ISS, October 1st 2021
Here are the main data provided by the Situation Room:
The weekly incidence at national level has declined: 37 per 100,000 inhabitants (24/09/2021 - 30/09/2021) versus 48 per 100,000 inhabitants (13/09/2021-19/09/2021), ISS (Italian National Institute of Health) flow data. The incidence is below the weekly threshold of 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants which means that transmission can be controlled through containment or by identifying cases and tracing their contacts.
· In the period from 8 to 21 September 2021, the average Rt calculated on symptomatic cases was equal to 0.83 (range 0.81 - 0.85), hence below the epidemic and stable threshold compared to the previous week. The transmissibility index based on hospitalized cases decreased slightly (Rt = 0.80 (0.77-0.84) on 21/9/2021 versus Rt = 0.86 (0.82-0.90) on 14/9/2021).
· Bed occupancy in the intensive care units decreased slightly to 4.6% (daily survey by the Ministry of Health). Bed occupancy in the medical units nationwide fell to 5.5%.
· Only one Region / Autonomous Province was classified as being at moderate risk, according to the Ministerial Decree of 30 April 2020. The remaining 20 Regions / Autonomous Provinces were classified as low risk.
· Only one Region / Autonomous Province reported a resilience alert. None of the Regions reported multiple resilience alerts.
· The number of new cases not associated with transmission chains decreased (7,070 versus 8,482 in the previous week) while the percentage of cases detected through contact tracing increased slightly (34% versus 33% last week). On the other hand, the percentage of cases detected through the onset of symptoms decreased a little (45% versus 46%) and the percentage of cases diagnosed through screening activities remained stable (21% versus 21%).
· Higher vaccination coverage and completion of the vaccination courses are the main tools to prevent further upsurges in the circulation of the virus that has been strengthened by emerging variants.
· It is advisable to carry out extensive tracing and containment of cases, keep up our guard and comply with the measures and behaviours aimed at curbing further increases in the circulation of the virus.
