2020-03-22: News Headlines

RT (2020-03-22). 1 critical as magnitude 5.3 earthquake hits capital of Croatia, damages buildings and iconic cathedral (VIDEO, PHOTOS). rt.com Strong quakes have struck Croatia's capital Zagreb leaving at least one person in critical condition and damaging buildings downtown, including the city's main historic cathedral. | A 15-year-old child is in critical condition after Zagreb was hit by a 5.3-magnitude earthquake, which was followed by a 5.1-magnitude tremor 40 minutes later. The epicenters of the two quakes were located 8km (five miles) and 7km (4.3 miles) from the city, respectively. | Health officials had reported that the child had died before later retracting their comments. | Sna≈æan potres pogodio je Zagreb u nedjelju ujutro. &…

RT (2020-03-22). Disaster amid pandemic: Croatia deploys army to clean debris, advocates 'distancing' after strongest quake in 140yrs. rt.com Croatia sent troops to clear rubble in Zagreb after the capital was struck by a series of powerful tremors. The authorities told people to observe social distancing due to the pandemic after initially calling on others to help. | Army personnel began working to remove rubble from the city streets hours after Zagreb was rocked by an earthquake on Sunday morning. The troops were also deployed to assist patients in the city's major hospitals, the Defense Ministry said. | Hrvatska vojska poma≈æe gradu Zagrebu u sanaciji posljedica najsna≈ænijeg potresa. Pripadnici Hrvatske vojske su anga&as…

RT (2020-03-22). Russian military planes carrying medics and equipment fly to devastated Italy to help combat Covid-19 pandemic (VIDEO). rt.com Six of the nine military transport planes prepared by Russia to deliver help to Italy in its desperate fight against the Covid-19 infection have departed an air base near Moscow. | The Ilyushin Il-76 planes are heading to the Pratica di Mare Air Base of the Italian Air Forces near Rome, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. The planes are carrying Russian military medics and specialists in infectious diseases, as well as equipment necessary for diagnostics and disinfection of the deadly coronavirus. | | ©Russian Defense Ministry | Earlier, the ministry prepared nine transport planes on the Chkalovskiy…

RT (2020-03-22). France's coronavirus death toll surges by 112 to 674. rt.com France saw a major spike in Covid-19 deaths on Sunday as 112 more people were confirmed dead, bringing the total number to 674. Cases of infection sharply increased as well, now standing at 16,018. | Some 7,240 of the infected are hospitalized, including 1.746 in intensive care units. | The global death toll of the coronavirus pandemic has already surpassed 13,000 and over 300,000 of cases have been registered. The epicenter of the epidemic has shifted to Europe, hitting Italy and Spain particularly hard, while China has seemingly managed to get its outbreak under control.

RT (2020-03-22). Italian Army hauls Covid-19 victims' bodies to lesser-hit regions as medics decide who gets help first in makeshift tents (VIDEOS). rt.com Another Italian Army convoy has been spotted transporting coffins with coronavirus victims' bodies out of its hardest-hit region, Lombardy, as overworked medics set up makeshift triage tents outside of overloaded hospitals. | The military truck convoy left the Bergamo cemetery in broad daylight on Saturday, as authorities announced the highest daily death toll to date of nearly 800 people. The coffins were set to be transported to a crematorium in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, according to RT's Ruptly, as local morgues in the Lombardy region are incapable of dealing with the growing number of victims. | In the m…

RT (2020-03-22). Italy's coronavirus death toll jumps by 651 as number of cases nears chilling 60,000. rt.com The death toll of the major coronavirus outbreak plaguing Italy has reached 5,476, while a total number of confirmed cases is nearing 60,000, according to the latest figures from health authorities. | Italy experienced a major surge in the number of coronavirus deaths on Sunday, as 651 more people succumbed to the illness. Still, the figure did not surpass the Saturday spike, when the country saw the largest one-day number of deaths. | The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country now stands at 59,138 — almost a one fifth of the infected worldwide. | Lombardy remains the worst-affected r…

RT (2020-03-22). Spain's coronavirus death toll SPIKES by nearly 400 as number of cases passes 28,000. rt.com The death toll from the Covid-19 illness in Spain leaped to 1,720 on Sunday, an increase of nearly 400 in just one day, as the number of infected people soared over 28,000. | The Spanish health ministry announced the 30 percent increase in confirmed deaths and revealed that the number of Covid-19 cases in the Iberian country had climbed to 28,572, an increase of over 3,600 from Saturday's 24,926 figure. | The one-day rise in deaths of 394 was notably higher than the previous day's increase of 324. Health officials said that more than 1,000 have died in the area around the capital Madrid and 1,785 people are in…

RT (2020-03-22). Covid-19 cases rise to 367 in Russia after 61 more people tested positive for disease. rt.com Health workers recorded 61 new cases of Covid-19 in Russia, bringing their total number to 367, the authorities said on Sunday. | The new patients, 54 of which were identified in Moscow, recently returned from trips to Switzerland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Spain and France. The latter two countries remain among the hardest hit by the ongoing pandemic, with more than 28,000 and 14,000 confirmed cases respectively. | On Friday, the Kremlin denied holding talks on the possibility of placing Moscow on a lockdown. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said that there are no plans to close the city's busiest public transit s…

RT (2020-03-22). 'They have been LYING from the start,' lawyer tells RT as medics sue French PM, ex-minister over Covid-19 inaction. rt.com French medics are seeking the prosecution of top officials over their allegedly negligent response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the evidence is an interview with an ex-health minister, who called government action a masquerade. | Three French medics filed a legal complaint this week against Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and former minister of solidarity and health, Agnes Buzyn. The two senior officials, the complaint alleges, failed to perform their duty and organize a proper response to the coronavirus outbreak, which by now has gripped most of Europe and put France on standstill. | As early as January,…

RT (2020-03-22). 'Million dollar question!' Belgian health minister jokes on how long coronavirus lockdown will last. rt.com Belgium has been put on almost total lockdown as Europe battles the deadly coronavirus epidemic that has effected tens of thousands. Yet, Belgian health minister believes the virus will calm down in eight weeks or so. | When asked by a reporter about how long restriction imposed by the government to supposedly stop the spread of the disease will last, Minister Maggie De Block jokingly said it was a "million dollar question." | "We are now heading toward the peak of the epidemic, after which the curve will descend. I think this situation will last for at least another eight weeks. It would be the normal curve,"

RT (2020-03-22). Japan and IOC are resisting pressure to postpone Tokyo Olympics… but for how much longer? rt.com With the sporting landscape decimated by the coronavirus pandemic currently overwhelming the world, the one major event yet to be called off is this summer's Tokyo Olympics, leaving athletes in a type of competitive limbo. | Most sports leagues across the globe have shut their doors for the health and safety of athletes, staff and fans alike. | The UEFA European Championships, also originally scheduled for this summer, have been pushed back to 2021 while uncertainty remains as to when major sporting leagues in Europe, the US and beyond will once again resume operations. | However, the one event yet to be serio…

RT (2020-03-22). Show and tell: Cristiano Ronaldo teaches kids to wash hands as star 'set to join fight against Covid-19' (VIDEO). rt.com As the global coronavirus pandemic rages on, Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo has taught his children how to keep their hands clean and is reportedly set to make a donation of much-needed supplies to a Portuguese hospital. | Ronaldo is currently in his native Portugal where his mother was released from hospital after suffering a stroke earlier this month. | The Juventus forward, 35, subsequently decided to remain in Madeira after the news that teammate Daniele Rugani had been diagnosed with coronavirus. | Another Juve club-mate, Paulo Dybala, was confirmed to have tested positive for the virus on Saturday eveni…

RT (2020-03-22). Moscow metro 'will operate in ANY case scenario, it cannot stop', mayor says amid coronavirus fears. rt.com Despite the coronavirus outbreak, the Moscow government will not shut its most used public transit system, the metro, said the mayor while dismissing the rumors to the contrary as "nonsense and stupidity." | "The metro will work in any situation," Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin told the news channel Rossiya 1. He was responding to online rumors that a total shutdown of the system was imminent to curb the spread of the Covid-19 infection. | Before the pandemic Moscow metro was used daily by some 9 million passengers. Since the Russian capital closed many public venues and advised employers to allow workers do the…

RT (2020-03-22). Russia shuts down all foreign flights except between world capitals or those carrying evacuees. rt.com Russia has further tightened its border controls on Sunday after all flights to and from foreign nations have been banned. An exception is made for those between foreign capitals or necessary for evacuation. | Starting Monday, no passenger flights will be made to and from Russia, the national air regulator has announced. An exception is made for regular flights connecting the Russian capital with 146 foreign capitals and charter flights that are necessary to carry repatriated individuals to their home nations, including Russia. | Similar restrictions were earlier imposed on air traffic with countries more seri…

RT (2020-03-22). Russian world breaststroke champ Efimova keeps fit with quarantine press-ups, delights fans with topless beach snap (PHOTOS). rt.com Russian world champion swimmer Yulia Efimova may be largely confined to home like millions of others around the world during the Covid-19 outbreak but she's at least managing to stay in shape. | Six-time world breaststroke queen Efimova is currently in sun-kissed Hawaii training for the summer Olympics, although like her fellow athletes around the world faces an anxious wait over whether the Games in Tokyo will even go ahead as the Covid-19 chaos rages on. | Likes millions of others, Efimova at least appears to be following the 'stay at home' advice, but that has not stopped her working out. | The Russian s…

RT (2020-03-22). Russia to create first ever 3D Moon map to help decide where cosmonauts will land. rt.com Russia is creating the first ever topographic three dimensional map of the Moon to help decide where cosmonauts will land in future journeys to Earth's natural satellite. | The director of the Russian Space Research Institute Anatoly Petrukovich announced the plan on Sunday, saying the map will be created using stereo imaging and it will have a resolution of two to three meters. | "After the work of the American satellites, we have maps of the Lunar plane, but here, using stereo processing and light analysis, we will get a universal altitude map of the entire Moon with high accuracy," he said. | Also on rt.com

RT (2020-03-22). Germany bans gatherings of more than 2 people in desperate attempt to stop Covid-19. rt.com The German government has resorted to some drastic measures to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic. It ordered all gatherings of more than two people be banned for at least two weeks. | Federal and regional authorities have agreed on what they call a "contact ban," which basically prohibits all meetings between people in which more than two persons are involved. Exceptions will be made only for families and people living together in the same households, Chancellor Angela Merkel said. | All restaurants that continue to open should be closed immediately. From now on, they will only be allowed to s…

RT (2020-03-22). Coronavirus cases in Germany rise by nearly 2,000 in one day as death toll hits 55. rt.com The number of Covid-19 cases in Germany climbed to 18,610 and the death toll rose to 55, as almost 2,000 more people were confirmed as having the disease on Sunday. | The Robert Koch Institute announced a fresh round of alarming statistics on Sunday morning, showing that 1,948 additional people have contracted the virus. | The federal agency, which is responsible for disease control and prevention in Germany, said a total of 55 people have died after testing positive for the illness, an increase of 9 from Saturday's tally. The figures are based on data collected up until midnight on Saturday. | The institute a…

RT (2020-03-22). France reports first Covid-19-related death of hospital doctor. rt.com France has lost its first practicing doctor to coronavirus, the nation's Minister for Solidarity and Health Olivier Veran has announced. The unidentified hospital health professional succumbed to the virus on Saturday night. | No further details about the fatality has been offered by the minister, who made the announcement on Sunday. Local media said the victim was an emergency doctor from Compiegne, a region of France hit badly by the pandemic. The medic reportedly died shortly after being transported to Lille. | France has almost 15,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 562 deaths reported so far. While not hit…

South Front (2020-03-22). Video: 'Moderate Rebels' Bite Hand that Feeds Them. 2 Turkish Soldiers Killed in Idlib. globalresearch.ca Syria entered the second half of the week with a new spike of tensions in Greater Idlib. This escalation has been widely expected because militant groups are sabotaging key parts of the Russian-Turkish agreement on de-escalation in the area. | Radicals …

teleSUR (2020-03-22). Italy's Death Toll Surges to 4,825 From Coronavirus Outbreak. telesurenglish.net Italy reported 6,557 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday, raising the total to 53,578 since the pandemic first broke out in its north on Feb. 21, according to the latest data provided by the Civil Protection Department managing the COVID-19 emergency. | RELATED: | Further 793 people died of coronavirus in Italy in the past 24 hours, taking the country's death toll to 4,825. The number of active coronavirus infections…

repost (2020-03-22). Italy's Misleading Figures on the C-Virus. indybay.org In addition to false positives from the C-virus testing kits, we have these figures from Italy's Italian Institute of Health (ISS):…

teleSUR (2020-03-22). Cuba Comes to Italy's Aid by Sending Team of Doctors and Nurses. telesurenglish.net The island-nation of Cuba has dispatched a team of doctors and nurses to help Italy combat the coronavirus outbreak that killed over 4,000 people inside the country in the last month. | RELATED: | Cuba announced on Sunday that the team of doctors and nurses to Italy after the worst-affected region, Lombardy, asked the island-nation for immediate assistance in helping them fight the coronavirus. | The Caribbean i…

Nick Turse (2020-03-22). Italy's Coronavirus Nightmare Could Happen in U.S. Within Days or Weeks. zcomm.org "Right now, the major concern that I have, and that other public health experts have, is the risk of outstripping health care capacity"

sputniknews (2020-03-22). Video of Destruction and Rubble in Earthquake-Hit Croatian Capital Zagreb Emerges Online. sputniknews.com The Balkan nation has been shaken by a 6.0-magnitude tremor that came just days after the country went on lockdown in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

sputniknews (2020-03-22). Lockdown is Not Enough to Stop the Coronavirus – WHO Emergency Executive. sputniknews.com The COVID-19 pandemic recently surpassed 300,000 cases, while the death toll is over 13,000. The infection has struck over 120 countries, with the main centres of the outbreak outside China being located in Italy, the United States, Spain, Germany, and Iran.

sputniknews (2020-03-22). Virologists Sent to Italy Have Practical Experience in Combating Viral Infections – Moscow. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Virologists, who were sent to Italy to help combat the coronavirus pandemic, have extensive practical experience, as they took part in eliminating outbreaks of African Swine Fever, anthrax and were involved in developing a vaccine against Ebola, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Sunday.

sputniknews (2020-03-22). Ex-Spanish King's Mistress Claims Spies Tried to Intimidate Her After Royal Fallout – Report. sputniknews.com The revelations which were due to be heard some time soon in court add to a financial scandal that erupted over the past few years in connection with former King Juan Carlos' alleged mismanagement of palace finances.

sputniknews (2020-03-22). Paris on Lockdown for Sixth Day to Slow Rate of COVID-19 – Video. sputniknews.com As of 21 March, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in France was 14,459, according to the country's Health Ministry. Johns Hopkins University reported that on 22 March, 14,485 COVID-19 cases were detected in France, and that 562 have people died.

sputniknews (2020-03-22). Russian Anti-Terror Agency Releases Video of Militant Plotting Terror Attack Being Neutralised. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) on Sunday said its agents had neutralised a militant near the city of Ufa, who planned to carry out a terror attack.

sputniknews (2020-03-22). Russia to Create First 3D Map of the Moon. sputniknews.com Russian scholars previously said that Russia would be launching a space vehicle to the Moon in October 2021 – for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

sputniknews (2020-03-22). Russian Information Centre Denies Reports on Moscow's Plan to Tighten Quarantine – Source. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian Information and Communication Center denies reports that authorities are inclined to introduce measures tightening quarantine in the country, a source told Sputnik on Sunday.

sputniknews (2020-03-22). US Media Reveals Main Drawback of Russian Strategic Bomber. sputniknews.com The bomber's modernised version Tu-160M2, which successfully underwent a test flight last month, is expected to start entering service with the Russian Aerospace Forces in 2021.

sputniknews (2020-03-22). Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Says Oil Market Slumped on 'Arab Partners' Initiative'. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov has said the recent breakup of the OPEC+ oil output cut agreement and subsequent collapse in oil prices was the "Arab partners' initiative".

yenisafak (2020-03-22). Pope calls for world prayer to stop coronavirus, will deliver special blessing. yenisafak.com Pope Francis said on Sunday he will this week deliver an extraordinary "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing – normally given only at Christmas and Easter – and called for worldwide prayer to respond to the coronavirus crisis.Francis made the surprise announcement in his weekly Angelus message, which he has been delivering from inside the Vatican over the internet and television instead of before crowds in St. Peter's Square.His decision to make an exception and give a special "Urbi et Orbi" blessing underscored the gravity of the situation worldwide but particularly in Italy, which has overtaken Ch…

yenisafak (2020-03-22). Britain's Johnson warns that health service could be overwhelmed by coronavirus. yenisafak.com Britain's National Health Service (NHS) could be "overwhelmed" by the coronavirus like the Italian health system in just two weeks, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned on Sunday in the face of rising numbers of deaths.The death toll in Italy

yenisafak (2020-03-22). Spain to extend state of emergency over coronavirus for 15 more days. yenisafak.com The Spanish government has decided to extend for another 15 days the 15-day state of emergency announced on March 14 to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, El Pais and El Mundo newspapers reported on Sunday.Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez communicated the decision to regional leaders during a videoconference call, the reports said. The nationwide state of emergency bars people from all but essential outings.The death toll from Europe's second-worst outbreak of the virus jumped to 1,326 from 1,002 the day before, according to Spanish Health Ministry data released on Saturday. The number of cases rose to 24,92…

yenisafak (2020-03-22). Spain's coronavirus deaths surpass 1,700, cases over 28,000. yenisafak.com Spain's death toll from the coronavirus epidemic soared to 1,720 on Sunday from 1,326 the day before, according to multiple media outlets citing the latest health data.The number of registered cases in the country rose to 28,572 on Sunday from 24,926 in the previous tally announced on Saturday, the reports added.

yenisafak (2020-03-22). Coronavirus medical supplies donated by Alibaba's Ma arrive in Ethiopia. yenisafak.com The first batch of protective and medical equipment donated by Chinese billionaire and Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma was flown into the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Sunday, as coronavirus cases in Africa rose above 1,100.The virus has spread more slowly in Africa than in Asia or Europe but has a foothold in 41 African nations and two territories. So far it has claimed 37 lives across the continent of 1.3 billion people.The shipment is a much-needed boost to African healthcare systems that were already stretched before the coronavirus crisis, but nations will still need to ration supplies at a time of global scar…

yenisafak (2020-03-22). Austrian FM says tourists who left recently are extremely negligent. yenisafak.com Austrian tourists who flew overseas in recent days or who try to cancel emergency return flights to extend vacations are "extremely negligent", Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said on Sunday, urging travel limits to halt the coronavirus.Austria, which has 3,026 coronavirus cases and nine deaths, is working with Lufthansa unit Austrian Airlines, Ryanair Holding's Laudamotion and others to help those among the estimated 30,000 Austrian citizens abroad who want to get back home, Schallenberg told reporters in Vienna.On a new website, heimflug.austrian.com, would-be returnees can view emergency flights and re…

yenisafak (2020-03-22). Turkey 'neutralizes' 5 YPG/PKK terrorists in N.Iraq. yenisafak.com Turkish security forces "neutralized" five YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry announced on Sunday.The terrorists were neutralized in the Hakurk region in air-backed operations, the ministry said on Twitter.Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.The ministry added that the country's anti-terror operations will continue without letup.YPG/PKK terrorists often seek shelter in northern Iraq, just across the Turkish border, to plan terrorist attacks in Turkey.In its more than 30-year terror campaign…

yenisafak (2020-03-22). Turkey says over-65 COVID-19 curfew has exceptions. yenisafak.com Turkey Sunday gave new details, including exceptions, of a curfew for people 65 or older or people with chronic illnesses.Vital public officials and pharmacists will be exempt from the restrictions, said the Interior Ministry.Doctors, healthcare professionals, mayors, provincial directors, social service officers and other required public officials will continue to work so long as they do not face any serious health conditions such as cancer, it added.The ministry added that people who must travel or leave home may do so after requesting official permission over the designated hotlines such as 112, 155, and 156.C…

RT (2020-03-21). Italy coronavirus death toll hits 4,825 as 793 die in ONE DAY in biggest daily increase. rt.com The death toll from the Covid-19 illness in Italy has nearly reached 5,000, as health authorities reported on Saturday that another 793 people have fallen victim to the coronavirus. | Saturday's staggering increase of nearly 20 percent is by far the largest daily rise since the outbreak began a month ago. | Officials announced that 4,825 people have died from the disease in the Mediterranean nation, which surpassed China to become the worst-hit country in the world on Thursday. | The total number of cases across Italy rose to 53,578, an increase of over 5,000 from a previous tally of 47,021. | The worst-affect…

RT (2020-03-21). 'Worst crisis since WWII': Italy shuts down ALL non-essential businesses in desperate bid to contain coronavirus spread. rt.com Italian PM Giuseppe Conte has ordered all business and activities that are not vital for providing basic necessities to be closed, extending the nationwide shutdown in the wake of the pandemic claiming record numbers of lives. | Calling the crisis the "most difficult" in Italy's post-war period, Conte announced that only "activities deemed vital for national production will be allowed" until at least April 3. | We are slowing down the country's production engine but we are not stopping it | The PM urged the population to keep calm, stay at home and resist hoarding supplies. He promised that all supermarkets an…

Caitlin A. Johnstone (2020-03-21). Liberal NPCs hate Russia, Conservative NPCs hate China. mronline.org The frenzied, shrieking hysteria I'm witnessing right now among Trump's base regarding China looks and moves in the exact same way the mental zombification of Russia hysteria looked and moved when it began tearing through rank-and-file Democrats in late 2016 and early 2017. The seething, screaming vitriol I get from the MAGA crowd on social […] |

RT (2020-03-21). German public broadcaster ARD sends birthday greetings to Russian FM Lavrov — for tetchy tabloid Bild, this was too much to bear. rt.com Congratulating someone on their birthday is the polite thing to do, but apparently not when anti-Russian hysteria comes into play. The German public broadcaster ARD has just learned this the hard way. | Sergey Lavrov, who has been Russia's foreign minister since 2004 and one of the most recognizable figures on the international political scene, turned 70 on Saturday. From the landmark Iran Nuclear Deal to settling the conflict in Syria, he was directly involved in the most high-profile global events of the last 16 years. | A diplomat with such a scoresheet surely deserves a few words of appreciation on his big…

The Canary (2020-03-21). Coronavirus crisis causes surge in dangerous channel crossings by desperate refugees. thecanary.co Fears around the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have caused a surge in refugees trying to cross the English channel to the UK. The refugees risk their lives making these journeys in dangerous inflatable boats.Border patrols have blocked more than a 100 refugees from entering the UK this week. There are fears that 3,000 refugees living in desperate conditions in northern France are at high risk of contracting coronavirus.Desperation: Care4Calais founder Clare Moseley said it was only a matter of time before the virus swept through refugee camps.Bella Sankey, director of charity Detention Action, told the P…

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-03-21). 21 Years Ago, Remembering the 1999 NATO led War on Yugoslavia: Kosovo "Freedom Fighters" Financed by Organized Crime. globalresearch.ca Twenty-one years ago, March 24th 1999, marks the commencement of NATO's aerial bombardment of Yugoslavia. The bombings which lasted for almost three months, were followed by the military invasion (under a bogus UN mandate) and illegal occupation of the province …

WSWS (2020-03-21). Over 620 deaths in Italy on Friday as coronavirus fatalities surge in Europe. wsws.org Italy, Spain, Belgium and the UK all recorded their largest death tolls in the global coronavirus pandemic in a single day, Friday.

WSWS (2020-03-21). Italian health care workers speak out on coronavirus pandemic. wsws.org The health care system in Italy, now the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, is under unbearable strain amid an exponential increase in infections and deaths.