Italy in times of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic

This week, Italy was paying tribute to those who have died from the COVID-19 coronavirus by flying flags at half-mast. So many people have been infected in the country including health-care workers. Lombardy, the region of northern Italy around Milan, is the area most affected so far by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Northern Italy went into emergency lockdown early last month, and the government expanded the quarantine to the entire nation 3 days later.

The high rate of fatalities was preventable if protection was provided doctors say. This is the same situation in Spain. Hospitals across the country and abroad are now using snorkeling masks transformed to use as ventilator masks.

As hospitals face an overload of COVID-19 patients struggling to breathe, innovative medical staff are turning to snorkeling masks from sports stores to stop their lungs from collapsing, with hospitals in other nations taking note and adding their own specific medical parts to make it work.

The Milan Exhibition Center was forced to turn into a hospital with 200 intensive care beds. The Italian health care system is one of the best in world, but the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has also taken the lives of 61 doctors. For weeks now, Italian doctors have been urging other countries to stay at home. “Please stay inside, learn from us,” was the message.

MMP