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Why Deaths from Coronavirus Are So High in Italy
Scientific American ^ | March 10, 2020 | Rachael Rettner

Posted on 03/26/2020 12:44:48 PM PDT by nickcarraway

The nation now has the highest number of deaths from COVID-19 outside of mainland China

Editor’s Note (3/19/20): Italy reported 427 more deaths from the coronavirus outbreak on Thursday, raising the total from 2,978 to 3,405 in one day—now the highest number of deaths worldwide.

Deaths from the new coronavirus in Italy have soared in recent days, with the country reporting 463 total fatalities from the virus, out of 9,172 confirmed cases, as of Monday (March 9). But why are deaths in the country so high?

Outside of mainland China, Italy now has the highest number of deaths in the world from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. And the country’s fatality rate from COVID-19—at 5%—is much higher than the global average of 3.4%, according to the World Health Organization.

One factor affecting the country’s death rate may be the age of its population—Italy has the oldest population in Europe, with about 23% of residents 65 or older, according to The New York Times. The median age in the country is 47.3, compared with 38.3 in the United States, the Times reported. Many of Italy’s deaths have been among people in their 80s, and 90s, a population known to be more susceptible to severe complications from COVID-19, according to The Local.

The overall mortality rate is always going to depend on the demographics of a population, said Aubree Gordon, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan. In this case, the reported mortality rate is not “age standardized,” which is a way to adjust for the underlying demographics of a population, she said.

Given Italy’s older population, “you would expect their mortality rate to be higher on average, all else being held equal,” compared with a country with a younger population, Gordon told Live Science.

(Excerpt) Read more at scientificamerican.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Local News; Science
KEYWORDS: china; chinavirus; chinavirusmortality; coronavirus; italy
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To: nickcarraway

Also, every dead body is tested for coronavirus. If any level of infection at all shows positive, the death is listed as “coronavirus related” regardless of actual cause.

So you have murder victims listed as corona deaths, accidental deaths listed as corona deaths, deaths of old age complications not at all related to the virus listed as corona virus deaths, and on and on and on.


21 posted on 03/26/2020 1:01:17 PM PDT by Grimmy (equivocation is but the first step along the road to capitulation)
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To: The people have spoken

That is a good point. Italy was 1st to sign up for China’s “New Silk Road” project. Lots of travel between Northern Italy and China for business


22 posted on 03/26/2020 1:01:18 PM PDT by MNJohnnie (They would have abandon leftism to achieve sanity. Freeper Olog-hai)
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To: MNJohnnie

Also a very cross generational culture. Grandparents live with the family.


23 posted on 03/26/2020 1:02:16 PM PDT by Borges
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To: nickcarraway

Elderly Italians hugging and kissing Chinese garment workers in crowded pizzerias


24 posted on 03/26/2020 1:02:18 PM PDT by The Fop (God Bless Donald Trump, Frank Sinatra, Joan Rivers, and the Fightin' Rat Pack Wing of the GOP)
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To: nickcarraway

Now maybe the author will attempt to explain Spain.


25 posted on 03/26/2020 1:02:38 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th (Get out of the matrix and get a real life.)
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To: MNJohnnie

We can see which govt’s are selling out their workers to globalism and to the ChiComs. Traitors all of them.


26 posted on 03/26/2020 1:06:52 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn....)
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To: nickcarraway

*** Italy reported 427 more deaths from the coronavirus outbreak on Thursday, raising the total from 2,978 to 3,405 in one day—now the highest number of deaths worldwide.***

Please note this author uses the phrase “deaths FROM Coronavirus” which isn’t what Italy is actually reporting. Italy is reporting deaths where the patient tested positive FOR CoVid19. Those are two different things. It’s a way to make statistics say what you want them to say.


27 posted on 03/26/2020 1:08:02 PM PDT by FamiliarFace
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To: nickcarraway

Bookmark


28 posted on 03/26/2020 1:08:31 PM PDT by kabar
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To: nickcarraway

It is interesting to look at the European statistics. The Germanic and Nordic countries have the lowest rate. The Southern European countries (France, Spain, Italy) have the highest rate. So there goes the theory that warm weather quells the virus.


29 posted on 03/26/2020 1:10:35 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (Guide me, O thou great redeemer, pilgrim through this barren land.)
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To: IllumiNaughtyByNature
Actually, Northern Italy has the largest population of Chinese immigrants who work in the leather factories they sold to China in the 80’s/90’s/00’s they also also have direct flights to/from China to support the families and workers. That is why they are the epicenter in Europe for the Chinese Virus.

I find it amazing that the article doesn't even mention this.

30 posted on 03/26/2020 1:11:36 PM PDT by FreeReign
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To: nickcarraway

This article is more than two weeks old, not researched very well.

There are 300,000 Chinese in northern Italy, with frequent flights between Wuhan and Milan that occurred through the Chinese New Yea, and even after the clampdown (supposedly) in northern Italy.


31 posted on 03/26/2020 1:20:39 PM PDT by detch (")
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To: BigEdLB

wife’s family is still that way, it took me a while to get used to it!


32 posted on 03/26/2020 1:22:45 PM PDT by allwrong57
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To: nickcarraway

My guesses
1. Old age
2. Pollution
3. Cigarettes
4. Not many ICU beds

Now I’ll read the article.


33 posted on 03/26/2020 1:24:40 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: allwrong57

Wife is Russian, they are affectionate but not as much


34 posted on 03/26/2020 1:24:44 PM PDT by BigEdLB (BigEdLB, Russian BOT, At your service)
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To: All

https://uncoverdc.com/2020/03/20/why-italy/

Excellent article.


35 posted on 03/26/2020 1:25:27 PM PDT by pax_et_bonum (God is good, He loves us, and He is always with us.)
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To: IllumiNaughtyByNature
Actually, Northern Italy has the largest population of Chinese immigrants who work in the leather factories they sold to China in the 80’s/90’s/00’s they also also have direct flights to/from China to support the families and workers. That is why they are the epicenter in Europe for the Chinese Virus.

Yup. Plus Italy has a high elderly population, many of whom smoke. (I'm not sure most people under 60 smoke as much as they did decades ago).

Plus the Italian huggy/kissy culture (which is sweet, but not good during a pandemic). Also there are many multi-generational households... population is dense in most areas and they have lousy socialized medicine.

And of course the Italians didn't stop the imported 300,000+ Chinese leather workers from returning to Italy from their big Chinese New Year celebrations in Wuhan at the end of January.

Then there was that "Hug a Chinese" thing.

A toxic mix.

36 posted on 03/26/2020 1:27:55 PM PDT by nutmeg (Mega prayers for Rush Limbaugh)
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To: Grimmy
Also, every dead body is tested for coronavirus. If any level of infection at all shows positive, the death is listed as “coronavirus related” regardless of actual cause.

So you have murder victims listed as corona deaths, accidental deaths listed as corona deaths, deaths of old age complications not at all related to the virus listed as corona virus deaths, and on and on and on.

THAT is interesting. I hadn't heard that before.

37 posted on 03/26/2020 1:29:49 PM PDT by nutmeg (Mega prayers for Rush Limbaugh)
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To: Governor Dinwiddie

Hi temps in Rome are only around 60 degrees F right now, so not really warm weather just yet.


38 posted on 03/26/2020 1:30:08 PM PDT by ConjunctionJunction
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To: Grimmy
Check out the “Recent Deaths” page at Wikipedia - you'd think 10% of all deaths worldwide was due to the Wuhan Flu...
39 posted on 03/26/2020 1:44:59 PM PDT by decal (I'm not rude, I don't suffer fools is all.)
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To: nickcarraway
These days I trust Scientific American about as much as I trust the New York Times.
40 posted on 03/26/2020 1:47:52 PM PDT by TChad (The MSM, having nuked its own credibility, is now bombing the rubble.)
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