How Italy is Preparing for Phase Two

Every day since the crisis began last month, the Civil Protection service chief Angelo Borrelli brings the latest grim totals in his daily press conference. On April 5th, the country has reported 525 death in one day, the lowest daily total in two weeks and a possible indication the tide may be turning. “This is good news, but we should not let our guard down,” Borrelli added.

As the country continues to respond to the pandemic with the necessary tightening of activities to fight against the contagion, Italian politicians institutions and companies are beginning to think about Phase 2.

The Government cautions, however, that there is no immediate prospect of easing containment measures. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced that Italy would remain in lockdown until April 13th, at the very earliest. Nevertheless, a 5-point health strategy plan was presented by Health Minister Roberto Speranza to gradually get the country up and running again. Life, however will not return to normal straight away, and some measure will continue once enforced confinement is discontinued.

Social distancing

This will remain the golden rule: maintaining a safe distance between people, but also "enforcing social distancing at all levels and promoting the widespread use of means of individual protection." And yes, that means using masks both to go to the supermarket and at work. "The intelligent distribution and use of masks helps us in this battle,’’  admits Speranza ‘‘as long as they are not used for running in the woods and we avoid using those with a filter, which should be reserved for health personnel only."

Covid hospitals

So-called ‘Covid hospitals’ will be established and remain operational, even when the current health emergency has loosened its grip on Italian society."Until the distribution of the vaccine, a second surge of the virus cannot be ruled out, because traditional hospitals must be able to concentrate on all routine therapies”.

Healthcare networks

Strengthened healthcare networks to exit the pandemic is the third point of the programme. The measures require that, after a patient tests positive for Covid-19, a team of specialists will pick them up and accompany them throughout the care process, i.e. from swab to treatment. In addition, other potentially Covid-19-positive patients will be identified and close contacts ordered to self-isolate. Special attention will be paid to people in retirement homes.

Screening

For Speranza, the question of the correct use of molecular and serological tests will have to be addressed, with the possibility of faster swabs that respect the guidelines dictated by the Oms and the Technical-Scientific Committee. The minister announced that a study will soon start on a sample of thousands of Italians in order to understand how many have come into contact with the virus.

Apps and tracking

The last point of the programme concerns the "strengthening of contact tracing and digital assistance strategies with the use of new technologies." Using an app, the ministry will be able to track the close contacts of covid-19 positive people and to observe the health status of patients during quarantine, for example by monitoring heartbeat and blood oxygenation.