"Italy COVID-19 Spread, Critical Point in the Next Week"

Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the number of tourists visiting Venice, Italy, has decreased, and on the 1st (local time), the canals where boats usually pass have become silent. Source=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] It is anticipated that Italy, the country with the largest outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Europe, will face a critical turning point in about a week.

According to local media, Silvio Brusaferro, head of the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS), stated at a press conference held on the night of the 1st (local time), "We will be able to confirm around this weekend how effective the government's measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have been," expressing this outlook.

The Italian government issued a high-intensity administrative order on the 22nd of last month, closing all levels of schools in the northern region, the epicenter of the virus spread, as well as museums, art galleries, cinemas, and other public facilities, and banning or restricting cultural, sports, and religious events.

Considering that the general incubation period of COVID-19 is about 14 days, the statement from the ISS head, who holds the highest authority in Italy's virus research field, implies that the effectiveness of this administrative order will become apparent as early as later this week. If the order proves effective, the spread of COVID-19 will gradually slow down; if not, the explosive increase in confirmed cases, doubling every 2 to 3 days as currently observed, will continue.

Brusaferro said, "The current spread, with around 1,700 confirmed cases, was already anticipated, and we have also considered the worst-case scenario, which is even worse than this." He added, "However, if the increase in confirmed cases slows down around this weekend as we hope, it means that we are responding in the right direction."

He continued, "Completely suppressing COVID-19 is practically impossible, and realistically, the feasible response is to slow down its spread speed." He emphasized, "In this regard, I believe Italy is currently handling the situation well."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.