I wanted to share my 2 cents about the whole "italy running out of beds" thing.. My dad works in one of the central hospitals in Rome. I was talking with him about the ICUs apparently being overwhelmed..
According to him, they are indeed inching closer and closer to the breaking point (and no, people with coronavirus are not being quarantined in the ICUs unless they actually need intensive care). However, as someone had already noted in this thread, italian ICUs were ALDREADY in dire straits to begin with, and they have been for years. The number of available ICU beds and lung ventilators was already so low that this virus, mild as it is (and looking at the numbers, it is definitely mild, even considering the higher incidence of pneumonia in the critically ill), basically became the straw that broke the camel's back.
Mind you, the camel's back is not even broken yet, just getting there.. We'll see what happens I guess. But from that perspective I guess that, at least here in Italy, *some* quarantine measures were necessary to stop our already very frail healthcare system from collapsing.. But surely not to this crazy extent.
On the plus side.. hopefully this will enlighten the people about the sorry state of our healthcare system.. We're lucky it was just a dud this time.
The goverment keeps repeating that "no one will lose their job", they're apparently taking some economic measures to help people stay afloat.. We'll see if by the end of this madness the people they "saved" will outnumber the people driven to the brink of financial ruin and either criminality or suicide.
Ending on a slightly "conspiratorial" note.. I wonder if Italy being the first European country to see such a high number of infected was actually done on purpose. The best lies are those wrapped around a nugget of truth, right? "Italian ICUs on the brink of collapse!"..
Anyone in the know about the state of our healthcare system should have been able to anticipate the effects this virus would have.. Follow the sensationalistic (*somewhat* truthful, yet taken out of context and thus deceptive) headlines. Follow people not bothering to ask WHY our hospitals are being overwhelmed and assuming that "the sickness"TM is far worse than it is. Follow bolstering of worldwide panic and everyone begging for more restrictions. I mean, these measure had already been taken in China.. But from the european people's perspective, surely it's one thing to follow the Chinese example, another to follow Italy. OSIT
Such a unique blend of amusement, bemusement, worry, sadness and outrage this whole situation brings.. But I sure can't wait to see how this will ultimately blow up in the face of mankind's enemies.. Assuming it will, of course..