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| As Coronavirus Eases, More Italians Say, ‘I Want Justice’ | As Coronavirus Eases, More Italians Say, ‘I Want Justice’ |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| MILAN — As the infection curve in Italy flattens and the government moves gingerly toward reopening the country, more Italians, fueled by growing anger over thousands of deaths and what they see as health officials’ failures in handing the crisis, are seeking to hold someone accountable. | MILAN — As the infection curve in Italy flattens and the government moves gingerly toward reopening the country, more Italians, fueled by growing anger over thousands of deaths and what they see as health officials’ failures in handing the crisis, are seeking to hold someone accountable. |
| Some analysts foresee a litigious phase as victims’ families rally in anger in Facebook groups and prosecutors weigh manslaughter charges over deaths at some nursing homes. Italy’s coronavirus epidemic was among the world’s deadliest, with an official toll of more than 25,000. And the grievances are emerging as the government wrestles with lifting the lockdown, what it calls Phase 2. | Some analysts foresee a litigious phase as victims’ families rally in anger in Facebook groups and prosecutors weigh manslaughter charges over deaths at some nursing homes. Italy’s coronavirus epidemic was among the world’s deadliest, with an official toll of more than 25,000. And the grievances are emerging as the government wrestles with lifting the lockdown, what it calls Phase 2. |
| “Phase 3 is going to be the criminalization of the contagion,” the journalist Nicola Mirenzi wrote on the news website Linkiesta. “The pandemic is going to turn into a big collective trial.” | “Phase 3 is going to be the criminalization of the contagion,” the journalist Nicola Mirenzi wrote on the news website Linkiesta. “The pandemic is going to turn into a big collective trial.” |
| Prosecutors have begun investigating whether errors by the authorities had contributed to or caused Italy’s deadliest clusters. Liberal members of Parliament have accused the conservative government in the Lombardy region, where the country’s outbreak first appeared, of exacerbating the contagion. About 45,000 relatives of coronavirus victims have joined “NOI Denunceremo” (“We Will Denounce You”), a Facebook group for people who believe not enough was done to save their relatives. | Prosecutors have begun investigating whether errors by the authorities had contributed to or caused Italy’s deadliest clusters. Liberal members of Parliament have accused the conservative government in the Lombardy region, where the country’s outbreak first appeared, of exacerbating the contagion. About 45,000 relatives of coronavirus victims have joined “NOI Denunceremo” (“We Will Denounce You”), a Facebook group for people who believe not enough was done to save their relatives. |
| Lawyers have begun advertising their services to mourning families in response to allegations of mistakes committed by health care workers in treating coronavirus patients. The president of Italy’s main doctors’ association has denounced the marketing campaigns. | Lawyers have begun advertising their services to mourning families in response to allegations of mistakes committed by health care workers in treating coronavirus patients. The president of Italy’s main doctors’ association has denounced the marketing campaigns. |
| But many Italians seek to hold the authorities accountable for what they call negligence and the lack of timely treatment many said they had witnessed. | But many Italians seek to hold the authorities accountable for what they call negligence and the lack of timely treatment many said they had witnessed. |
| Laura Capelli, a 48-year-old office worker, said doctors in a town near Bergamo, the area of Italy hit the hardest by the coronavirus, had told her they had decided to sedate her uncle because he kept clawing at the mask on his face. He died soon after. | Laura Capelli, a 48-year-old office worker, said doctors in a town near Bergamo, the area of Italy hit the hardest by the coronavirus, had told her they had decided to sedate her uncle because he kept clawing at the mask on his face. He died soon after. |
| But when another doctor at the Ponte San Pietro Hospital told her that the choice to sedate her uncle had been motivated by a need to make room for younger patients, Ms. Capelli joined NOI Denunceremo. | But when another doctor at the Ponte San Pietro Hospital told her that the choice to sedate her uncle had been motivated by a need to make room for younger patients, Ms. Capelli joined NOI Denunceremo. |
| “I have the impression they are trying to silence everything,” Ms. Capelli said on Thursday. “Now it’s a moment of common pain, but for the future, I want justice.” | “I have the impression they are trying to silence everything,” Ms. Capelli said on Thursday. “Now it’s a moment of common pain, but for the future, I want justice.” |
| She added that, at this point, she would not know whom to sue. | She added that, at this point, she would not know whom to sue. |
| Diego Federici, 35, said that his mother had the coronavirus and died on March 25 after doctors in a hospital in Treviglio, near Milan, decided not to intubate her. His father, who was never admitted to an intensive care unit, had died four days earlier. | Diego Federici, 35, said that his mother had the coronavirus and died on March 25 after doctors in a hospital in Treviglio, near Milan, decided not to intubate her. His father, who was never admitted to an intensive care unit, had died four days earlier. |
| Mr. Federici said he had joined the NOI Denunceremo Facebook group, adding that he could not accept that two healthy people had died within four days. | Mr. Federici said he had joined the NOI Denunceremo Facebook group, adding that he could not accept that two healthy people had died within four days. |
| “Nobody is going to give me my parents back,” he said, “but if someone did something wrong, they should pay for it.” | “Nobody is going to give me my parents back,” he said, “but if someone did something wrong, they should pay for it.” |
| Luca Fusco, the founder of the Facebook group, initially posted his email address for members to send their stories anonymously, but dozens of members soon started directly publishing their testimonies every day. The authors do not directly accuse health care workers of malfeasance. | Luca Fusco, the founder of the Facebook group, initially posted his email address for members to send their stories anonymously, but dozens of members soon started directly publishing their testimonies every day. The authors do not directly accuse health care workers of malfeasance. |
| As the painful stories of the epidemic pile up on Facebook, the judiciary authorities began searching for someone to blame. Prosecutors started an investigation into what they call an “involuntary epidemic” at a hospital in Alzano, near Bergamo, where the virus spread through the medical wards. | As the painful stories of the epidemic pile up on Facebook, the judiciary authorities began searching for someone to blame. Prosecutors started an investigation into what they call an “involuntary epidemic” at a hospital in Alzano, near Bergamo, where the virus spread through the medical wards. |
| Maria Cristina Rota, Bergamo’s prosecutor, told the news agency Ansa that a pool of prosecutors would “take care of all the investigations about the epidemic in the Bergamo area.” | Maria Cristina Rota, Bergamo’s prosecutor, told the news agency Ansa that a pool of prosecutors would “take care of all the investigations about the epidemic in the Bergamo area.” |
| They are also considering manslaughter charges against the directors of retirement homes where hundreds of residents died and where the full death toll may have been hidden. | They are also considering manslaughter charges against the directors of retirement homes where hundreds of residents died and where the full death toll may have been hidden. |
| Italians are not the only ones seeking some form of accountability for the pandemic. In the United States, the state of Missouri filed a lawsuit against the Chinese government on Tuesday, saying its response to the outbreak that emerged in the city of Wuhan had led to devastating economic losses in the state. | Italians are not the only ones seeking some form of accountability for the pandemic. In the United States, the state of Missouri filed a lawsuit against the Chinese government on Tuesday, saying its response to the outbreak that emerged in the city of Wuhan had led to devastating economic losses in the state. |
| Updated June 24, 2020 | |
| Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles. | |
| A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. | A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. |
| The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. | The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. |
| The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. | The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. |
| So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. | So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. |
| Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. | Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. |
| A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. | A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. |
| The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. | The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. |
| Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. | Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. |
| If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) | If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) |
| If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. | If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. |
| A ski resort hotel in the Dolomites also presented a subpoena in an Italian court seeking compensation from China’s Health Ministry for loss of business after the outbreak, Marco Vignola, the lawyer for the hotel, told news outlets. | A ski resort hotel in the Dolomites also presented a subpoena in an Italian court seeking compensation from China’s Health Ministry for loss of business after the outbreak, Marco Vignola, the lawyer for the hotel, told news outlets. |
| “The early and sudden closure led to disastrous consequences, including the dismissal of all staff and the cancellation of contracts with suppliers,” the lawyer was quoted as saying. | “The early and sudden closure led to disastrous consequences, including the dismissal of all staff and the cancellation of contracts with suppliers,” the lawyer was quoted as saying. |
| On April 15, lawmakers from the governing Democratic Party blamed Lombardy’s conservative government for the high number of deaths in the region’s retirement homes. Lia Quartapelle, a lawmaker with the center-left party, accused the authorities there of having “worsened the contagion.” | On April 15, lawmakers from the governing Democratic Party blamed Lombardy’s conservative government for the high number of deaths in the region’s retirement homes. Lia Quartapelle, a lawmaker with the center-left party, accused the authorities there of having “worsened the contagion.” |
| Even as frustration grows, Italy is still mourning its losses and facing an uncertain future. Honoring health care workers is still foremost in most Italians’ minds, and not everyone supports the prosecutorial shift. | Even as frustration grows, Italy is still mourning its losses and facing an uncertain future. Honoring health care workers is still foremost in most Italians’ minds, and not everyone supports the prosecutorial shift. |
| A 24-year-old nurse wrote a letter in the Repubblica newspaper in response to the criticism heaped on the authorities in Lombardy. She said that in the months she spent in a Covid-19 ward, she had learned the value of sacrifice, waiting and forgiving. | A 24-year-old nurse wrote a letter in the Repubblica newspaper in response to the criticism heaped on the authorities in Lombardy. She said that in the months she spent in a Covid-19 ward, she had learned the value of sacrifice, waiting and forgiving. |
| “How can your position toward the future,” she asked, “be summarized by accusations?” | “How can your position toward the future,” she asked, “be summarized by accusations?” |