Italy sees sharp decline in ICU patients amid coronavirus lockdown

Italy’s coronavirus lockdown has led to a sharp decrease in the number of ICU patients in medical facilities, going from over more than hospitalizations per day to 2,812 as of Friday.

The total number of hospitalized patients has also fallen, going from 29,010 patients on April 4 to 25,786, according to The New York Times.

“This is allowing those who work in ICUs greater ease in dealing with all patients who need intensive care,” not just patients dealing with COVID-19, said Franco Locatelli, the head of Italy’s Higher Health Council.

Health officials said the decline in medical facility admissions is a result of Italy’s nation lockdown imposed on March 10, which significantly diminished the rate of coronavirus infections.

Giovanni Rezza, director of the infectious disease department at the Italian National Institute of Health, said the average infected person spread the virus to three other people during the peak of the outbreak.

“Thanks to the lockdown, it’s now down to under one,” he said. “That, in turn, has an impact on hospitalizations and ICUs.”

New York is reporting similar updates with regard to the state’s coronavirus status. The infection rate in the state is now such that one person with the coronavirus infects 0.9 people.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said the rate has a small margin of error, adding that if it returned to one person infecting more than one person, hospitalization rates could once again rise.

The Empire State also reported that the number of daily hospitalizations is still hovering around 2,000, with Cuomo adding that while the state appears to be past the peak plateau of infections, that is “still an overwhelming number every day.”