Confronting COVID-19: Surging critical care capacity in Italy

Jose Manuel Rodriguez Llanes; Rafael Castro Delgado; Morten Gram Pedersen; Pedro Arcos Gonzalez; Matteo Meneghini

Finally, Italy remains a guiding example for this crisis, now approaching like a tsunami to the rest of Europe. The Italian government quickly reacted and declared the state of emergency after few cases appeared in Codogno. They rapidly activated the coordination of institutions such as the Instituto Superiore di Sanitá and Civil Protection Agency which have been working hand in hand and communicating and coordinating daily to the general public, with enormous transparency, diligence and respect to the victims. In addition, the Civil Protection Agency implemented a modern open data policy regarding epidemiological and health care data in near-real time and with clear definitions and support. This is facilitating a sense of unity, respect and also a real time response of the scientific community. Clinical ethics recommendations for admission to intensive care and for their suspension, in exceptional conditions of imbalance between needs and available Resources. 6 March 2020.