How did the coronavirus get so bad in Italy?

The 2nd Commandment warns, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images."  

In all likelihood, thousands of Roman Catholics put their trust in "The Queen of Heaven," or whom they think is the Virgin Mary.  They kissed their idols and their scapulars, and recited the Rosary, hoping their demonic idol would protect them from death.  It did not.  They went to Mass, and prayed for protection.  God refused to hear them.  "Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the Lord, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day" (Jeremiah 44:22, KJV).

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!  Establish the Kingdom in Jerusalem, and keep the world safe from Democracy!

they just neglected all the precautious measures to be taken

tourist trap from other countries

DO you actually know the hygiene of an Italian person is comparable to that of a redneck?, that why..

It hit at a time of heavy tourism. People were there for ski season, Carnevale and Milan Fashion week. All of those create situations where big crowds of people from all over the world are in close contact. In addition, Italy has a high percentage of older people who are most vulnerable to Coronavirus.

They don't know. Scary!

The young may not present any symptoms at all, and this is especially dangerous to their elders, because they can pass the virus on to them without realizing it. The country has the second-oldest population on Earth, and its young tend to mingle more often with the elderly, like their grandparents.

Failure to prepare and implement advice from scientific community.

Now worry about the same failures in the US (and add in the surge in gun purchases).

Public spaces, close quarters, mass transit.

All the cheek kissing when greeting each other.