Italy's coronavirus crisis could be America's (warning: extremely grim)

[swag]

Last edited Wed Mar 11, 2020, 02:36 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.vox.com/2020/3/10/21171217/coronavirus-covid-19-italy-hospitals?fbclid=IwAR1dRuQ2M4Gep2jH63J3ikwPLSV8stsLxDXviPXhjNs-ZGfiRKHmD5eFt7w

By Julia Belluz

excerpt:

"Three weeks ago, Italy barely had a coronavirus problem. Back then, when there were just three confirmed cases, shops and cafes were open, tourists flowed in and out of the country’s magnificent holiday destinations, and quarantines were relegated to history: 14th-century Venice during the Black Death.

Now, Italy has the second-highest number of reported Covid-19 cases and deaths outside China: more than 10,100, and more than 630, respectively, as of March 10. Those figures are higher than that of two other coronavirus outbreak centers — Iran and South Korea — and higher than that of any other country in Europe. "

. . .

"In an effort to slow the spread of infection, the government on Monday announced an extraordinary measure for a Western democracy — one that hasn’t been tried in modern times at the country level: The entire peninsula was put under quarantine orders until, at least, April 3. Even weddings and funerals are banned.
An Italian State Police officer processes passengers in Milan on March 10, 2020. Emanuele Cremaschi/Getty Images

One big reason for the extreme response: The coronavirus has overwhelmed the country’s health system, particularly in the north. More than 80 percent of the hospital beds in Lombardy, the hardest-hit province, are being occupied by coronavirus patients, according to Bloomberg. Intensive care units are overloaded while elective surgeries have been canceled in the process to free up beds. Stories abound on social media about doctors rationing care, having to choose who among the needy patients showing up should get treatment.

But hidden behind the official Covid-19 numbers is a much broader health crisis, accumulating across the country. Even greater than the official coronavirus toll may be the collateral damage wrought by an over-stretched health system: The pregnant women and babies, cancer and HIV patients, and children in need of vaccines who are now less likely to get the health care they need."

. . . more

[BigmanPigman]

1. I wonder what the average ages are in those countries you named.

Italy is fairly old, but I think S Korea and Iran have younger populations. Not sure about China and the US. Are they about the same (middle age?).

[jberryhill]

4. .

[Dennis Donovan]

5. Italy has an older population

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[SunSeeker]

2. Italy's healthcare infrastructure was more robust than ours, and it still got overwhelmed.

MDs per 1,000: Italy 4.0, USA 2.6

Hosp beds per 1,000: Italy 3.2, USA 2.8

The problem is surge of COVID19 has overwhelmed northern Italian hospitals

This can happen here.

https://www.vox.com/2020/3/10/21171217/coronavirus-covid-19-italy-hospitals

[AlexSFCA]

3. I'm scared of the US two weeks from now

By April, we’ll become contagion across all 50 states. Health officials in Washington estimated thousands of coronavirus cases that are untested.

[Dennis Donovan]

6. There's a shortage of testing materials

Exclusive: U.S. coronavirus testing threatened by shortage of critical lab materials

[Javaman]

7. do you have the link? thanks nt

[swag]

8. Oh, that would help, wouldn't it? Thanks

https://www.vox.com/2020/3/10/21171217/coronavirus-covid-19-italy-hospitals?fbclid=IwAR1dRuQ2M4Gep2jH63J3ikwPLSV8stsLxDXviPXhjNs-ZGfiRKHmD5eFt7w

[Javaman]

10. thanks! :) nt

[Coventina]

9. We are 9 days away from people dying in the hallways in hospitals.

Per MSNBC's health expert.

Also, trauma cases (accidents, strokes, heart attacks) will be ignored in ER rooms as hospitals get overwhelmed.
More fatalities from that as well.

[Javaman]

11. after reading this article...

I know a surge in cases is coming but the orange asshole and his room full of crooked dopes are going to do everything within their power to suppress any and all news about the increase in cases and deaths.

this is going to be very bad for us.