Coronavirus (COVID-19) Discussion Thread

[SvennoJ]

A bit lower than previously assumed

https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/2-5-per-cent-of-italians-had-covid-19-more-in-the-north-tests-reveal-1.5049716

The sampling indicated that 1.482 million Italians nationwide had come into contact with the virus and developed an immunological response to it, six times more than Italy's reported number of confirmed cases, said Linda Laura Sabbadini, a director at the Italian National Institute of Statistics, or ISTAT.

Bergamo the epicenter: Some 24 per cent of Bergamo residents developed virus antibodies

Locatelli said the results also indicated that 27.3 per cent of the people with the virus experienced no symptoms, demonstrating the need for continued social distancing and mask requirements. He stressed that the tests were not looking at whether the antibodies provided protection against the virus going forward, just the tested individuals had come into contact with the virus.

The antibody test results also suggest that Italy's COVID-19 death toll, which stood at 35,166 as of Monday, is in line with an estimated 2.3 per cent mortality rate for the virus globally, Locatelli said.

So a bit less widespread than assumed (less for the herd immunity camp) and higher mortality rate than assumed (around 1%). However Italy does have the oldest average age and the older population was hit especially hard in Italy.