The intensive care employment rate is 10.7% against 9.6% on 16 December. The employment rate in medical areas nationwide rises to 13.9% against 12.1% in the last survey. This is evidenced by the weekly monitoring of the control room, the data of which are communicated by the Higher Institute of Health.

The weekly incidence at the national level is also increasing: 351 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the period 17-23 December, against 241 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the week of 10-16 December).

In the period 30 November-13 December 2021, the mean Rt calculated on symptomatic cases was equal to 1.13 (range 1.11 - 1.15), stable compared to the previous week but above the epidemic threshold.

According to the ISS, the number of new cases not associated with transmission chains is strongly increasing (62,669 against 42,675 in the previous week). The percentage of cases detected through contact tracing activity is decreasing (27% versus 31% last week).

On the other hand, the percentage of cases detected through the appearance of symptoms is increasing (45% against 43%), while the percentage of cases diagnosed through screening activities also increases (28% against 26%).

Furthermore, all Regions and Autonomous Provinces rise above the incidence threshold of 50 Covid cases per 100 thousand inhabitants. The highest figure in Veneto is growing at 590.5 (it was 498.9 on 16 December and 365.5 in the period 3-9 December). Lombardy follows with an incidence of 516.3 (an increase compared to the two previous monitors when it was at 261 and at 171.3). Towards an incidence of 500 also the Valle d'Aosta (now at 473.8, up by 143.7 points). Above 400 Piedmont, Pa Bolzano, Liguria and Friuli Venezia Giulia. The lowest value in Molise with 68.8 (was 30.3).

(Unioneonline / vl)