windwalker wrote:Any medical system can be overwhelmed if people panic or made to panic and use it, just as the items that people buy in stores Can be thought of as in short supply if everybody tries to buy them at the same time.
This statement beggars belief. Really, I had to read it several times to make sure I wasn't misunderstanding you. But this is what you imply: the medical system in Northern Italy has become overwhelmed because of 'people panicking'. Meaning that they are going for treatment, and presumably also receiving it, when that's unnecessary.
The medical system in Northern Italy has not become overwhelmed because lots of neurotic, hysterical people have been rushing to hospitals and checking themselves into intensive care, crying out: "My irritating cough and raised temperature are freaking me out! I've seen too many coronavirus scare videos, so move aside!" The system has become overwhelmed because lots of people have had to be placed in intensive care/on respirators because they are so ill that they will otherwise probably die. Or have now died anyway. For at least a week or two, Italian doctors have been conducting triage to decide, quickly, who gets to be put on a respirator and who is, put brutally, not worth trying to save.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-italy-ethics-speci/special-report-all-is-well-in-italy-triage-and-lies-for-virus-patients-idUSKBN2133KGI just read a report from eastern France where the specialist doctors say that they are surprised and shocked that when people do recover, if they do, how long this takes. Meaning that a patient often occupies an intensive care bed for longer than planned.
And even with the lockdown measures, there continue to be more people being brought to hospital requiring intensive care than places can be found for them. And once that point has been reached, the death rates go up fast. Which is why the measures are necessary.... etc. etc.