Here's an interesting article about why COVID-19 has hit Italy so hard.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

The disease had probably been circulating for several weeks, assumed to be seasonal flu, before the first person was diagnosed with COVID-19. By that time it was spreading in hospitals and communities.

Italy has the oldest population in the world; the average age of the people who have died of the virus is 81, which might explain its particularly high mortality rate.

Air pollution, which impairs lung function, is a serious problem in parts of northern Italy.

Italy has universal health care but it has been underfunded for years and there is a shortage of doctors, nurses and hospital beds.

https://time.com/5799586/italy-coronavirus-outbreak/

[teenagebambam]

1. Led a student group to Italy several years ago

A student was injured and I had to accompany him to the hospital. Nurses were very hands off, and I came to understand that if someone is hospitalized there, it's expected that a family member will accompany them to take care of routine needs, nurses are just there for emergencies.