From a Italian physician: Their system became overwhelmed. Not enough ventilators support.

[Dennis Donovan]

Aaron E. Carroll ✔@aaronecarroll

I'm freaking people out locally because they depend on me to be the guy to tell them their fears are overblown, and when it comes to our response to coronavirus... I'm just not that guy.

Steve A. Mora, MD @myorthodoc

From a Italian physician I communicated with this morning. Their system became overwhelmed. Not enough ventilators support.







11:13 PM - Mar 10, 2020

Link to tweet

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. That is like the worst horror show of all time and the worst part?

It's happening right now.

I wonder what happened. Did people not believe the warnings? Or were there any?

Maybe they all live in very crowded neighborhoods?

I don't know.

And I wish I did.

My heart goes out to Italy and her citizens.

[Dennis Donovan]

3. I've read they have an older population, so more cases are in hospital.

They didn't "flatten the curve" in time.

[procon]

2. Their healthcare system is free, encouraging

people to get tested and see a doctor if they have symptoms. Being proactive and getting an early intervention is a far better policy than Trump's ostrich approach.

If people without insurance put off going to a doctor when they develop symptoms and just go about their daily routine, spreading the virus every place, our piecemeal healthcare system will be quickly overrun and collapse. We'll be in the same boat with No. Korea and Iran.

Thanks, Trump!

[Coventina]

4. We are 9-14 days from people dying in hospital hallways in the US.

Doctors having to choose who to treat and who to let die.

Trauma cases: accidents, heart-attacks, strokes, being untreated because no personnel to treat them.

Fatalities for everyone!!!

Equality at last!

(Just kidding, we all know that the rich will get the care they need).

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

5. I can testify for the excellent health care

I am originally from Bologna which also happens to be the location of the world's oldest university with a medical school that has a great reputation and plenty of hospitals. They and the medical personnel who serves them are overwhelmed, not because of subpar quality or facilities, but because of the sheer number of people presenting with rather complex pneumonia, among other things.

Yes, Italy has an older population (second to Japan), but I see many school friends of mine (I'm in my late 40s) being hospitalized, without having co-morbidities or other underlying conditions.

So the question is... could there be a different strain of COVID that has evolved into something different from the COVID that afflicted China? So little is understood about this variant.

Here in Las Vegas, where I live, there's such an extraordinary effort made by the powers that be to pretend like it's all good. I realize that a negative prognosis would devastate Vegas and its economy - but I fear that this attitude of burying heads in the sand is not good for the long-term.

Closing down buffets is not enough. The NFL Draft is still scheduled for late April. Perhaps, it's time to think about cancelling it. Likewise, other large events (quite a few conventions have cancelled or postponed).

[Dennis Donovan]

6. Flatten the curve. Voluntary removal of one's self from the general public for a few weeks

I started mine today. Stocked up on 2 weeks worth of stuff and am laying low and staying out of everyone's way. I don't need to contribute to the misery by becoming a patient.