How Italy Became a Hotspot for Viral Infections

        The city of Bergamo, situated in northern Italy,  is a large city with a population of about 130,000 residents.   For years, its local soccer football team, Atalanta, was rarely considered a top tier threat among the better known teams(AC Milan, Juve, Roma, etc.).  But that changed dramatically this season as the team kept winning against strong opponents who normally would count on an easy victory.   A contest was scheduled in Bergamo in mid February, but team owners decided to ove the contest to the larger venue in Milan, which could accommodate twice as many rabid fans, not just from Atalanta, but the Spanish team from Valencia.  On February 19, fans descended on Milan from Bergamo and Valencia, but also from other cities in northern Italy such as Brescia, Lodi, and Venezia.
The Italians won the contest, but it wasn't long before the grim outcome of the gathering took shape across the region.  People started to show up at hospital with respiratory infections.
        At the same time, travel groups returning from China also started showing up in medical facilities with respiratory infections.  A perfect storm was brewing as medical authorities of the national health system became concerned as the numbers of patients soared in a very short time.  It was noted early on,that a large number of patients were in the older age cohort of the population: those seniors over age 65, 75, and 80 years of age.  And they began to die.  Now Italy has the highest death toll among western nations at 15, 562.   This sad distinction indicates the poor response to evidence that there was a virus infecting Italians by people who had attended the soccer match on February 19th in Milan.  It didn't take long for similar results to appear in Spain.  As of this morning, Spain is reporting 11,744 deaths due to COVID-19 the disease related to the coronavirus infection.
        An associated event-a football match, took place in Liverpool just last month.  It was well attended by fans following both teams.  Lo and behold, there is an outbreak of coronavirus in Liverpool.   Hmmmmm.  And now we have to report that the Prime Minister of the UK, Mr. Boris Johnson, has been moved in the hospital to the ICU as his condition has worsened since he was admitted to days ago as the coronavirus has spread in his body.  He is receiving oxygen, but is not attached to a ventilator at last report.  The Queen, Her Royal Highness Elizabeth II, made a public statement to reassure the country that this too will pass.  This is only the forth time during her remarkable reign when the Queen made such a public statement.