Europe recently became the epicentre of Covid-19, and its countries are struggling to contain the spread with drastic measures like nationwide lockdowns and the closure of all non-essential shops.
The worst affected country in Europe is Italy, and unfortunately, they just became the worst affected in the world, too, in terms of deaths, as their death toll just surpassed China’s.
Read on for more about Italy’s unfortunate circumstances.
Just yesterday (19 Mar), Italy reported 427 new Covid-19 deaths, bringing their total number of fatalities to 3,405, reported Channel NewsAsia (CNA).
This jump in numbers has caused them to surpass China’s death toll, making them the new worst-affected country in terms of deaths.
CNA reports that China has officially reported 3,245 deaths related to Covid-19.
Italy still has far fewer cases than China, with 41,035 confirmed cases as opposed to China’s 80,907.
Sadly, this just means that Italy’s death rate is much higher, coming in at 8.29% versus China’s 4.01%.
Experts believe this is due to Italy’s large elderly population, who is especially vulnerable to Covid-19. According to Business Insider, they have the largest aging population in Europe.
The city of Bergamo in the northern region of Italy is the country’s worst-hit city.
As of Wednesday (18 Mar), the city alone had 93 deaths and 4,305 infections, reported Business Insider.
However, experts believe the actual death toll is higher than that – many people have died in their homes, and their bodies have yet to be collected or accounted for. Others probably haven’t even been tested.
Their local crematorium has been working day in and day out, but to no avail. They can only handle 25 bodies each day. Funeral services in the city are stretched thin as well.
Bergamo has had no choice but to reach out to its neighbours to help cremate the bodies.
The New York Times reported that 15 military trucks and 50 soldiers were deployed to transport the bodies and coffins of the Covid-19 victims to neighbouring cities for cremation.
Funeral homes are overstretched as well. The region’s largest funeral director, CFB, has apparently conducted almost 600 burials and funerals just this month, reports The Guardian.
Preparations for funerals and cremations are sluggish, as providers just can’t cope with the demand. Funeral workers are apparently getting infected too.
Many Italians are devastated, not only because of the restrictions and lack of freedom during the lockdown, but the deaths of their loved ones as well.
Apparently, many weren’t even able to say goodbye before their family members passed, and were immediately shuttled away to be buried or cremated.
This is certainly a trying time for the country, as their economy is taking a hard hit too.
We can only hope that the lockdown is effective, and promptly quells the spread of Covid-19 in Italy so that life may resume as per normal.
Until then, we urge you to keep Italy in your thoughts and prayers as you remain vigilant and keep yourself safe and healthy too.
Featured image adapted from The Times UK.
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