Vulnerable Population in Covid-19 Outbreak: A Look at Italy

Antonio Rimedio

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14

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Vulnerable Population in Covid-19 Outbreak: A Look at Italy

Antonio Rimedio

Published in American Journal of Health Research (Volume 8, Issue 3)

Received: 5 May 2020 Accepted: 27 May 2020 Published: 16 June 2020

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Abstract

We examine the population groups most exposed to Covid-19 in the Italian social and health context. These groups include, firstly, elderly and disabled people with one or more pre-existing diseases and, secondly, health workers, especially doctors and nurses, who have paid a very high price in terms of contagion and death. If elderly people are infected with the virus and become ill with severe interstitial pneumonia, they are unlikely to be admitted to intensive care units and are destined to die in a short time. Therefore, in accordance with the principle of "equity" recommended by the World Health Organization, some resources should be devoted to protecting these elderly persons, so that they would not come into contact with the virus. Unfortunately, the measures taken by the Italian National Government and Regional Administrations have not been effective in protecting this elderly group, as is evident from the ongoing judicial disputes. Covid-19 health care professionals are the most exposed to the risk of contagion, which increases dramatically if there are no adequate personal protection equipment. And these protections were lacking, especially in the early stages of contagion. Meaningful demonstrations of a human solidarity have happened, which have crossed the boundaries of duty to the point of sacrifice of life.

Published in	American Journal of Health Research (Volume 8, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14
Page(s)	42-48
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Covid-19 ItalianVulnerable Groups, Covid-19 Health Workers, Covid-19 Outbreak in Italy, Allocation of Intensive Care Resources

References

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Antonio Rimedio. (2020). Vulnerable Population in Covid-19 Outbreak: A Look at Italy. American Journal of Health Research, 8(3), 42-48. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14

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Antonio Rimedio. Vulnerable Population in Covid-19 Outbreak: A Look at Italy. Am. J. Health Res. 2020, 8(3), 42-48. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14

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AMA Style

Antonio Rimedio. Vulnerable Population in Covid-19 Outbreak: A Look at Italy. Am J Health Res. 2020;8(3):42-48. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14

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@article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14,
  author = {Antonio Rimedio},
  title = {Vulnerable Population in Covid-19 Outbreak: A Look at Italy},
  journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
  volume = {8},
  number = {3},
  pages = {42-48},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20200803.14},
  abstract = {We examine the population groups most exposed to Covid-19 in the Italian social and health context. These groups include, firstly, elderly and disabled people with one or more pre-existing diseases and, secondly, health workers, especially doctors and nurses, who have paid a very high price in terms of contagion and death. If elderly people are infected with the virus and become ill with severe interstitial pneumonia, they are unlikely to be admitted to intensive care units and are destined to die in a short time. Therefore, in accordance with the principle of "equity" recommended by the World Health Organization, some resources should be devoted to protecting these elderly persons, so that they would not come into contact with the virus. Unfortunately, the measures taken by the Italian National Government and Regional Administrations have not been effective in protecting this elderly group, as is evident from the ongoing judicial disputes. Covid-19 health care professionals are the most exposed to the risk of contagion, which increases dramatically if there are no adequate personal protection equipment. And these protections were lacking, especially in the early stages of contagion. Meaningful demonstrations of a human solidarity have happened, which have crossed the boundaries of duty to the point of sacrifice of life.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Vulnerable Population in Covid-19 Outbreak: A Look at Italy
AU  - Antonio Rimedio
Y1  - 2020/06/16
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14
T2  - American Journal of Health Research
JF  - American Journal of Health Research
JO  - American Journal of Health Research
SP  - 42
EP  - 48
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8796
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14
AB  - We examine the population groups most exposed to Covid-19 in the Italian social and health context. These groups include, firstly, elderly and disabled people with one or more pre-existing diseases and, secondly, health workers, especially doctors and nurses, who have paid a very high price in terms of contagion and death. If elderly people are infected with the virus and become ill with severe interstitial pneumonia, they are unlikely to be admitted to intensive care units and are destined to die in a short time. Therefore, in accordance with the principle of "equity" recommended by the World Health Organization, some resources should be devoted to protecting these elderly persons, so that they would not come into contact with the virus. Unfortunately, the measures taken by the Italian National Government and Regional Administrations have not been effective in protecting this elderly group, as is evident from the ongoing judicial disputes. Covid-19 health care professionals are the most exposed to the risk of contagion, which increases dramatically if there are no adequate personal protection equipment. And these protections were lacking, especially in the early stages of contagion. Meaningful demonstrations of a human solidarity have happened, which have crossed the boundaries of duty to the point of sacrifice of life.
VL  - 8
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Antonio Rimedio

Biotechnology and Life Sciences Department (Center for Clinical Ethics – CREC), Insubria University, Varese, Italy

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Antonio Rimedio. (2020). Vulnerable Population in Covid-19 Outbreak: A Look at Italy. American Journal of Health Research, 8(3), 42-48. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14

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Antonio Rimedio. Vulnerable Population in Covid-19 Outbreak: A Look at Italy. Am. J. Health Res. 2020, 8(3), 42-48. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14

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AMA Style

Antonio Rimedio. Vulnerable Population in Covid-19 Outbreak: A Look at Italy. Am J Health Res. 2020;8(3):42-48. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14,
  author = {Antonio Rimedio},
  title = {Vulnerable Population in Covid-19 Outbreak: A Look at Italy},
  journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
  volume = {8},
  number = {3},
  pages = {42-48},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20200803.14},
  abstract = {We examine the population groups most exposed to Covid-19 in the Italian social and health context. These groups include, firstly, elderly and disabled people with one or more pre-existing diseases and, secondly, health workers, especially doctors and nurses, who have paid a very high price in terms of contagion and death. If elderly people are infected with the virus and become ill with severe interstitial pneumonia, they are unlikely to be admitted to intensive care units and are destined to die in a short time. Therefore, in accordance with the principle of "equity" recommended by the World Health Organization, some resources should be devoted to protecting these elderly persons, so that they would not come into contact with the virus. Unfortunately, the measures taken by the Italian National Government and Regional Administrations have not been effective in protecting this elderly group, as is evident from the ongoing judicial disputes. Covid-19 health care professionals are the most exposed to the risk of contagion, which increases dramatically if there are no adequate personal protection equipment. And these protections were lacking, especially in the early stages of contagion. Meaningful demonstrations of a human solidarity have happened, which have crossed the boundaries of duty to the point of sacrifice of life.},
 year = {2020}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Vulnerable Population in Covid-19 Outbreak: A Look at Italy
AU  - Antonio Rimedio
Y1  - 2020/06/16
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14
T2  - American Journal of Health Research
JF  - American Journal of Health Research
JO  - American Journal of Health Research
SP  - 42
EP  - 48
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8796
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20200803.14
AB  - We examine the population groups most exposed to Covid-19 in the Italian social and health context. These groups include, firstly, elderly and disabled people with one or more pre-existing diseases and, secondly, health workers, especially doctors and nurses, who have paid a very high price in terms of contagion and death. If elderly people are infected with the virus and become ill with severe interstitial pneumonia, they are unlikely to be admitted to intensive care units and are destined to die in a short time. Therefore, in accordance with the principle of "equity" recommended by the World Health Organization, some resources should be devoted to protecting these elderly persons, so that they would not come into contact with the virus. Unfortunately, the measures taken by the Italian National Government and Regional Administrations have not been effective in protecting this elderly group, as is evident from the ongoing judicial disputes. Covid-19 health care professionals are the most exposed to the risk of contagion, which increases dramatically if there are no adequate personal protection equipment. And these protections were lacking, especially in the early stages of contagion. Meaningful demonstrations of a human solidarity have happened, which have crossed the boundaries of duty to the point of sacrifice of life.
VL  - 8
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download