A Closer Look at Italy's Crisis Amidst the Global Pandemic
As of early 2021, Italy is grappling with a high number of daily cases, with approximately 14-15,000 new cases reported per day across a population of around 60 million. While the country is slowly beginning its vaccination campaign, the initial stages are focusing on healthcare workers and residents of care homes. Soon, the vaccination efforts will extend to the elderly and other essential workers.
The Worst Situation Described
The current situation in Italy is described as something out of hell. The finance minister attempted suicide, and the prime minister is visibly distressed. What's more, the country's once-respected healthcare system is struggling. Hospitals are running out of ventilators and beds, and the streets are littered with the bodies of infected individuals. Funerals are unattended, and there's no space left in the graveyards.
Public Non-Compliance and Consequences
Despite government warnings, many young people are ignoring the guidelines and behaving as if it's a holiday. Doctors are dying daily, and masks are not readily available. In the southern region of Bari, Apulia, happy individuals were caught by a drone socializing outdoors. They were fined €200 each and are likely to face criminal charges. The behavior of these individuals is seen as causing an extension of the lockdown and detrimental to public health.
Healthcare System Strain
About half of those known to be infected in Italy have no symptoms, but when symptoms appear, they can be severe. Around 9% of known positive cases in Italy require intensive care, and the death rate hovers around 6.5%. For those in their 80s, the death rate is 19%, while even individuals in their 50s face a significant risk with odds of 1 out of 100.
Intensive care beds can run out. Lombardy, having initially around 900 slots, has ramped up to 1200 beds by adding equipment and canceling scheduled surgeries. Non-virus patients were moved elsewhere in the country to free up resources. Death has also played a macabre role in freeing up ICU beds; Bergamo, northeast of Milan, has run out of space at the hospital morgue, and the local cemetery crematorium is burning nonstop.
Resource Allocation and Ethical Triage
Despite the crisis, Italy has guidelines for dealing with resource shortages. The national society of anesthesiology and intensive care published recommendations for triage, prioritizing elderly patients and those with a low chance of survival. New York had similar guidelines in 2015. The virus can also cause missed opportunities for life’s irreplaceable moments, such as the tragic story of Sara Herskovits Barrias, a 34-year-old expectant mother who had her baby surgically delivered due to her infection.
The Importance of Cultural Perspectives
Warren Buffet, the well-known investor, recently noted that the global pandemic is about emotions and behavior. Literature can provide deep insights into the current situation. The Decameron, a 14th-century work by Giovanni Boccaccio, describes a group of young people in a fictive plague, much like the current lockdown. However, Bassani’s The Garden of the Finzi-Continis serves as an even more poignant metaphor. The novel depicts an Italian Jewish family's unawareness of the dangers of fascism, similar to the current situation's denial. At present, cases topping 1000 seemed like a big deal but now appears na?ve compared to the broader impact of the virus.
Italy, being at the epicenter of this crisis, underscores the importance of global cooperation and vigilance. As Europe braces for a recession, Italy is in the thick of it. The pandemic's global spread has infected more than 180,000 people in over 138 countries, disrupting cities and financial markets. It serves as a stark reminder of the necessity for early action and the long-term impacts of unpreparedness.