After the peak of the last few weeks, the long-awaited descent of the data has begun Covid numbers in our country: infections below 100 thousand, the pressure on hospitals is easing both in ordinary wards and in intensive care, the Rt index is also decreasing and the positivity rate is significantly lower (11,2%) than a week ago . Our Scientific Technical Committee is optimistic and sees the light at the end of the tunnel in the spring. But even if the indices are improving, the index still remains too high deaths (between 350 and 450 per day).
The virus runs fast, but so does science. Containing the spread of variants is essential. Even if mutations are part of the life of the virus, experience with other pathogens has shown that the immune response obtained with vaccines "is in the right direction". And as also underlined by the coordinator of the Cts, Franco Locatelli “It allowed us to keep everything open. “Unlike other countries such as Germany, Holland and Austria which have had to resort to lockdowns or closures of businesses and it was possible thanks to the high number of vaccinated people”.
In the coming weeks, the virus race will continue to slow down and “we could also address the issue of masks” – said Locatelli -. Let's see according to the numbers but the end of the obligation could come shortly ”, added the number one of the Cts
Even the Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, gave positive numbers with 91% of Italians over 12 who received the first dose, 88% two doses and almost 35 million Italians the booster. This "puts us in a position to be able to open a different phase in the fight against Covid" and that if the numbers continue to fall in the coming days "it will allow us to open a new phase". These are Speranza's words at the press conference to explain the new rules about the school and the Green Pass.
The vaccination campaign is continuing even if there has been a drop in injections in recent days. Commissioner Figliuolo's hope is to arrive at the beginning of summer with 95% of Italians immunized between vaccines and recovered, administering the booster to all those who have received two doses.
And what about the vaccine for under 5s, the latest open band, Locatelli said it could arrive as early as spring. For children under 5, the vaccine “will certainly be in two doses, with a reduced dosage. Once we have the data we will be more precise ”, concluded the Cts coordinator. It will all depend on green light from the FDA to the use of Pfizer vaccines for the little ones in the USA.
The World Health Organization is also very optimistic, convinced that the European situation is improving thanks to the high vaccination rates, the lower "severity" of Omicron and the end of winter. "This context, which we have never experienced so far in this pandemic, gives us the possibility of a long period of tranquility - said the director of WHO Europe Hans Kluge -. This period of increased protection can be seen as a sort of respite that could lead to lasting peace."
Covid: why so many deaths in Italy?
The number of deaths in Italy is high especially in relation to the number of infections. And that makes the death rate of Italy at the top of all other European countries, with more or less similar vaccination rates. There is a difference that cannot be explained by most of the scientific community. According to the experts there are two aspects to evaluate: the first is that the deaths could be caused by Delta variant still active in the area (the number of deaths is 3-4 weeks behind the number of infections); while the second concerns the count same of the dead (deaths with Covid and not due to Covid).
Massimo Galli, former director of the Sacco hospital in Milan told Repubblica: "One of the factors is certainly the older population and the large number of elderly people who are not vaccinated or who have an insufficient immune response to vaccines". And that it would be useful to evaluate how many deaths from Covid are linked to the Omicron variant and how many to Delta to better understand what is happening ”.
More cautious Francesco Vaia of the Spallanzani hospital, also in Repubblica he said: “Although considering a tail of the Delta and that our population is elderly, in any case the numbers are excessive and probably those responsible will have to carry out an in-depth analysis of the number of dead by analyzing every detail. There are those who are appointed to do it and I am sure that he will do it ”.
But deaths are high not only in Italy. Worldwide, the country with the most victims are the Use (over 900 thousand), followed by Brazil (out of 630 thousand), India (500 thousand) and Russia (almost 335 thousand). Even according to the WHO, the death toll could be 2/3 times higher than the official figures say.
