The Italian ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who had Covid-19 and who has been in a Milan hospital since Thursday, has described the corona virus as a „hellish disease“. „I am struggling to recover from this hellish illness, which is very bad,“ said the 83-year-old in a phone call with supporters of his Forza Italia party yesterday.
Tests had shown that the virus load was very high on him. „I’m trying hard and hope to be able to return as soon as possible,“ said Berlusconi, who is also campaigning from the hospital for his right-wing conservative Forza Italia in view of the regional and local elections on September 20 and 21. 18 million Italians are called to vote. Berlusconi’s voice was weak.
Treatment with remdesivir
Berlusconi, who will celebrate his 84th birthday on September 29, is currently being treated with the antiviral drug Remdesivir, which was also used in therapies against Ebola. When the TV entrepreneur will leave the hospital is still open.
Berlusconi’s personal doctor Alberto Zangrillo was optimistic. „Every hour that goes by brings us closer to recovery,“ Zangrillo said in an interview with RAI3. The patient reacts positively to the therapy.
Berlusconi called on the supporters of his Forza Italia to take action against the “incompetent government” of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. It was time for a change of government in Italy, and a center-right victory in the regional elections could accelerate that, argued Berlusconi.
Three of Berlusconi’s five children and his partner Marta Fascina were also infected with the coronavirus, but are symptom-free. Berlusconi had tested positive for the corona virus after a holiday in Sardinia. The Mediterranean island, initially spared from the pandemic, had developed into an Italian hotspot in the summer season and is considered to be the trigger for the recent increase in new infections in the country.
