The coronavirus is already spreading with might and main in northern Italy, putting other European countries at risk of quarantine, says Pavel Grzesowski, PhD, an immunologist at the Medical Center for Postgraduate Education in Warsaw, Poland.
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has infected more than 200 people in Italy, making it the third largest outbreak outside mainland China. The news came when Italian officials confirmed a fifth death from the virus.
Approximately 50,000 people are currently locked up, with no free movement around the country without a permit. However, the virus can still spread deeper into Italy and other countries, says Pavel Gzhesovsky. Here's what an expert said for TOK FM radio:
“Imagine, for example, that tomorrow Warsaw or any other city receives the same signal as in Italy. Suddenly, we all stay at home, we don't go to work, the kids don't go to school, we start living in a closed city. This could very well happen. In just three days the number
'It is noteworthy that in just three days the number of infected people increased from 20 to 150 people. Obviously, the virus overcame the barrier when it was believed that only people who had visited China were infected. '
In an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, Italian authorities have isolated dozens of small towns in the Lombardy and Veneto regions. In addition, the Italian state railways temporarily suspended the movement of trains to and from Italy, but at the moment the work has been resumed.
At the moment, the main focus of the coronavirus is within the borders of the People's Republic of China. But the recent spike in infections has led South Korea to also confirm more than 800 coronavirus cases on Monday – February 24th.
Since the coronavirus hit China last December, it has infected at least 79,524 people and killed 2,626.
Doctors have some concern that the numbers may be skewed by so-called asymptomatic carriers or infected people who have no symptoms.
