Italy Reports A Jump In COVID-19 Cases

Correction: Looking back at yesterday's blog I discover that either the original numbers posted by the MOH were wrong or I somehow copied them incorrectly. Either way, it appears that yesterday's `low' numbers were higher than I reported, and today's numbers are roughly the same. Either way, I apologize for the error - MPC

#15,140

After three days of encouraging, steadily decreasing numbers, Italy has reversed that trend; ~~jumping~~ from ~~2,249 new cases yesterday~~ to 5,210 new cases today. Italy also reports another 683 deaths. Both numbers, however, are well off the highs we were seeing last week.

This brings Italy's case count to 74,386 total cases, and 7,503 deaths.

These are just those cases (and deaths) that have tested positive. There are likely 2 or 3 times as many cases that have not been tested, and are therefore not counted.

The preliminary Case Fatality Rate continues to run very high, with slightly more than 10% of all confirmed cases in Italy having died. It isn't entirely clear all of the reasons behind this excessive CFR, but there are many reports that hospitals are swamped, and some critical patients are unable to get an ICU bed.