Coronavirus, Spallanzani the first in the world to isolate it. One dead in the Philippines: so far the only victim outside of China

The number of coronavirus infections continues to grow: 1,921 new cases only yesterday, for a total of over 14 thousand throughout the country. The number of deaths that arrived in also rises 304: among the 45 dead on the last day there is also first patient to die outside China, in the Philippines. The victim, a 44-year-old Chinese man, had been hospitalized since 25 January: together with his partner they had been the first cases of infection in the islands of Southeast Asia. “During the hospitalization – said the Secretary of Health – the patient developed severe pneumonia that led to his death”. The Chinese ambassador has officially asked for help in Brussels: there is a lack of resources and medical supplies to counter the emergency in a country now in difficulty. “Twelve tons of protective equipment are already on their way to China,” the European Commissioner for Crisis Management announced on Twitter Janez Lenarcic. The number of infections in Europe rises to twenty: two Germans who have returned from Wuhan have tested positive for the disease.

All ‘Spallanzani Institute of Rome, specializing in infectious diseases, the two Chinese tourists who tested positive for the hospital are still hospitalized coronavirus: they are the only two cases registered to date in Italy. Both have developed pneumonia and remain “under constant monitoring”. During a press conference of the institute, Health Minister Roberto Speranza announced that the virus has been isolated: “Having isolated the virus means many opportunities to study it, better understand and verify what can be done to stop the spread ”. Then he added that it will be made available to the whole international community: “Now it will be easier to treat it.”

China, increasingly isolated from other countries, is trying by every means to limit infections. Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic, has announced the completion of the work on the first of the two hospitals designed and built to deal with the emergency, “Huoshenshan”: it will be managed by the military and will begin welcoming patients tomorrow. While hospitals are working frantically, outside, on the streets of Wuhan, you can breathe an air from ghost city: deserted streets, closed rooms, empty shops. Other cities are also increasing security measures. Quarantined the city Wenzhou, with over 9 million inhabitants, which today it closed roads – including 46 motorway exits – and limited travel: is the most drastic move taken outside the province of Hubei, the region most affected by the virus. In Wenzhou, where 265 infections have occurred, one person per family will be allowed to go out and buy basic necessities every two days. The mayor of Huanggang, in the province of Hubei, has appealed to the international community: there is a “desperate need” of masks and protective suits because there is a serious risk of cross-infection. France24 reports that a coronavirus-infected patient committed suicide in Wuhan by hanging himself from an overpass. According to the broadcaster, the man was not admitted to a hospital so he decided to make an extreme gesture so as not to return home and infect the family.

The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, in a message to the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, expressed the hope that the situation will soon return to normal: “In addressing the health emergency, China can count on the availability of the Italian Republic for any assistance deemed useful. We are sharing the pain of the families of those who have lost their lives and we wish the sick – assisted by the courageous Chinese medical staff – a speedy and complete recovery “, added Mattarella.

Previous article

Australia, Mattia Fraschini’s body found in an overhang in the Blue Mountains. He wanted to see the damage from the fires