Covid-19 fatalities in Italy have surpassed the death toll during World War II
Italy Faces One of the Most Severe Mortality Crises in Recent History Due to COVID-19
Italy, the first European country to face a rapid spread of the coronavirus infection, has been battling a significant increase in mortality rate this year. According to Gian Carlo Blangiaro, head of the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), Italy's all-cause mortality rate by the end of 2020 is expected to surpass the 700,000 threshold, marking a substantial jump compared to previous years.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been the primary driver of this mortality spike. As reported by Blangiaro in an interview with Rai TV, Italy recorded an excess mortality rate of about 49.6% during the early 2020 period compared to a recent baseline (2016-2019). This is a stark contrast to the general mortality decline experienced in recent decades.
While the mortality rate in 2020 may approach the highest since 1944, during World War II, it does not reach the same scale. During the war, Italy faced much higher mortality rates due to war casualties, famine, and other war-related causes, which are generally recognized as far more severe in scale than the COVID-19 impact in 2020.
In terms of long-term trends, Italy’s life expectancy and mortality rates have generally improved since WWII, with the notable exception of acute crises like the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1990s and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. For example, mortality among people with HIV in Italy has steadily declined from the late 1990s to 2020 due to effective antiretroviral therapy. Additionally, child mortality rates (under-five mortality) have dropped dramatically over the last 60 years.
As the pandemic continues, Italy's authorities have been working tirelessly to combat the virus. In the fall, new restrictions were imposed due to a rise in the number of infected people. Despite the summer declaration that the country had "weathered the storm" of the pandemic, victory over the infection can only be declared after a vaccine is developed.
As of the current data, France has more COVID-19 cases than Italy among European countries. Over 65,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Italy, as reported by the health ministry. The outbreak began in Lombardy, the northern province of Italy, and Italy remains in fifth place worldwide in terms of COVID-19 mortality rate.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Italy's population has seen some changes. The number of foreigners living in Italy increased by 43,000 and exceeded 5 million. The average age of the population also increased from 43 to 45 years. However, the population of Italy decreased by about 175,000 from the end of 2018 to the end of 2019.
The World Health Organization has linked the outbreak's scale in Italy to the delayed reaction to the disease and the age of the country's population. The statements were also reported by Ansa news agency. As the world continues to grapple with the pandemic, Italy remains at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted Italy's health-and-wellness, causing an increase in mortality rate, with over 65,000 deaths reported by the health ministry as of current data. Science plays a crucial role in Italy's fight against the pandemic, as the development of a vaccine is the only path to declaring victory over the infection.
