It could also be cultural. Statements from Italian doctors I've seen said that their patients usually don't go to the hospital unless they really need care. Tha

It could also be cultural. Statements from Italian doctors I've seen said that their patients usually don't go to the hospital unless they really need care. That could've been the same here, people trying to sit it out until they needed intense care. In Germany, even people with very mild symptoms got tested early which helped to track down infections more easily. That also explains the low mortality rate.