"The devastating impact of the coronavirus on Italy has sparked considerable speculation as to why the country appears to have suffered so disproportionately from the disease."

Here is a story that is finally coming out. This was either unknown or ignored by our media.

This blog's author has done very nice modeling of COVID-19 on a Country basis. We have known and read David Merkel for more than 20-years. He is a statistician and has been an actuary and a bond trader and manager of bond departments for insurance companies. His analysis is very similar to what your state health department uses and what the CDC uses to model epidemic progression in a population. Highly recommended reading.

Update (2015ET):  Perhaps realizing that facing down a second great depression if the US economy is halted indefinitely as a result of the coronavirus pandemic would not improve his re-election chances, President Trump struck a defiant tone at Monday's coronavirus press briefing when he said that the American economy can’t remain slowed for too long to fight the coronavirus, declaring that the country "was not built to be shut down."

Update (1720ET): Now that Boris Johnson has over-delivered by ordering all of Britain to undergo a strict national lockdown requiring all Britons, but especially the vulnerable, to remain inside for 3 weeks (except for certain essential shopping trips, solitary exercise and seeking medical help).

Update (2000ET): Stock futures hit limit down again overnight after Senate Democrats shot down the administration's latest economic stimulus package, New Zealand said it would issue an order calling for nationwide self-isolation, while NYC announced the closure of all non-essential businesses.

Update (1330ET): After nearly two weeks of reporting one grim record after another, Italy has finally reported a drop in new cases on Sunday.

Update (0940ET): After one of his aides tested positive, VP Pence was tested, and as it turns out, has tested negative, along with his wife, Karen Pence.

Update (1510ET): Across Europe on Saturday, deaths accorded to COVID-19 soared, with Italy reporting a record 793 deaths on Friday, and Spain reporting another 300 cases, bringing their totals to 4,825 and 1,326.

Update (1415ET): Just as Gov. Cuomo hinted earlier this week, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed an executive order mandating that all non-essential workers living in the state stay home.

"Update (0850ET): Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte blamed the Italian people earlier this week when he said he would extend Italy's nationwide lockdown until April 3, claiming that too many were still violating the lockdown despite stiff penalties.

As the country's death toll passes the death toll from mainland China (or the 'official' death toll at least), whispers about even restrictive measures appear to have just been validated: Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Friday effectively declared martial law Friday morning in Italy's worst-hit region of Lombardy, claiming that he will now be bringing in the Army to enforce the lockdown, something that the region's governor swiftly confirmed."

"The World breathed a sigh of relief Thursday night when China reported no new domestically-transmitted cases of the coronavirus for a second straight day. "

What is not being said in the media, is that both Italy and Iran have signed on to the Chinese One Belt and One Road initiative. For a long period (years), Italy has had a sizable number of Chinese leather workers in Northern Italy making shoes and handbags. Today that number is around 100,000. So, supposing many went home for Chinese New Year (January 25th) and then came back to Italy to work?  We will let you connect the dots.

"The Italian governor of Lombardy is warning citizens to “stay home” because soon hospitals “will no longer be able to help those who get sick” with the Chinese coronavirus."

"

• Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte put all of Italy under strict lockdown from Tuesday onward after the country’s infections zoomed past 9,100 on Monday.
• The country’s 60 million citizens now face restrictions on all aspects of life, including retail, leisure, worship, imprisonment, and travel."

"Sometimes, as the lawyers say, res ipsa loquitur, meaning “the thing speaks for itself”. I believe these three excepts, both individually and in juxtaposition, say a great deal about the war against coronavirus."

"Update (1620ET): Canadian officials have confirmed six new cases of the virus in British Columbia on Saturday, bringing the total cases in Canada to 57.

Update (1420ET): Following in the footsteps of China and South Korea, both of which eventually locked down the local epicenter(s) of the coronavirus breakout by imposing draconian quasi-quarantines, moments ago Italy announced that on the day the number of new cases in the country exploded by 1,247 hitting a total of 5,883, the federal government has placed the entire region of Lombardy, the province with the most Italian coronavirus infections, on lockdown.   

Update (1350ET): Washington state officials are reportedly considering taking over a nursing home in Kirkland where at least six residents have died, possibly the first example in US history of the federal government nationalizing a nursing home, WSJ reports."