Italy and COVID-19

Italy was the first European nation to be affected by COVID-19 in January.

Just four months later, life in that country is nearly back to normal according to CNN.

This country with a population of more than 60 million people is located in Southern Europe. It is known to be one of the nations hit the worst by COVID-19.

The first case was reported there on Jan. 31 when two Chinese tourists tested positive in Rome. A week later an Italian man who had returned from Wuhan, China tested positive and was reported as the third COVID-19 case in Italy.

There are many reasons why the outbreak had affected Italy so severely. Data showed that 22.6% of the country’s population is 65 years and older and medical researchers have proven that COVID-19 threatens the health of the elderly more.

“There isn’t a lot of space in Italy for people to spread out in. Italy is a densely populated country, with an average density of 533 people per square mile. In comparison, Germany has a population density of 235 people per square mile while the U.S. has 94,” said Sara Belligoni a Ph.D. student in security studies at the University of Central Florida.

Schools and universities remain closed during the pandemic. Masks must be worn at all times in public.  Police strictly enforced the lockdown. Civil protection cars using loudspeakers patrolled the street telling people to stay inside.  

Although Italy beat the spread of the virus, there have been major economic losses.