Close checks at Italy care homes as Italy fights virus

Italy is facing the spectre of a second nationwide lockdown amid a resurgence of coronavirus infections and authorities fearing the number of intensive care units in the country may not be sufficient.

After the devastating impact of the first phase of the pandemic in Italy earlier this year, care homes for the elderly have been identified as a particularly vulnerable target.

Care facilities have been placed under the constant watch of health operators working in close contact with their residents.

At the Santa Monica home for the elderly at Bagno a Ripoli, near Florence, Sky Italia reported there were 48 positive cases among a total of 68 guests, which poses a delicate challenge.

"We are able, in real time, to bring oxygen, medicines, nutritional supplements, blood tests, ultrasound tests, we have a portable radiograph, so we basically are able to give a diagnosis and the necessary treatments just as in a hospital," one of the health operators working in the Santa Monica home said on Friday.

Italy’s new cases on Friday reached 650 per 100,000 Italians.

Densely populated Campania, which includes Naples, had 4,079 cases.

That’s the third-highest daily total behind Lombardy with 10,634 and Piedmont with 5,258, both of which have been so-called red zones, where the strongest restrictions are in place, since last week.

Tuscany, which contains Florence, added 2,478 cases.

As of Friday Italy has confirmed 1.1 million coronavirus cases.

The country reported 550 deaths on Friday, bringing the known death toll to more than 44,000.

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