19th June 2020

Italy reports 'warning signs' of new coronavirus cases amid fears of a second wave after Rome outbreak

By Daily Mail

DAILY MAIL - Italy has been set on alert after coronavirus related deaths started to rise once more on Friday, showing warning signs of a possible return.

Deaths from the covid-19 pandemic in the nation climbed by 47 on Friday, against 66 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, while the daily tally of new cases decreased to 251 from 333 on Thursday.

The total death toll since the outbreak came to light on February 21 now stands at 34,561 the agency said, the fourth highest in the world after those of the United States, Brazil and Britain.

The number of confirmed cases amounts to 238,011, the eighth highest global tally or virus deaths.

People registered as currently carrying the illness fell to 21,543 from 23,101 the day before.

Figures of individuals in intensive care totalled 161 on Friday from 168 on Thursday. Of those originally infected, 181,907 were declared recovered against 180,544 a day earlier.

The Civil Protection Agency said 2.987 million people had been tested for the virus against 2.959 million on Thursday, out of a population of around 60 million

 In its weekly report, the Higher Institute of Health (ISS) said the situation was generally positive, but that there was still a significant circulation of the virus.

'In some regions, a high number of new cases of COVID-19 infection continues to be reported,' the agency said in the report for the week of June 8-14.

Lazio, the region including the capital Rome, topped the number of cases, exceeding Lombardy, the original epicentre of the epidemic in the country.

Two outbreaks were identified in recent days in Rome, where health officials say the situation is 'under control'. One was an illegally occupied building in a working-class neighbourhood and the other in a hospital.

'This should encourage caution because it indicates that in certain parts of the country, the circulation of the virus is still significant,' the report said.

The epidemic has killed more than 34,500 people in Italy, since the first case was recorded in Codogno in Lombardy, the first infection identified outside China where the disease appeared in December 2019.

The latest news comes after Italian researchers discovered genetic traces of SARS-CoV-2 - as the virus is officially known - in samples of waste water collected in Milan and Turin at the end of last year, and Bologna in January, the ISS institute said.

Italy's first confirmed cases were not until February.

The results 'help to understand the start of the circulation of the virus in Italy,' the ISS said.

Italy was the first European country to be hit by the virus and the first in the world to impose a nationwide lockdown, in early March.

Many European countries followed suit, and most have only begin reopening this month after painful shutdowns that devastated their economies.

Facing the biggest recession in the EU's history, leaders on Friday held a virtual summit on the European Commission's proposal for a 750 billion euro ($840 billion) rescue fund.

However they fell short of reaching a deal on a plan that has been seen as a key gesture of solidarity and unity for the troubled bloc.

Opposition is fierce from the 'frugal four' - Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Austria - who have promised to fight to rein in spending.

On the other side are countries such as Italy and Spain that were the first and hardest hit by the pandemic, having already been crippled by overstretched finances.

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