COVID-19 in Italy: impact of containment measures and prevalence estimates of infection in the general population

Acta Biomed. 2020 Apr 10;91(3-S):175-179. doi: 10.23750/abm.v91i3-S.9511.

Abstract

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy, the Italian Government implemented several restrictive measures to contain the spread of the infection. Data shows that, among these measures, the lockdown implemented as of 9 March had a positive impact, in particular the central and southern regions of Italy, while other actions appeared to be less effective. When the true prevalence of a disease is unknown, it is possible estimate it, based on mortality data and the assumptive case-fatality rate of the disease. Given these assumptions, the estimated period-prevalence of COVID-19 in Italy varies from 0.35% in Sicity to 13.3% in Lombardy.

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / mortality*
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission
  • Coronavirus*
  • Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control*
  • Epidemiological Monitoring
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Mortality / trends
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral / mortality*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission
  • Population Surveillance
  • Prevalence
  • Quarantine*
  • SARS-CoV-2