Covid, Gimbe: infections still declining in the last week. But for the school the plan is inadequate "

The

for Covid-19 continues.

In

, infections fell by 12.9%, ICU admissions by 11.9%, ordinary admissions by 13.3% compared to the previous week.

(-14.3%).

This was revealed by the new independent monitoring of the Gimbe Foundation.

"

- says President Nino Cartabellotta -

has continued, reaching around 108 thousand, with a 7-day moving average of

". 

In detail, compared to the previous week, the following changes were recorded: 

New cases.

In 18 Regions there is a percentage drop in new cases (from -4.8% in Piedmont to -31.5% in Calabria), in 3 Regions a minimal increase (Autonomous Province of Bolzano + 0.2%, Tuscany +1 , 1%, Umbria + 4%).

Compared to the previous week, in 88 Provinces there was a decrease in new cases (from -0.8% in Chieti to -55% in Crotone), while 19 Provinces recorded an increase (from + 0.5% in Alessandria to +58 , 2% of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola).

The incidence remains below 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in all provinces: from 76 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in Barletta-Andria-Trani to 338 in Pescara.

Hospitalizations.

"On the hospital front - says

, Operations Director of the Gimbe Foundation - the number of Covid-19 beds occupied both in the medical area (-13.3%) and in intensive care (-11.9%) continues to decline".

From July 26, in seven weeks, hospitalizations fell from 434 to 163 in the critical area and from 11,124 to 3,868 in the medical area, respectively.

As of September 13, the national employment rate for Covid patients was 6.1% in the medical area and 1.8% in the critical area.

"The admissions to intensive care are stable - points out Mosti - with a 7-day moving average of 16 admissions / day compared to 17 in the previous week".

Deaths

.

The decline also continues in terms of deaths: 383 in the last 7 days (of which 65 referring to previous periods), with an average of 55 per day compared to 64 in the previous week.

Vaccines

.

As of September 14, 88.2% of the audience had received at least one dose of vaccine and 86.7% had completed the vaccination cycle.

In the week 7-13 September

: 2,236 compared to 2,208 of the previous week (+ 1.3%).

Of these, 43.6% is represented by the 5-11 range.

Among the over 50s, most at risk of serious illness, the number of new vaccinated people has fallen to 327. 

In addition, as of September 14,

. 

School reopening plan

“In the vortex of the electoral campaign, which coincided with the downward phase of the fifth wave, the theme of the safe reopening of schools has not received the necessary attention.

The plan prepared for the 2022-23 school year appears inadequate not so much for the measures envisaged, but for the often generic recommendations and, above all, for the excessive responsibilities placed on schools, lacking the necessary health resources and skills.

The risk is that of a significant impact on viral circulation and public health, but also on lost school days,

The role of vaccines in reducing viral circulation in schools is currently modest in the 5-11 age group

for at least three reasons: first of all, the effectiveness against Covid-19 infection is lower than in the older age groups;

second, the current national coverage with two doses is 35.1% with significant regional differences.

Finally, the EMA, unlike the FDA in the United States, has not authorized the booster dose for under 12s, which is essential to protect themselves from Omicron.

Furthermore, in the 12-19 age group only 46.4% completed the cycle with 3 doses.

Beyond some objective criteria (temperature> 37.5 °, positive swab), the symptoms indicated in the ISS document as compatible with Covid-19, in particular the respiratory one, as well as not being specific to Sars-CoV infection -2, has large margins of subjectivity, even by a doctor / pediatrician.

"The evaluation of symptoms - explains Cartabellotta - is in fact entrusted to parents and school staff, with an unpredictable impact both on school absenteeism and on the circulation of the virus". 

The spotlight remains inexplicably focused on

in the presence of one or more confirmed cases, despite scientific evidence showing that less than 1% of infections are due to contact with infected surfaces.

And, despite the ways of transmission of the virus, which occurs almost exclusively by aerosol, no specific aeration and ventilation intervention is recommended to improve air quality, but only a generic "frequent air exchange", or "the 'open windows' protocol - comments Cartabellotta - which this year will collide with the 'closed windows' imposed by the energy crisis during the cold season ”.

The indications of the ISS then provide a list of further mitigation measures (mask obligation, distancing, avoiding gatherings, suspension of educational trips and educational outings,

shifts in canteens) to be introduced "in relation to the epidemiological context and national provisions".

However, it is not clear whether their implementation should take place at national, regional or local level, on the basis of which indicators and, above all, with what priority / graduality.