On Thursday, April 16th, COVID-19 cases in Italy reached 168,941 with a total of 22,170 deaths.
Italy’s fight against the Coronavirus spread is starting to show some positive results, with a total of 40,164 recoveries.
In the province of Lombardy, for example, the number of cases in the recovery rooms has been decreasing between 60 and 90 patients daily. However, the number of deaths is still on the rise despite all the attempts to control the virus.
The National News Agency NNA reached out to a Lebanese doctor in Italy, Dr. Ali Younes, asking him to explain the cause of the high number of deaths among COVID-19 patients in Italy.
Dr. Younes explained that the high and stable number of cases ending up in death is due to senior citizens getting infected: “It should be borne in mind that mortality includes a social segment between the ages of 65 and 80, most of whom suffer from more than one chronic disease.”
Young people aren’t so dangerously affected when infected by the virus, according to the doctor. However, seniors won’t be so lucky; they are not only the most affected by COVID-19, but they are also more prone to getting infected, unfortunately.
Dr. Younes gives Lombardy as an example again, saying: “Most of the deaths occur in Lombardy, which is two and a half times the size of Lebanon with a population of 12 million. The percentage of elderly people is between 23 and 24 percent, which is very high in Europe.”
“Therefore, we find that the virus threatens the elderly most, as there are thousands of affected seniors fighting for their lives in intensive care for more than two months,” he concluded.
This is why the campaign “Stay Home for Your Loved Ones” started in Lebanon to protect the elderly.
By staying safe at home, we are not only protecting the lives of thousands of seniors, including our loved ones, but we are also helping control the number of infections and thus the number of deaths.
We have a dedicated coronavirus section where you can find the latest news/updates about the pandemic in Lebanon, inform yourself with WHO-verified resources, and track the number of cases in Lebanon in real-time. Click here.
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