Coronavirus cases in Italy increase by 36% in a week

Rome, March 17 Coronavirus infections increased by 36% between March 9 and 15 compared to the last 7 days, which is a growing trend due to the mitigation of the vaccinated population due to preventive measures and the concentration of places where winter is closed, said today Gimbe Foundation. Data will be released a few hours before the meeting of the Council of Ministers to decide whether to reduce certain preventive measures against the virus until March 31, when the emergency will end after two years of implementation due to the pandemic. The Gimbe Foundation, an independent organization, said that between March 9 and 15, the decline of registered hospital admissions has been suspended in recent weeks. He also mentioned that there are 17 states with an incidence rate of more than 1,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and that the number of states with an incidence rate of more than 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants has increased to 66. “In our country, the circulation of the virus is still very high and the transmission curve is beginning to rise again,” said President Nino Cartabelota, adding that “population relaxation, prevalence of the highly contagious Omicron bA2 mutation; reduced antibodies to those vaccinated, and the fact of having stay indoors due to low temperatures”. The Foundation has asked the Mario Draghi government to make decisions based on the epidemiological situation, “not only to mimic the infection, but also in other 'bold' countries where hospital growth has started to rise again. A source from the Far Right Riga party announced that from March 31, before the meeting, there will be no capacity limit at the stadium, the vaccination obligation for people over 50 years old will be removed, and the store will not ask for a health certificate. Italy has already registered 13.5 million infections since February 2020, when the epidemic began across the country, causing 157,314 deaths. LSC/MR/FP