Covid-19 in Italy: A Lesson to be Learned - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia

Letter to the Editor

Covid-19 in Italy: A Lesson to be Learned

Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2020;42(6):369-370

DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1713410

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Dear Editor

The new coronavirus (COVID-19) was demonstrated to be circulating in Italy before February 20, 2020, which was the date of the announcement of the first patient infected with COVID-19 in Italy. Hospital-acquired infection is a major concern and might represent the primary source of human-to-human transmission. As of March 27th, 9% of physicians had been infected (4,824 doctors, of whom 1,600 were in severe condition and 46 were dead) according to the Italian Superior Institute of Health. A total of 9 to 11% of proven infected patients required admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). It has been estimated that the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak will likely occur by the end of April, and if this exponential trend continues, a possible dramatic scenario of 30,000 new infected people per week might be observed, requiring more than the current maximum number of ICU beds that the Italian Health System can provide. However, the percentage of healthcare givers who have been infected with COVID-19 is somewhat severely underestimated because a policy to screen all physicians and nurses regardless of clinical symptoms has not been required by the health authorities.

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