Here’s why Italy has suffered so from the China Virus

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As soon as word got out of China, President Trump imposed travel restrictions on that country. Italy, on the other hand had direct flights to Wuhan, the city of the Cornoavirus’s origin and and reports suggest over 100,000 Chinese citizens were working in Italian factories,” the Times continued. “Chinese made a slow and steady move into Italy and many Italian fashion firms are now owned by them as well. As per a news report, there are more than 300,000 Chinese and over 90% of them work in the Italian garment industry. As per reports, there are thousands of small companies that are active in exports.

Italy: The Real Reasons a Chinese Virus Is Ravaging a European People

By Selwyn Duke, The New American, March 23, 3030:

Italy: The Real Reasons a Chinese Virus Is Ravaging a European People

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Italy is no stranger to Asia-born diseases. One of the Roman Empire’s most famous emperors, Marcus Aurelius, likely died of smallpox, which came from Asia. But we may be surprised that in the age of modern medicine an advanced nation such as Italy could be ground zero for Wuhan virus mortality, with 427 people dying in one recent day alone. Yet connections with China, Italy’s aged population, socialized medicine, and small personal space may explain the phenomenon.

While the PC thought police don’t want the disease’s Chinese origin mentioned, there’s a simple reason why northern Italy is especially plagued by the Wuhan virus: Many Chinese work there.

Northern Italy has a robust fashion and garment industry, with major brands such as Gucci and Prada based in the region. And with “China offering one of the cheapest manufacturing options in the world, it came as little surprise that most of these fashion brands were working with China,” the Times of India reported Thursday. “A large number of these Italian fashion and garment houses had outsourced their manufacturing to Chinese labour, specifically in Wuhan.”

“Italy also has direct flights from Wuhan and reports suggest over 100,000 Chinese citizens were working in Italian factories,” the Times continued. “Chinese made a slow and steady move into Italy and many Italian fashion firms are now owned by them as well. As per a news report, there are more than 300,000 Chinese and over 90% of them work in the Italian garment industry. As per reports, there are thousands of small companies that are active in exports. This region is also very interconnected as well.” (Hat tip: American Thinker.)

Moreover, the Wuhan virus (WV) is like the flu in that it most seriously affects the elderly, and nearly 60 percent of Northern Italy’s population “is aged 40 and over, of which about 23% is over 65 years of age. This puts nearly one-fourth of the population at grave risk,” the Times also informs. Note here that the average age of those dying from the WV in Italy is 79.5.

This demographic phenomenon is due to Italy’s low fertility rate, which in some parts of the nation dips below one child per woman (replacement level is 2.1). So, sadly, part of the reason Italy is experiencing great WV-caused death is that it is a dying nation (demographically).

Yet Italy’s socialized medicine system may also be complicit. The nation lacks the healthcare resources to treat everyone, and its health commissars have prioritized tending to the young, say critics. In fact, an anesthetist at a Bergamo hospital admitted that if “someone between 80 and 95 has serious breathing difficulties, you probably don’t proceed [with providing care],” reported The New American yesterday.

As TNA pointed out, this triage decision might be justifiable if the young and old were equally at risk. But given that “only 17 of those who have died have been under age 50,” as TNA also wrote, and that all “Italian victims under age 40 have been persons with serious existing medical conditions” (who should also be prioritized), this is disgustingly immoral.

Then there’s an unmentioned possible factor in Italy’s WV woes: personal space. “In North America, the standard socially acceptable distance between acquaintances having a conversation is around 4 feet,” writes the blog Quatro Fromaggio. “In Italy, instead, the norm is 2-3 feet, a distance that North Americans tend to reserve for intimate relationships.”

In other words, “social distancing” isn’t exactly a thing in Italy (though it may be now).

The blog continues, “In Italy, it’s also common for people to establish extended physical contact when having an exchange. For instance, a person may reach for a friend’s forearm as a way to communicate openness and honesty or walk arm in arm with a coworker (of…[either sex]) as they discuss something confidential.”

Moreover, in keeping with this culture of intimacy, in Italy “many households are multigenerational, either still living under the same roof or close by with frequent large family interactions,” Fox News adds. In other words, this habit of intimate contact might have played a role early on in the WV’s spread.

What’s not so touchy-feely, unfortunately, is Italy’s current response to the WV pandemic, which is to implement “measures that would have made Il Duce blush,” as TNA put it Saturday. In contrast, South Korea quickly got WV problem under control while respecting personal liberties — by applying common sense.

So what can we learn from this? First, we should be prudent, not panicked. Note that one Stanford epidemiologist even claims that the WV crackdown is based on “bad data.” In fact, states Professor John Ioannidis, if we didn’t know a new virus existed, we might just “have casually noted that flu this season seems to be a bit worse than average.”

Odd statement? Well, note that an estimated 61,000 Americans died of flu during the 2017-18 season alone, and the disease normally claims tens of thousands of victims annually. So we should embrace better hygiene practices — as I outlined here — but it should be a permanent change. It could spare many a flu-related death.

Lastly, I think the Italians’ cultural intimacy is beautiful. And while it can be avoided during a pandemic — as can shaking hands — it would be a shame if human contact became a permanent victim of the WV (electronic devices already limit it enough).

The deaths caused by the WV are sad and tragic. Let’s hope we don’t compound the tragedy by making casualties of our freedoms and culture, too.

Selwyn Duke \ has written for The New American for more than a decade. He has also written for The Hill, Observer, The American Conservative, WorldNetDaily, American Thinker, and many other print and online publications. In addition, he has contributed to college textbooks published by Gale-Cengage Learning, has appeared on television, and is a frequent guest on radio.

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sumsrent
sumsrent
4 years ago

There are reports that Spain is letting those over 65 die… giving them pain relievers so they can use the life saving equipment on the younger…

Michelle
Michelle
4 years ago
Reply to  sumsrent

That is common in all fast pandemics(as opposed to slow ones where the hospitals can cope) but , of course, no one talks about it a sit is taken for granted. In a nursing home if an elderly patient has pneumonia the two basic questions are: is she/he still sentient and does anyone care? So it is not exactly unknown even normally.

sumsrent
sumsrent
4 years ago

So what this article proves is… social distancing doesn’t work… but wearing masks and goggles do…

sumsrent
sumsrent
4 years ago

Remember… CV19 is an aerosol… it floats in the air… for hours…

When a person sneezes… it can travel up to 200 feet… floating in the air… for up to 3 hours…

Just walking into that space 1 hour later can get you infected…

Get this… the massive lying idiot Trumpo and his lousy Task Force has put Americans at RISK!!!

WEAR YOUR MASKS!!!

Kuffar
Kuffar
4 years ago
Reply to  sumsrent

You couldn’t get all your stupid thoughts into one post? Had to do 3 to get it all in. Try thinking BEFORE you post.

sumsrent
sumsrent
4 years ago
Reply to  Kuffar

Three different subjects all related to the articles topic…

I think you’re upset that the idiot Trumpo is a massive liar…

Achmed Mohandjob
Achmed Mohandjob
4 years ago
Reply to  Kuffar

Seriously, what else would you expect out of a moslem, which sumsrent MOST ASSUREDLY IS.

RichardBlazer
RichardBlazer
4 years ago
Reply to  sumsrent

Sadly, in the mind of a Trump-Hater like yourself…and the Leftist Supremacists you watch on TV…..there is NOTHING that Trump could ever do that you would ever give him credit for. Trump has been tasked to take care of a very difficult situation that few people could have imagined and is handling it fairly well considering the circumstances. He has been largely following the advice of professional health officials on this matter and doing every thing he can to help the governors of all the states. Even Democrat governors who don’t like Trump have given him credit for handling this situation.

Your Joe Biden would NEVER be able to handle this situation, considering he can barely put together a coherent sentence.

And it was media Leftist Supremacists who have your same anti-Trump mindset……that viciously attacked Trump and called him a “racist” and “xenophobe” for wisely banning travel from China months ago. Of course a Trump-Hater like you won’t give him credit for it…..but the top health experts said Trump’s January ban of Chinese travelers……staved off a much worse virus situation that could have happened in the US.

sumsrent
sumsrent
4 years ago
Reply to  RichardBlazer

Wrong… I am a conservative… can’t stand Dementia Joe, Bernie. Killary or the satanic islamic loving Barrack Hussein…

You’re grossly mistaking believing people couldn’t have imagined the outcome of CV19…

Christ Martenson of Peak Prosperity has… since mid January…

And… the massive lying idiot Trumpo and his lousy Task Force has failed America miserably… You don’t realize it because you’re outta the loop of the Truth…

santashandler
santashandler
4 years ago
Reply to  sumsrent

You’re out of the loop of the daily dispensing of psych meds at the institution. Best to get back in line.

Don39
Don39
4 years ago
Reply to  santashandler

Who cares? He is worthless pos and I just blocked him forevermore. Who needs pea brained idiots?

Daddyo
Daddyo
4 years ago
Reply to  sumsrent

It`s interesting to learn that not all people who suffer from TDS are democrats/leftists/muslims.
Why do you hate Trump so much?

sumsrent
sumsrent
4 years ago
Reply to  Daddyo

I supported the idiot Trumpo during the Russian collusion… I supported the idiot Trumpo during the Ukraine impeachment…

But that does NOT mean I will blindly support the idiot Trumpo for the stupid things he does…

What’s right is right… and I stand up for what’s right. IT doesn’t matter who it is…

felix1999
felix1999
4 years ago

It’s all about CHEAP labor! In this case CHINESE CHEAP LABOR. The Chinese would go back and forth from, you guessed it – Wuhan, China! Italy has allot of textile manufacturing in northern Italy. Italy pefers their products to be marked, “Made in Italy” instead of “Made in China.” Made in China doesn’t have the cachet they desire.

Just think, your Gucci accessories are made more cheaply than ever. You’re really paying for the image, brand and advertising made by CHEAP Chinese labor! What a tragic price the Italian people are paying.

Small Gucci “disco bag” for $1,190.00.comment image

Achmed Mohandjob
Achmed Mohandjob
4 years ago
Reply to  felix1999

Most of the garment and leather good factories, in Italy, that the Chinese work at are OWNED by Chinese. They get the leather, precut. They stitch it together, in Italy, in order for it to be stamped “Made in Italy”. From small sweatshops to large modern factories, they’re Chinese owned.

felix1999
felix1999
4 years ago

Ivanka knows all about cheap foreign labor with her clothing line..

China loves to buy companies….

China bought an Artificial Intelliegnce company in Germany. It’s actually a decent company, the name escapes me for the moment. China agreed to keep it there for a couple years but their pattern is shut it down and move it to China. They now own the technology.

If China can’t steal it or buy influence, they buy up promising companies. China wants to economically own countries. Why go to war when you can dominate them economically?

stephen5970
stephen5970
4 years ago
Reply to  felix1999

Similar to what Microsoft had done. Buy up small competing companies or companies with an innovative product. Keep it going for a while, then fold it into the main company and get rid of most of the staff while keeping only the technology.

MuhamMUDTheFakeProphet
MuhamMUDTheFakeProphet
4 years ago
Reply to  felix1999

IBM sold its server division and laptop and desktop computer divisions to Lenovo — out of the PRC. I don’t know if IBM makes any hardware at all anymore.

Worsethanitlooks
Worsethanitlooks
4 years ago

In 2013 The Communist Chinese announced their Belt and Road Plan. Italy joined the program recently and is now paying the price for it.

The Communist goal is to lend up to 8 trillion dollars for infrastructure programs in foreign countries that they manage and build. They effectively become the lender and the contractor to other countries.

It’s very attractive to poor underdeveloped countries. Even Italy has bought in already.

In case you haven’t connected the dots yet, America (and Europe) paid for all of this by racking up a gargantuan consumer product trade deficit with China over the past 30 years. That deficit accounts for the lions share of China’s new wealth. Their nationalized industries lose money. They only exist to keep people employed.

Blame Bush Sr, Clinton, Bush Jr, and Obama administrations. With reckless disregard of long-term consequences, these four administrations, with full support of the corrupt, bought and paid for US Congress presided over the wholesale transfer of our manufacturing to China and other slave wage countries.

It’s all Trumps’ fault of course!

sumsrent
sumsrent
4 years ago

Finally… someone who realizes… it’s not Dems vs. Repubs…

They’re all idiots working for Globalism…

Don39
Don39
4 years ago
Reply to  sumsrent

In a sense you are right. It is conservatives vs. the politicos, that includes the left and the one world orderest and RINOs!

felix1999
felix1999
4 years ago

If you look at China’s One Belt One Road it is like a trail of the Chinese virus. The elites deserve to be punished – not the people they betray.

Worsethanitlooks
Worsethanitlooks
4 years ago
Reply to  felix1999

And the Democrats are about to nominate the poster child for this Great American Sellout.

sumsrent
sumsrent
4 years ago

“Asymptomatic” means… a person can be infected with a virus and NOT show any symptoms…

A person can be a carrier of CV19 for 27 days and not show any signs of any symptoms…

Of course… they push a 14 day quarantine… <<< Which is way too short of 27 days…

America is in Deep Trouble…

[edit] Logic is wearing a mask…

Bonnie Pupowner
Bonnie Pupowner
4 years ago

Don’t forget the millions of unwashed invaders, living in tent cities

Lagertha
Lagertha
4 years ago

I think a lot of it is cultural (though open borders policy has a lot to do with as well).

Japan has an older population than Italy and there are 922,000 Chinese living there (compared to 320,000 in Italty), but so far only 1128 cases and 42 deaths.

It is typical for Japanese to wear face masks when they get the flu or cold to avoid spreading it to others — a practice not common in most other countries until this pandemic. Italians also kiss each other while greeting, so that heightens the chance of transmission.

Andrew
Andrew
4 years ago

320,000 Red Chinese in Italy is a 2016 stat, far far more by 2020. Red Chinese infected Italy with this virus anybody who says otherwise is a Red Chinese troll and there are lots of them.

blackfeather
blackfeather
4 years ago

the “silk road” plan….now look at Italy.

Patriotliz
Patriotliz
4 years ago

This now gives a whole new meaning to the snobbish reference to an “Italian made” suit.

Mark
Mark
4 years ago

The Chinese are building a huge port facility in Mexico along with rail to bypass American ports to lower costs. They are in the Bahamas and making great strides in Africa.
So between laying off longshoremen due to robotics and the end around through Mexico that means more homeless in California.

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