Corona and the daily life in Italy

[wriedmann]

Hello,
maybe this is interesting someone (and because I think most people of the world will be affected too in the coming months with the same situation):
Here in Italy we have to live with heavy restrictions: nobody can leave his municipality for other than certificated work needs. Companies try to put as much employees as possible in homework. Restaurants and bars need to close at 18:00, and have to guarantee a minimum distance of 1 m (one meter) between guests. The same applies to all offices. Schools, universities, nurseries are closed, all events canceled, even elections are suspended.
These restrictions don't apply to stop the Corona virus (this is not possible anywhere in the world), but to slow down the infection rate to not make collapse the health system (as it is collapsed in the richest Italian region, the Lombardia).
My personal opinion is that the current Italian government was courageous enough to make all these restrictions (may be a bit too late), and I cannot understand why other governments where the infections have superated the number of 100 don't stop the public life to save many peoples lifes.
Wolfgang

[Dung Tran]

Thanks Mr. Wolfgang for sharing the information.Is it harder to be admitted to hospital or do hospital prefer to treat patients at home rather than admitted them? Can patient schedule appointment to see Doctors as they normally do?

[Karl-Heinz]

Hi Wolfgang,

one of our problems isour federal structure. Each state of germany has it´s own government e.g. a health minister and so on. So each state can decide in many parts of living what to do within its own area. There are states of germany where the audiance must already stay out, while others still have no or minor restrictions. I´m still wondering why the carnival processions 2 weeks ago took place and were not canceled, but it seems they become wiser ...

And yes, i totally agree: currently It´s impossible to stop the infections, the only chance is to slow down the infections as much as possible, otherwise even the best health systems will collapse.

regards
Karl-Heinz

[wriedmann]

Hi Karl,
in such emergencies IMHO the country government needs be active for the best of the country.
I'm saying this knowing that such limitations of personal freedom as we have had never applied in any modern democracy, and most people here fully understands and supports these measures.
Of course companies need to be able to survive this crisis, and to maintain their operations whenever possible.
Here in South Tyrol, the recommendation of the Commerce Association yesterday was to close down all shops that don't sell goods that are important to survive, or at least to reduce the opening hours.
Wolfgang

[Dung Tran]

Hi,
Could you normally make an appointment to see a Doctor if there is a need for common illness or is it harder to see a physician ? for common illness , are people recommended to be treated at home rather than going to doctor office or clinics?

[wriedmann]

Hi Dung,
it depends where you are and how the clinics have to do.... If you have an illness that has symptoms of Corona, you have to remain at home and call for assistance if you need that.
For other illness, of course you can go to a clinic, but most medicians are requiring appointments now.
In the zones where Corona is very active the clinics may not be in the situation to cure because their capacities are exhausted.
Italy has a public health system, paid by taxes, but such an emergency like some Italian provinces will overwhelm any structure.
Wolfgang

[Chris]

Hi Wolfgang,

We are hearing the news about Italy all day, it's such a very bad situation, I hope it all improves a lot and soon!
What I am really puzzled about, is that common flu every year kills around 100,000 people around the world, car crashes injure a couple millions of people per year and so on, why didn't we have health care collapse problems also in the previous years?

[wriedmann]

Hi Chris,
the main problem of Corona is that it is highly contagious, and when about 80% of the infected people has only light symptoms, about 10% needs breathing apparatus, and there is no hospital on the world that has enough of them.
In the Lombardia, in the hospitals the medicians need to decide who can survive and who not, it is like in a war.
The important thing is to slow down the infections, so the health system can help.... it is not more possible to stop the virus.
People that is over 65 years old has a chance of 7:1 to survive....
The Hispanic Flu in the years 1918/1919 killed about 2% of the people of the world.... and nobody knows if this number may be higher.
Wolfgang

[Karl-Heinz]

Hi Chris,

The corona virus is more deadly than a seasonal flu, especially for older people that have already lung or heart problems. In German hospitals there are 30,000 beds for intensive medical care. But many of them are always occupied by other chronical sick or seriously injured people. Therefore, there would not be much left for those corona patients who need oxygen and intensive care day and night. That´s why it is important that not too many people become infected at the same time.

btw. Hard to understand:

PSG vs. Dortmund no spectators.
Liverpool vs. Altletico sold out.

regards
Karl-Heinz

[Chris]

btw. Hard to understand:

PSG vs. Dortmund no spectators.
Liverpool vs. Altletico sold out.

Exactly. I will tell you my complete opinion a couple months later, after all this has passed.