Italy reports over 10,000 new Covid cases as government urged to tighten rules
AFP/The Local - [email protected] •
16 Oct, 2020
Updated Fri 16 Oct 2020 17:40 CEST
Italy reported over 10,000 new cases of coronavirus on Friday, its highest ever daily toll, as the country braces for the new wave of infections sweeping Europe.
The toll of 10,010 infections in one day - with 55 deaths - was the third day in a row that Italy broke its previous coronavirus records.
At the height of Italy's coronavirus crisis in March, the highest 24-hour toll of new infections was 6,557 on March 21st.
However, testing capacity was far lower at that time, with around 26,000 tests being carried out on that date.
More than 150,000 tests were performed in the 24 hour period October 15-16th, similar to numbers in recent days.
The percentage of swabs coming back positive however has also increased.
Over 391,000 people have contracted Covid-19 in Italy since the pandemic began, and 36,427 people have died.
Earlier on Friday, expert advisors to Health Minister Roberto Speranza said tighter measures needed to be enforced to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Walter Ricciardi, a member of the Technical Scientific Committee (CTS), recommended tougher measures for areas with a transmission rate, or R number, over 1, including the closure of non-essential shops.
"The measures to slow the growth of infections must not be guided by today's numbers, but by those expected in three weeks," Ricciardi wrote on Twitter.
Ministers from the Democratic Party, which rules in coaliton with the Five Star Movement, meanwhile called for a government summt on possible new measures.
Around Europe: The battle to avoid more lockdowns as Covid-19 cases surge
Health minister Speranza said on Friday evening: "No decision has been taken at the moment (on implementing new restrictions). We're analyzing the data and discussing with the regions."
Ministers are set to meet on Saturday to discuss new restrictions, the Ansa news agency reported.
Italy has already tightened some meaures over the past two weeks, and on Monday brought in a raft of new rules under the latest emergency decree, including early closing for bars and restaurants, limits on parties, and a ban on some sports.
Crtics say the new rules do not go far enough, and local authorities in some hard-hit areas such as Campania have since announced stricter rules of their own.
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The toll of 10,010 infections in one day - with 55 deaths - was the third day in a row that Italy broke its previous coronavirus records.
At the height of Italy's coronavirus crisis in March, the highest 24-hour toll of new infections was 6,557 on March 21st.
However, testing capacity was far lower at that time, with around 26,000 tests being carried out on that date.
More than 150,000 tests were performed in the 24 hour period October 15-16th, similar to numbers in recent days.
The percentage of swabs coming back positive however has also increased.
Over 391,000 people have contracted Covid-19 in Italy since the pandemic began, and 36,427 people have died.
Earlier on Friday, expert advisors to Health Minister Roberto Speranza said tighter measures needed to be enforced to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Walter Ricciardi, a member of the Technical Scientific Committee (CTS), recommended tougher measures for areas with a transmission rate, or R number, over 1, including the closure of non-essential shops.
"The measures to slow the growth of infections must not be guided by today's numbers, but by those expected in three weeks," Ricciardi wrote on Twitter.
Ministers from the Democratic Party, which rules in coaliton with the Five Star Movement, meanwhile called for a government summt on possible new measures.
Around Europe: The battle to avoid more lockdowns as Covid-19 cases surge
Health minister Speranza said on Friday evening: "No decision has been taken at the moment (on implementing new restrictions). We're analyzing the data and discussing with the regions."
Ministers are set to meet on Saturday to discuss new restrictions, the Ansa news agency reported.
Italy has already tightened some meaures over the past two weeks, and on Monday brought in a raft of new rules under the latest emergency decree, including early closing for bars and restaurants, limits on parties, and a ban on some sports.
Crtics say the new rules do not go far enough, and local authorities in some hard-hit areas such as Campania have since announced stricter rules of their own.
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