Why Italy Has Been Worst Effected In Europe By The Novel Virus

After China, Italy has become the worst hit European country to have somehow failed to contain the virus in the last few days

Tourism has been severely hit in Italy post the outbreak. Tourist seen standing and waiting
for their ride as they cover their faces with masks

The north of Italy has been engulfed in the coronavirus outbreak. The toughest part for the medical authorities was to contain the epidemic there itself.

In hours, people started to travel to the South, making it unsafe for the populace which was still not infected. Now, the Italian government does not know how to curtail the damage. Somewhat like in China, they did not preempt and manage the first few cases properly.

Italy is going off the radar as well. The economic capitals were hit most severely and reports confirmed that the undercurrent of the virus had already been lurking even before it started to appear evidently amongst others. The British budget airline easyJet announced it would cut down as many as 500 flights to Italy, alongside plans on freezes of hiring and pay, as other airlines announced similar measures. This is just the starting of the blow on the economy as days go by.  

Had they done proper briefing and quarantine, it would have been easier to handle the widespread panic.  The healthcare facilities in the South are not as advanced as they are back in the north. Cases in China have started to show a trend of slowing down. But there is a worldwide warning against reducing vigilance.

There is problem when it comes to economy slowdown too. After a huge hue and cry over the negligence and literal panic of mass quarantine amongst people, economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri has risen to the moment and said, "The government will spare no effort to ensure that a package of measures is agreed at the EU level in co-ordination with the whole international community."  

The country is struggling to adapt to the most restrictive measures since World War Two, introduced over the weekend. Up to 16 million people in northern Italy now need permission to travel under quarantine rules. With 366 deaths now confirmed, Italy is the worst-hit country in the world after China.

In both cases, China and now Italy, there was negligence in taking corrective action well in time, making it difficult for the virus to be contained. Governments really need to work in real time and take the indications seriously, because of the kind of catastrophic consequences that hold to such kind of carelessness.