Coronavirus in Italy: The Opinion of an American in Milan.
I’ve given much thought about whether or not to address this issue. In general, I don’t like to dwell on “negative” things. That said, I hope and feel that this message can bring a bit of hope and peace to those who read it, so, I am going to share my perspective of what’s going on in Milan and greater Italy regarding the coronavirus.
First of all, I am well. My husband is well. My darling little boy is well. We are all happy and healthy. I praise and thank the Lord for our health on an almost daily basis (and that was even before all of this madness ensued). I am grateful for the many blessings in my life. And I believe it’s important to recognize the many gifts that we (me, on a personal level, and us, as a larger society) have.
The center of the outbreak is NOT Milan.
Now, let’s clarify some things.
Contrary to what some media outside of Italy is reporting, the main concentration of people infected with the virus in Italy is in a town called Codogno. Codogno is about a one-hour drive outside greater Milan (and not in the city of Milan). Last I heard, there were only two people in the city of Milan (one of those two works in the greater Codogno area).
The main case in the Italian outbreak seems to be a 38-year-old Italian man who travelled from Codogno to mainland China at the end of January. I have a bit of “beef” with the Italian government and its health system for not putting systems in place to deal with a potential outbreak sooner. Specifically, this man was initially sent back home from the hospital after going there to report his flu-like symptoms. He was then admitted, after returning to the hospital a few hours later.
In the global economy we live in all countries should have plans in place for such occasions. Here’s the link to the WHO’s preparedness plans.
I am, however, quite proud of how they rapidly “beefed” up infection-management measures. I fact, I consider most of what’s going on as extraordinary measures to help prevent and/or slow down the spread of the virus.
In fact, many schools, sporting events, etc., in certain areas of Italy (including in the city of Milan), are closed as a precautionary measure. Many offices are allowing their employees to work from home. As we know from general cold and flu season, (and/or when you have kids in daycare) these measures, while not perfect, certainly make it less likely for things – the regular stuff and the new stuff – to spread. So I consider the closures a good thing.
Lots of other parts of Italy like Rome and further south in Sardinia, things are running pretty much business as usual.
They’re testing just about everyone.
The initial reaction of the Italian government was to quarantine and test everyone (not literally everyone, but lots and lots of people) in the “red area” of Codogno and its bordering cities. In fact, 95% of the people tested came back negative. That’s to say that the Italian government has tested over 10,000 people for the virus. The number of people tested is significantly higher than most other nations. For example, France and Germany have tested less than 1,000 people. As of Feb. 28, the United States had tested a mere 450 people. Keep in mind that the US has a total population of around 328 million people, compared to Italy’s population of 60.4 million. Personally, I think that’s testament to the power of the Italian public health system.
The Italian government has since taken the stance of only testing those who have symptoms. This may be due to a desire to reduce unnecessary strain on the healthcare system, and to concentrate efforts on those most in need.
Also, the mortality rate for the disease is around 2-3%, affecting mainly those with compromised immune systems. That’s another way of saying that of the people tested, 98-97% recover, many of whom do so without having to go to the hospital.
Travel to/from the “red area” is still restricted. Schools, sporting events and other non-essential activities have been suspended. I suspect that these restrictions will last at least two weeks, which is generally considered the incubation period for the virus.
A grain of salt.
I believe it’s important to take all of this with a grain of salt.
For example, China has a total population of 1.38 BILLION people. That’s more than a billion folks. The official death toll out of the country, for the virus, is around 2,000. I think that helps to put the numbers in perspective.
I know there are people who do not necessarily believe that the Chinese government is always forthcoming with honest facts and data, but I think it’s fair to say that the infection and recovery rates we have seen in other parts of the world are in line with what is being reported from China.
Yes, I think we should take preventive measures to halt and slow down the spread of new, and old, diseases. I just think that we do it through thoughtful and sensible practices, rather than mass hysteria.
How can you protect yourself?
Officials (and I) think we should follow the general guidelines in place during the common cold and flu season. We should continue to wash our hands regularly (and I know some people don’t wash their hands that much, so for those of you who don’t, maybe it’s time to do it more often). Here’s the link to CDC’s website on best handwashing practices.
Officials also says to avoid touching your eyes, ears, and mouth. Masks, especially those that aren’t N95/FFP3 are generally considered ineffective. However, officials are suggesting that people who have any cold/flu-like symptoms wear masks, as this helps prevent spreading germs to others (whether it’s a common cold, or something more).
Also, embracing activities that boost your immune system is always a good idea, like eating a well-balanced diet and getting lots of sleep.
As of Feb. 28th, the CDC is suggesting people delay nonessential travel to China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran. The organization also says that older adults and people with chronic medical conditions should consider postponing travel to Japan.
That said, as the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, quarantined people make up 0.089% of the total Italian population. The national territory affected is 0.05% of the 301,000 km2 that makes up Italy. So, a little more perspective guys…
What does all this mean?
If you ask me, all this means is that we should take measures to stay healthy and safe. We should also stay calm – things are not nearly as bad as some are making it seem.
Photo credit: Woman inside laboratory by Ani Kolleshi (instagram.com/anikolleshi) from Upsplash and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
