Italy has 1/4 # of beds per capita as we do and a much bigger backlog before hand. Spain similar, and both are much older than the US
Germany has a higher average age than Italy. But, sure, there are many different factors to explain what’s happening in Italy and Spain right now.
However, what’s happening in those countries now doesn’t happen during the regular flu season. This new virus is overwhelming them.
Soon a vaccine will be available. Doctors are figuring out which medicines work. This won’t go on forever.