Title:Dealing with COVID-19: Lessons Learned from the Italian Experience
VOLUME: 2 ISSUE: 1
Author(s):Silvana Mirella Aliberti*, Francesco De Caro, Giovanni Boccia, Rosario Caruso and Mario Capunzo
Affiliation:Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Department of Human Pathology in Adult and Developmental Age "Gaetano Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Fisciano
Keywords:COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, first cases, risk assessment, coherent system of actions, lessons learned, human
parainfluenza virus (HPIV).
Abstract:Italy was the first western nation affected by the pandemic and was observed as a pilot case in
the management of the new coronavirus epidemic. The outbreak of COVID-19 disease has been challenging
in Italy. On June 25, 2020 there were 239,821 total cases, of which 33,592 were deaths nationwide.
Three lessons emerged from this experience that can serve as a blueprint to improve future plans for the
outbreak of viruses. First, early reports on the spread of COVID-19 can help inform public health officials
and medical practitioners in effort to combat its progression; second, inadequate risk assessment related to
the urgency of the situation and limited reporting to the virus has led the rapid spread of COVID-19; third,
an effective response to the virus had to be undertaken with coherent system of actions simultaneously.