Death rate

[maddening]

All the posts and news about covid quoted 1-2% death rate - but Italy has a 10% figure and Spain a 5% - why is it so much higher?

Because it's only based on the number of people who have actually been tested. There will be thousands and thousands who've had it but not gone to hospital.

It's, in part, to do with how much testing a country does.

Also, the age of the population. Italy has one of the oldest populations in the world.

And how well the health system can cope. Italy was overwhelmed, ventilators weren't available for everyone who needed them.