Italian train turned into mobile intensive care unit

Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) Italiane, Italy's public railways company, unveiled a train turned into a traveling intensive care unit (ICU) in Rome Termini station on Monday morning, projected to cope with COVID-19 and other health emergencies.

At the same time, outside the central railways terminal a vaccination hub able to administer up to 1,500 vaccines a day as was opened.

The new ICU train will be capable of transporting severe COVID-19 patients, while the eight coaches of the convoy can transport up to 21 patients in need of either oxygen masks or ventilators.

The train will be used to transfer patients to other regions or abroad in case of severe overwhelming of the hospitals, especially if the pandemic worsens.

Lazio regional government, Italian Red Cross and FS Italiane inaugurated a new COVID-19 vaccination hub at Rome's Termini station.

Set up in a tent in the parking lot outside the station, the hub can carry out up to 1,500 vaccinations a day, and covers 1,900 square meters.

Italy's Minister of Health Roberto Speranza and FS Italiane CEO Gianfranco Battisti both spoke at a press conference to present the project, in coordination with the Italian Red Cross.