At the beginning of February 2020, experts believed that the SarsCov2 infection was limited to China and that there was no circulation of the virus in Italy and Europe.
It emerges from the reports of the Coronavirus task force relating to the period 22 January 2020-21 February 2020 published by the Ministry of Health.
In addition, at the meeting of 6 February 2020, the Higher Institute of Health indicates that "there is no transmission of the virus before the onset of symptoms" and suggests that "a plan be prepared to implement intensive care places in the event that there is was an epidemic in our country ".
From the first meetings, when the word pandemic was not yet on the front pages of the newspapers, to that of the day on which the hospitalization of 'patient one', the 38-year-old from Codogno, was announced: the reports from the coronavirus task force relating to the period 22 January-21 February 2020. The Lazio TAR established the publication of all documents relating to the meetings with a sentence published on 7 May last, which upheld the appeal of the deputy Brothers of Italy Galeazzo Bignami, who had been denied access to the documents. The ministerial task force, as indicated in the minutes of the session of January 21 and made known at the time with a press release, was set up with the task of "coordinate any initiative relating to the Coronavirus 2019-nCoV ". Permanently operational, it met daily and was composed of: the general directorate for prevention, the other competent directorates, the Carabinieri dei Nas, the ISS, the National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani, from the Maritime, Air and Border Health Offices, Aifa, Agenas and the diplomatic adviser.Agenas and the diplomatic adviser.Agenas and the diplomatic adviser.
Task Force Minutes, 'Update the Pandemic Plan'
- The need to update the national pandemic plan developed in the 2009 influenza pandemic is first noted on February 15, 2020 at meetings of the Ministry of Health's coronavirus task force, the reports of which were released today. The problem was highlighted by Francesco Paolo Maraglino, from the Prevention department of the ministry. "Dr. Maraglino - reads the minutes of the meeting - highlights the need to update the National Plan for the preparation and response to an influenza pandemic, dating back to 2009". We return to talk about the Pandemic Plan in the meeting on February 16, when Maraglino again "informs that the working table for updating the Pandemic Plan will meet on February 18.We will work in sub-groups to speed up the work ".
