Covid Italy, over 20 thousand infections: a record since April

The threshold of 20 thousand Covid infections in Italy has been exceeded. It hadn’t happened since last April 3. The latest bulletin with the numbers of the Ministry of Health in fact marks 20,497 positive, against the 21,261 recorded that day. As for the victims, which were 118, we must go back to May 28, when 126 deaths were recorded. And the incidence also rises, with 176 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants, while the national Rt remains stable at 1.18. The number of hospitalizations and the employment of intensive care is on the rise. The Delta variant is still driving the epidemic, while 26 cases of Omicron are reported. Read also RT IN LIEVE CALO The Rt index decreases slightly at national level. “In the period November 16-29, the mean Rt calculated on symptomatic cases was equal to 1.18, while it was 1.20 the previous week but above the epidemic threshold”. “The transmissibility index based on cases with hospitalization is decreasing, but still above the epidemic threshold (Rt 1.07 on November 29 versus Rt 1.09 on November 23)”, states the report of the Higher Institute of health (Iss) with the main data of the weekly monitoring of the control room. INCIDENCE IN CONTINUOUS INCREASE “The weekly incidence at the national level continues to increase: 176 per 100 thousand inhabitants (3-9 December) against 155 per 100 thousand inhabitants (26 November-2 December), Ministry of Health data flow “, records the report of the Higher Institute of Health. ADMISSIONS AND INTENSIVE CARE INCREASE Admissions and occupancy of beds in intensive care are increasing. “The employment rate in intensive care is 8.5% (daily survey by the Ministry of Health on 09 December) against 7.3% (survey on 2 November). The employment rate in medical areas at national level rises to 10 , 6% (daily survey as of December 9) against 9.1% (daily survey as of December 2) “, highlights the report. 20 REGIONS AND PROVINCES AT MODERATE RISK” There are 20 Regions and autonomous provinces classified as moderate risk . Among these, five have a high probability of progression at high risk. One region (Molise) is classified as low risk “, underlines the monitoring of the control room. “There are 12 regions and autonomous provinces that report an alert of resilience. No region and autonomous province reports multiple alerts of resilience”, continues the report. HIGHER CIRCULATION IN THE NORTHEST “Also in Italy, although lagging behind other countries Europeans, there is a growing trend “of Covid-19 cases, underlines Silvio Brusaferro, president of the Higher Institute of Health and spokesperson for the CTS, commenting on the data of the weekly monitoring of Covid-19 in Italy. For the seventh consecutive week “there is a growing trend”, witnessed by “the increase in incidence and Rt above 1”, he remarks. “In particular, circulation is higher in the Northeast of the country – says Brusaferro – even if the increase affects all regions”. CASES INCREASING ESPECIALLY BETWEEN UNDER 20 AND 30-49 YEARS In Italy, as last week, “circulation of the virus mainly concerns the age group under 20 and between 30 and 49 “, Brusaferro points out. The growth trend, compared to the past few weeks,” is also confirmed in the younger age groups, including their shelters are fortunately smaller, but present “, remembers Brusaferro.