Six Italian virus patients flown to Germany

The German military flew six COVID-19 patients from Italy's worst-hit region to western Germany for treatment on Saturday. A  German Air Force Airbus A310 medevac plane landed in Bergamo in northern Italy early Saturday. It returned to Cologne after taking on board the Italian patients, who will be treated at various hospitals in the region.

Several German state governments – including that of North Rhine-Westphalia, where Cologne is located – have offered to take in patients from Italy.

Germany has a large number of coronavirus cases but a relatively low death rate to date compared with Italy's and its health system hasn't been overwhelmed by severe cases so far.

Germany also has taken in some patients from hard-hit eastern France.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.