An antivaxxer who pulled off his oxygen mask insisting he did not have Covid-19 has died with the virus in an Italian hospital.
Luigi Cossellu, 28, from the coastal province Terracina denied the existence of coronavirus and refused to get vaccinated, according to local media.
He was admitted to Santa Maria Goretti Hospital in Latina, south of Rome, on January 16. Doctors diagnosed him with acute respiratory failure and transferred him to an intensive care unit.
There he was given an oxygen mask which he tore off in defiance, questioning the doctors’ diagnosis and claiming he did not have the virus.
He reluctantly put the mask back on as his condition worsened, but later died.
Cossellu’s 55-year-old dad, also an antivaxxer, is reportedly being treated for the virus at the same hospital and is intubated.
Azienda Sanitaria Locale of Latina said people frequently arrive at hospital with severe symptoms once the virus has progressed.
Speaking to Italian newspaper Il Gazzettino, director-general Silvia Cavalli explained: ‘They are already serious because on their part there is denial of the disease.’
Prime minister Mario Draghi has previously claimed two thirds of bed in intensive care units are occupied by unvaccinated patients, adding ‘most of the [country’s] problems’ are due to the unvaccinated.
Some 75% of the Italian population are fully vaccinated, with the figure rising to 90% when considering adults alone.
The country, which renewed its state of emergency status on December 14, is emerging from lockdown following a third wave of infections as the number of cases due to the highly infectious Omicron variant is plateauing.
It has seen a tightening of Covid restrictions since with new entry requirements introduced for EU arrivals for the first time, with all travellers having to wear FFP2 masks while flying.
Those who are unvaccinated must wear the same masks at all times within the country.
A new ‘super’ health pass providing proof of vaccination or recovery from a recent infection has also been introduced to enter public transport, cafes, hotels, gyms and other venues.
A mandate requiring all over-50s to be fully vaccinated was introduced on January 6, with a booster jab also being made available for over-18s four months after their second dose.
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