Coronavirus death toll jumps to 107 in Italy, all schools shut

[webfact]

Coronavirus death toll jumps to 107 in Italy, all schools shut

By Giuseppe Fonte and Gavin Jones

 

A man wearing a protective face mask to prevent contracting the coronavirus walks past the Duomo Cathedral in Milan, Italy, March 4, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

 

ROME (Reuters) - Italy closed all schools and universities and took other emergency measures on Wednesday to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus in Europe's worst-hit country as the death toll and number of cases jumped.

 

The total number of dead in Italy rose to 107 after 28 people died of the highly contagious virus over the past 24 hours, the Civil Protection Agency said.

 

Education Minister Lucia Azzolina said schools and universities all over the country would be closed from Thursday until at least March 15. Only those in the northern regions most heavily affected by the epidemic have been closed so far.

 

The number of cases since the outbreak surfaced 13 days ago rose to 3,089 from 2,502 on Tuesday. Of those who contracted the disease, about 3.5% had died, the head of the agency, Angelo Borrelli, said.

 

The government adopted a decree to try to slow infections which have been rising by about 500 per day.

 

"Our hospitals, despite their efficiency, risk being overwhelmed, we have a problem with intensive-care units," Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said.

 

The decree orders "the suspension of events of any nature ... that entail the concentration of people and do not allow for a safety distance of at least one metre (yard) to be respected."

 

It calls for the closure of cinemas and theatres and tells Italians not to shake hands or hug each other, and to avoid "direct physical contact with all people."

 

Italy is taking increasingly desperate measures to stop Europe's worst coronavirus outbreak. It's now closed all schools and universities, and is prepared to ban almost all public gatherings altogether. Matthew Larotonda reports.

 

It also orders all major sporting events, including top flight Serie A soccer matches, to be played in empty stadiums.

 

The school closures caused jubilation among some children and mixed reactions from parents.

 

"I hoped for this decree because I feared an outbreak at school," said Massimiliano Del Ninno, father of a Rome primary school student. "Even if we are dealing with an age group that doesn't seem to be at risk, they could have been carriers."

 

Clarissa Mazzei, a 30-year-old mother of three, called it "tragic ... for the students, and also for the parents."

 

Deputy Economy Minister Laura Castelli said the government was aware of the problems it would cause families and was preparing a directive to allow a parent to stay home from work to look after children.

 

VIRUS SPREADS SOUTH

The virus outbreak remains centred on the wealthy and populous region of Lombardy, around Milan, and the neighbouring regions of Veneto and Emilia Romagna, but cases are spreading around the whole of the Italian peninsula and Sicily.

 

Rome's Spallanzani infectious diseases hospital said it had 20 coronavirus patients, while others were being treated at home in and around Italy's capital and largest city.

 

Emilia Romagna's regional government said on Wednesday two of its members had tested positive and Industry Minister Stefano Patuanelli is in self-imposed isolation after coming into contact with a patient, though he himself had tested negative.

 

The outbreak has already heavily disrupted life in the north, with cinemas and museums closed in some regions and many events cancelled including fashion shows and trade fairs.

 

On Wednesday, the government instructed public sector managers to reorganise offices to help staff work from home.

 

Italy's chronically weak economic growth looks sure to suffer, with the tourist sector taking a huge hit from a wave of cancellations.

 

Industry lobby Confindustria said the country was in recession, forecasting a fall in gross domestic product in both the first and second quarters of this year.

 

Confturismo, the tourist industry's confederation, said the sector was "on its knees."

 

It forecast a drop of some 32 million in the number of Italian and foreign tourists in March-to-May, with a loss to the industry of about 7.4 billion euros ($8.23 billion).

 

Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri has promised tax breaks and other measures for the affected sectors worth 3.6 billion euros. A government source told Reuters on Wednesday this may be raised to 4.5 billion, or 0.25% of GDP.

 

(Additional reporting by Angelo Amante, Gabriele Pileri and Crispian Balmer; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-05

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[nobodysfriend]

The Virus at work ... do not forget it firstly appeared in people because of the way they treated animals . Mother Nature's answer to people ... Prepare for more and more deadly ones if humans do not immediately stop to slaughter and torture wild animals .

[nobodysfriend]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

with a loss to the industry of about 7.4 billion euros ($8.23 billion).

That is what they all care about , nothing else matters .

[Nyezhov]

42 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

That is what they all care about , nothing else matters .

well that is part of what keeps the world fed, so maybe its important

[ExpatOilWorker]

[nobodysfriend]

5 hours ago, Nyezhov said:

well that is part of what keeps the world fed, so maybe its important

Well , the world would still turn around without that ... food can be produced without damage to the environment ... and without these crazy profits some people make . In Europe a farmer gets 7 cents for a kilo of oignons which are sold for 150 cents , ( 1 euro 50 cents ) in a supermarket ...

[Nyezhov]

28 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

Well , the world would still turn around without that ... food can be produced without damage to the environment ... and without these crazy profits some people make . In Europe a farmer gets 7 cents for a kilo of oignons which are sold for 150 cents , ( 1 euro 50 cents ) in a supermarket ...

 

28 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

Well , the world would still turn around without that ... food can be produced without damage to the environment ... and without these crazy profits some people make . In Europe a farmer gets 7 cents for a kilo of oignons which are sold for 150 cents , ( 1 euro 50 cents ) in a supermarket ...

Well I'm not going to school you on economics, nor supply chains. Profits Is not a dirty word and your post was silliness

 

[BritManToo]

6 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

The Virus at work ... do not forget it firstly appeared in people because of the way they treated animals . Mother Nature's answer to people ... Prepare for more and more deadly ones if humans do not immediately stop to slaughter and torture wild animals .

You're confusing  the word 'people' with the words 'Asians' and 'Africans'

As far as I know western people don't eat bats/snakes/dogs/rats/monkeys/insects.

You score points for political correctness, but nothing for factual accuracy. 

Edited March 5, 2020 by BritManToo

[AllThaiedUp]

Italy really?  Do a lot of Chinese go there or something similar?

[Nyezhov]

23 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

You're confusing  the word 'people' with the words 'Asians' and 'Africans'

As far as I know western people don't eat bats/snakes/dogs/rats/monkeys/insects.

You score points for political correctness, but nothing for factual accuracy. 

 

23 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

You're confusing  the word 'people' with the words 'Asians' and 'Africans'

As far as I know western people don't eat bats/snakes/dogs/rats/monkeys/insects.

You score points for political correctness, but nothing for factual accuracy. 

The sell snakes on a stick everywhere here in Siem Reap, and I saw butchered puppy parts yesterday at the Psar Kroum market. Need the animal lovers to head over there and stop it instead of netwhinging about Western capitalism

Edited March 5, 2020 by Nyezhov

[Eric Loh]

57 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

You're confusing  the word 'people' with the words 'Asians' and 'Africans'

As far as I know western people don't eat bats/snakes/dogs/rats/monkeys/insects.

You score points for political correctness, but nothing for factual accuracy. 

Rather hypocritical idea that some animals are socially permissible to eat while others are not, is a belief in one’s own cultural hegemony. Americans eat beef and in India, slaughter or sale of cows are prohibited. It’s factually accurate that Indians find the Americans love for beef bewildering. Eating horse meat has historic precedence in Europe and wild games including squirrels and feral hogs are hunted and eaten in U.S. No point scored for political correctness as they are all factually accurate. 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

You're confusing  the word 'people' with the words 'Asians' and 'Africans'

As far as I know western people don't eat bats/snakes/dogs/rats/monkeys/insects.

You score points for political correctness, but nothing for factual accuracy. 

You’re confusing what is and isn’t an animal. 

 

You might, for example, consider ‘Mad cow disease’ but then cattle aren’t on your list of what ‘Asians’ and ‘Africans’ eat.

 

Perhaps your point isn’t what’s eaten so much as who it is doing the eating.

 

And for the record:

 

You're confusing  the word 'people' with the words 'Asians' and 'Africans'

 

Asians and Africans are people.

[Chomper Higgot]

10 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Rather hypocritical idea that some animals are socially permissible to eat while others are not, is a belief in one’s own cultural hegemony. Americans eat beef and in India, slaughter or sale of cows are prohibited. It’s factually accurate that Indians find the Americans love for beef bewildering. Eating horse meat has historic precedence in Europe and wild games including squirrels and feral hogs are hunted and eaten in U.S. No point scored for political correctness as they are all factually accurate. 

 

I don’t think ‘hypocritical’  is the correct term.

[BritManToo]

14 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Rather hypocritical idea that some animals are socially permissible to eat while others are not, is a belief in one’s own cultural hegemony. Americans eat beef and in India, slaughter or sale of cows are prohibited. It’s factually accurate that Indians find the Americans love for beef bewildering. Eating horse meat has historic precedence in Europe and wild games including squirrels and feral hogs are hunted and eaten in U.S. No point scored for political correctness as they are all factually accurate. 

 

I'm just gonna put you on ignore for that.

[puipuitom]

6 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Out of which statistical population ?

Those only, who were taken into the hospital or.. those who felt sick a few days ? By far not all infected with COVID-19 end up in a hospital. 

[puipuitom]

When you put an area ( 11 villages/small towns) under quarantine, but does not uphold it : TV crew of Slovenia went in and out ( Sat. 22 Feb even on Dutch TV) , made a report, interviews with people inside) and lots of people went out of the area to do shopping, then do NOT be surprised when a disease spreads so much.

Edited March 5, 2020 by puipuitom

[AlienHermit66]

1 hour ago, AllThaiedUp said:

Italy really?  Do a lot of Chinese go there or something similar?

First Italian cases were due to some old Italian codger who went to China, and then brought the virus home and spread it to his old geriatric buddies in the sports bar that they always hung out in. 

[3NUMBAS]

fights ober toilet paper in aus  https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11094967/coronavirus-horror-woman-knife-fight-toilet-paper-supermarkets/

[KhunBENQ]

At the dinner table I raised the question "why so many Italians?".

Daughter came up with the brilliant insight:

too much handshaking, hugging, cheek kissing etc.

[Peterw42]

47 minutes ago, 3NUMBAS said:

fights ober toilet paper in aus  https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11094967/coronavirus-horror-woman-knife-fight-toilet-paper-supermarkets/

And another recent incident in Australia,police tasered a guy fighting with staff over TP

 

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/police-taser-man-after-fight-over-toilet-paper-breaks-out-in-big-w/news-story/53de5794a49274c44558651d6712df71

[rabas]

35 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

At the dinner table I raised the question "why so many Italians?".

Daughter came up with the brilliant insight:

too much handshaking, hugging, cheek kissing etc.

Possilbly a new COVID-19 subtype, there are now two, S and L. The newer type L is more aggressive and infectious, S is milder.   https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202003/04/WS5e5f93aaa31012821727c542_2.html

 

Wuhan, Italy, and Iran are likely predominately L type. The rest of China is more S type. US is a mix.

https://nextstrain.org/ncov?c=clade_membership

 

Edited March 5, 2020 by rabas

[Forethat]

3 hours ago, AlienHermit66 said:

First Italian cases were due to some old Italian codger who went to China, and then brought the virus home and spread it to his old geriatric buddies in the sports bar that they always hung out in. 

Allegedly, the Italian outbreak began when a man who suspected that he had been infected with the virus seeked medical care at the local hospital. He was first sent home. A couple of days later his condition had worsened and he went to the A&E and this is where it all went horribly wrong. 

Quote

According to reports in the Italian media it took four contacts with doctors before the man was eventually tested for coronavirus, and then only after he had spent 36 hours at a hospital in Codogno before being put under isolation, a period during which he infected a number of other people.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/26/coronavirus-inquiry-opens-into-hospitals-at-centre-of-italy-outbreak

[saakura]

12 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

That is what they all care about , nothing else matters .

Lots of our regular Thai bashers are going to be upset with you for pointing this out. In their narrow view, only a Thai can think of such a disgusting thing.

[nobodysfriend]

18 hours ago, Nyezhov said:

instead of netwhinging about Western capitalism

Well , Capitalism and the eternal search for profits has brought us to where we are now .

Profit thinking leads to greed . Greed leads to destruction . ( Cutting the amazonian rainforest for that some farmers profit , oil and pollution etc ... ) .

The times are changing fast by now ... hope you can catch up with that ...

 

[nobodysfriend]

On 3/5/2020 at 8:38 AM, nobodysfriend said:

The Virus at work ... do not forget it firstly appeared in people because of the way they treated animals . Mother Nature's answer to people ... Prepare for more and more deadly ones if humans do not immediately stop to slaughter and torture wild animals .

News today : " Shenzhen has introduced a draft regulation to ban the eating of cats and dogs as part of a nationwide drive to implement a "total ban" on the consumption of wild animals following the Covid-19 outbreak. "

[Nyezhov]

3 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

Well , Capitalism and the eternal search for profits has brought us to where we are now

Yeah, longest average life expectancy in human history, lowest poverty rates, greatest number of folks living in democracy, human rights, yeah dude, what a buzz kill capitalism is. 

 

 

[nobodysfriend]

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

Yeah, longest average life expectancy in human history, lowest poverty rates, greatest number of folks living in democracy, human rights, yeah dude, what a buzz kill capitalism is. 

 

 

Pollution everywhere , toxic air , destroyed ecosystems , egocentric people , everything good enough just to make some profit ...

Lowest poverty rates ? Go tell that to millions of people starving ... Democracy ? may be Thai style Democracy ? Or US style ?

Do you really think that Capitalism is something beneficial to the world ? Uncapped Capitalism has done way too much damage already , Dude ...

 

P.S. : Vote for Bernie ...

Edited March 6, 2020 by nobodysfriend

[Nyezhov]

26 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

Do you really think that Capitalism is something beneficial to the world ?

Well I do, but I guess that depends on your world view. On the other hand, it's pretty unarguable that the alternative is far worse.