Former Italy, China and Guangzhou Evergrande chief medic Enrico Castellacci saw Coronavirus first emerge and warned “Italy hasn’t reached a peak yet. It’ll take many weeks” to resolve the pandemic.
There are now over 12,000 positive cases recorded in Italy, with a death toll of 827, an increase of 196 over the last 24 hours alone.
“I already heard from colleagues all about what was happening in China and it was devastating. This is why I never underestimated this virus,” Castellacci told Tuttomercatoweb.
Former Italy, China and Guangzhou Evergrande chief medic Enrico Castellacci saw Coronavirus first emerge and warned “Italy hasn’t reached a peak yet. It’ll take many weeks” to resolve the pandemic.
There are now over 12,000 positive cases recorded in Italy, with a death toll of 827, an increase of 196 over the last 24 hours alone.
“I already heard from colleagues all about what was happening in China and it was devastating. This is why I never underestimated this virus,” Castellacci told Tuttomercatoweb.
“I have come back to Italy now and I am here to help. Coronavirus has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation and perhaps it should’ve been done earlier.
“I said 15 days ago that all sport had to stop in Italy. At the time, people thought it was madness, but a pandemic can only be battled if you slow the spread of the virus.
“People were too superficial, especially the young folk who didn’t want to give up their nights out and parties. This was treated like a regular flu, which it absolutely is not.
“The problem is that we go from one extreme to the other, from acting as if nothing is happening to getting collective anxiety attacks and laying siege to supermarkets. The more a citizen stays at home, the better it is. Some activities must continue, but all it takes is a little bit of common sense.
“In China, they were able to clamp down on movement with draconian measures, which managed to slow down a situation that was catastrophic. Right now, someone is safer from Coronavirus in China than in Italy.”
Professor Castellacci explained why sporting events have to shut down during this outbreak.
“This is a virus that is passed on with extraordinary ease. The only way to combat something this contagious is to limit social interaction and travel. We cannot underestimate also the damage it can do, because although the majority of those who have died are elderly, it has also hit many who are 40-50, even less than that. It’s still a horrible illness, even if you are otherwise in good health.
“If it hits the lungs with interstitial pneumonia and there’s difficulty breathing, you have a problem. You need a place in intensive care and a ventilator, so a shortage of equipment is a huge issue.
“Sooner or later, we will reach the peak, but we’re not there yet. Virologists say we could reach it in around a week. It takes time, let’s not think that in two weeks everything will be back to normal. It’ll take many weeks.”
There is a positive for Mediterranean countries like Italy and Spain, as Castellacci notes.
“This virus does not do well in high temperatures, so one would imagine if it gets hot enough, the virulence will be reduced.”