Might the many positive COVID19 subjects in Italy have been caused by resident bat-derived zoonotic β-coronaviruses instead of the Wuhan (China) outbreak?

Genomic characterisation and epidemiology of 2019 novel coronavirus: implications for virus origins and receptor binding

(2020) Roujian Lu et al.   LANCET

2019-novel Coronavirus severe adult respiratory distress syndrome in two cases in Italy: An uncommon radiological presentation

(2020) Fabrizio Albarello et al.   INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Detection and full genome characterization of two beta CoV viruses related to Middle East respiratory syndrome from bats in Italy

(2017) Ana Moreno et al.   Virology Journal

Jumping species—a mechanism for coronavirus persistence and survival

(2017) Vineet D Menachery et al.   Current Opinion in Virology

Coronavirus virulence genes with main focus on SARS-CoV envelope gene

(2014) Marta L. DeDiego et al.   VIRUS RESEARCH

Detection of Coronaviruses in Bats of Various Species in Italy

(2013) Davide Lelli et al.   Viruses-Basel

Genetic divergence is not the same as phenotypic divergence

(2011) Marcin Kozak et al.   MOLECULAR BREEDING

Detection of a virus related to betacoronaviruses in Italian greater horseshoe bats

(2010) A. BALBONI et al.   EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION

Evolutionary analysis of the dynamics of viral infectious disease

(2009) Oliver G. Pybus et al.   NATURE REVIEWS GENETICS