pathologies.
The 21 Italian regions are all affected, but most of the cases are concentrated in the north. This is where a “red zone” was established, where eleven municipalities with 50,000 inhabitants have been in quarantine for almost two weeks.
While the incubation time for the new coronavirus is estimated to be around 14 days, the government must decide whether to extend or quarantine it.
The Higher Institute of Health, a government body, is also studying the creation of new red zones, “in Lombardy in particular”, the Milan region, the most affected in the country with 2,612 cases and 135 deaths.
The mission sent to Italy by the World Health Organization (WHO) also recommended Friday “the maintenance of a strong focus on containment measures across the country”.
Rome has already adopted a whole series of draconian measures to curb the epidemic, including the closure of schools and universities until mid-March, in order to avoid overheating in hospitals on the peninsula.
“The virus is spread with great ease, this is the experience that we have learned from these past hours,” warned Health Minister Roberto Speranza in Rome on Saturday. “We are working day and night to increase the number of beds in intensive care, as well as in pulmonology and infectious diseases,” he added.
Leading politician Nicola Zingaretti, leader of the ruling Democratic Party (center left) in the ruling coalition, announced on Facebook on Saturday that he was positive: “I am fine but I will have to stay at home in the coming Courage to all and see you soon! “
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