While coronavirus infections continue to rise across the world, two pieces of news have emerged that offer hope about the course of the pandemic: since Friday 13 March, no new cases have been reported in Vo' Euganeo, the Veneto municipality in the province of Padua where Italy's first coronavirus death was recorded. The same situation is being seen in China, where for the first time since the start of the Sars-Cov-2 epidemic there are no new domestic infections.

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Vo' Euganeo has brought its infection count to zero

The Vo' model has worked: at the start of the outbreak, all 3,300 residents were tested. Once positive cases were isolated, the entire municipality was placed in quarantine, and after three weeks the results are finally visible. Veneto governor Luca Zaia praised "the attitude that citizens were able to maintain in relation to the restrictions".

The decision to test asymptomatic individuals as well proved vitally important. Indeed, between 50 and 75 per cent of infected people were completely asymptomatic and could have driven up the number of cases. These are the findings of a study carried out on the municipality's population. "The percentage of infected people, even if asymptomatic, within the population is very high and represents the majority of cases, especially — but not exclusively — among young people; and the isolation of asymptomatic individuals is essential in order to control the spread of the virus and the severity of the disease," explained Sergio Romagnani, full professor of Clinical Immunology at the University of Florence.

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Zero domestic coronavirus cases in China too

The situation is beginning to improve in China as well. The news was announced by the National Health Commission, which reported zero domestic cases after three months of an epidemic that began in Wuhan, in Hubei province, right at the heart of the country. "Today we have seen a glimmer of light after all these days of effort," commented Jiao Yahui, an inspector at the Commission.

In the past 24 hours, eight deaths were reported, all in Hubei, bringing the total death toll to 3,245. China has recorded more than 81,000 infections, but as of today 7,263 people are still ill with Covid-19.

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Now a second wave of infections must be avoided

The situation in China would finally appear to be under control, but the country cannot yet let its guard down. The concern now is a second wave of infections caused by people returning from abroad. "If we do not impose stricter measures at this stage, our efforts over these past two months could be in vain," said Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of Hong Kong. China has in fact recorded 34 new coronavirus cases in people who arrived from abroad — bringing the total to 139 — marking the highest daily increase in the past two weeks.

And the same applies to Vo'. A single case could send the situation spiralling backwards, setting the municipality back by weeks and undoing all the efforts made so far. This is why caution is essential: stay at home, wash your hands, and be patient. The measures work, but they take time.