CV-19: Comparing Italy March 7th to UK March 21st

This graph normalises Italy and UK on the dates that they both had 233 deaths. And then proceeds from there. Italy's death rate is, sadly, increasing more rapidly. But why? Two possible reasons:

• Italian cigarette consumption per capita is 80% higher than the UK
• Italy's population is older: median age 45.5 versus 40.5 in the UK

[Italy's total deaths today reached 10,023]

(click to enlarge)