Minerva medica
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To date, the European experience with COVID-19 mortality has been different to that observed in China and Asia. We aimed to forecast mortality trends in the 27 countries of the European Union (EU), plus Switzerland and the UK, where lockdown dates and confinement interventions have been heterogeneous, and to explore its determinants. ⋯ The European experience confirms that early, effective interventions of lockdown are fundamental to minimizing the COVID-19 death toll.
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Currently, there are no approved specific antiviral agents for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Hyper-immune/convalescent plasma derived from recently recovered donors seems to be useful to treat COVID-19 patients, an addition to maximal supportive care and antiviral agents. ⋯ However, the efficacy of hyper-immune/convalescent plasma treatment for severe infectious diseases is still controversial. The optimal dose and time point, as well as the clinical benefit of hyper-immune/convalescent plasma therapy, needs further investigation in larger well-controlled trials.