tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Med Internet Res
. 2020 Jun 3.
doi: 10.2196/19825. Online ahead of print.
COVID-19 Fatality Rate and Performed Swabs in Italy: A Misleading Perception
Davide Tosi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alessandro Verde[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Manuela Verde[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: CoronaVirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) fatality rate in Italy is controversial and is largely affecting discussion on the impact of containment measures that are straining the world's social and economic fabric, such as large-scale use of isolation and quarantine, closing borders, imposing limits on public gatherings, and implementing nationwide lockdowns.
Objective: The scientific community, citizens, politicians and mass media are arguing over data that seem to suggest that Italy has a significantly higher number of COVID-19-related deaths than in the rest of the world. Moreover, Italian citizens have a misleading perception related to the number of actually performed swab tests. Citizens and mass media denounce that the coverage obtained by COVID-19 swab testing in Italy is not in line with other countries all over the world.
Methods: In this paper, we try to clarify, with a set of statistical analysis conducted world-wide, both aspects by highlighting the actual numbers and by comparing them with the official data available.
Results: The analysis clearly shows that the Italian COVID-19 fatality and mortality rate are in line with the official world scenario, and these findings are true also for the number of COVID-19 swabs performed in Italy and in Lombardy Region.
Conclusions: Up-to-date analysis of this type may simplify the understanding of the pandemic evolution.
. 2020 Jun 3.
doi: 10.2196/19825. Online ahead of print.
COVID-19 Fatality Rate and Performed Swabs in Italy: A Misleading Perception
Davide Tosi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alessandro Verde[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Manuela Verde[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32490842
- DOI: 10.2196/19825
Abstract
Background: CoronaVirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) fatality rate in Italy is controversial and is largely affecting discussion on the impact of containment measures that are straining the world's social and economic fabric, such as large-scale use of isolation and quarantine, closing borders, imposing limits on public gatherings, and implementing nationwide lockdowns.
Objective: The scientific community, citizens, politicians and mass media are arguing over data that seem to suggest that Italy has a significantly higher number of COVID-19-related deaths than in the rest of the world. Moreover, Italian citizens have a misleading perception related to the number of actually performed swab tests. Citizens and mass media denounce that the coverage obtained by COVID-19 swab testing in Italy is not in line with other countries all over the world.
Methods: In this paper, we try to clarify, with a set of statistical analysis conducted world-wide, both aspects by highlighting the actual numbers and by comparing them with the official data available.
Results: The analysis clearly shows that the Italian COVID-19 fatality and mortality rate are in line with the official world scenario, and these findings are true also for the number of COVID-19 swabs performed in Italy and in Lombardy Region.
Conclusions: Up-to-date analysis of this type may simplify the understanding of the pandemic evolution.