There are 10,407 coronavirus swab positives in Italy in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Ministry of Health.
The victims are 261. There are 81,285 coronavirus swabs carried out in Italy in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Ministry of Health.
In the previous 24 hours there had been 152,334.
The positivity rate is 12.8%, up from 12.5%.
Patients in intensive care for Covid-19 in Italy in the last 24 hours have fallen by 2, in the balance between entries and exits.
There are 135 daily admissions to intensive care. The total number of people admitted to intensive care is now 2,582 The admissions to ordinary wards have decreased by 98 units, bringing the total to 23,304.
THE ENGLISH VARIANT
- Six cases of the
'English variant' Covid-19
have been found by researchers of the genomic sequencing group coordinated by Davide Cacchiarelli at the Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine in Pozzuoli, the Tigem.
The six swabs came from travelers returning from London, checked in recent days at Capodichino airport before the suspension of flights from the United Kingdom.
The researchers determined the complete sequence of the viral genome in 115 positive swabs performed in the last months in Campania by the Zooprophylactic Institute.
In addition to the six 'English' cases, eight different variants were identified in the remaining samples analyzed, all belonging to the "type B", widely spread in Europe.
The study, the results of which have been deposited in Gisaid (the world reference database for sequences of viral genomes), therefore provides a first map of the Sars-CoV-2 variants present in Campania.
Further studies in close collaboration with the researchers of the Spallanzani Institute are underway, the Region announced.
In Puglia a second case of the English variant of Coronavirus was discovered: the regional councilor for health, Pierluigi Lopalco announced it.
A case of contagion of the English variant was also recorded
in Arsago Seprio, a town of 5,000 inhabitants in the province of Varese
.
Apparently, this is an airline employee from the UK.
The man, said the mayor, "is isolated and has had no contact with other people".
Meanwhile, the Sars-CoV-2 positive swabs
compatible with the 'English variant' of the virus and isolated from two laboratories in the Abruzzo regional network
were sent to the Spallanzani Institute in Rome for confirmation of the diagnostic result.
The councilor for Health of the Abruzzo Region, Nicoletta Verì, and the regional referent for maxi-health emergencies, Alberto Albani, have ordered this on the basis of the scientific protocols in force.
"It is a small number of samples - explains Albani - isolated in recent days".
And there are three patients already identified in Veneto positive for the English variant of the Sars-CoV-2 virus
, two in Treviso, one in Vicenza.
The researchers of the virology group of the Zooprophylactic Institute of the Venezie discovered in November, among the 8 variants of Sars-CoV-2 circulating in the region,
two variants currently identified only in Veneto
.
"According to our preliminary studies - said Antonia Ricci, director of the institute - they could be characteristic variants of our territory".
This is the result of a study carried out by the Zooprophylactic in November: "In that month we had identified 37 viruses circulating in Veneto; among these 8 variants of Sars-Cov-2, not yet the English variant, and however two variants not still found in the rest of Italy. We will have to investigate these territorial variants better.
"Most of these viruses - added Ricci, referring to the 8 genotypes found in Veneto - are present both in Italy and in some European countries: they are characterized by a mutation of the Spike protein which makes it more diffusive and more contagious".
The 'English variant' in the samples of three patients residing in Veneto was instead found later, on Christmas Eve, confirmed the scientist.
The Zooprophylactic study is part of a project commissioned by the Veneto Region to monitor viruses in the course of an epidemic.
"Our virology group - recalled Ricci - is a European reference center for avian flu. Following the viruses during an epidemic is a job we do with avian and many animal viruses. This pandemic has taught us, however. that a virus, whether in animals or in humans, doesn't change much. We have very solid skills in tracking viruses during an epidemic. "