Coronavirus | Italy Reports 651 Deaths In A Day, Total Count Mounts To 5,476

The novel coronavirus claimed more than 650 lives in Italy in a single day. The death count from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has risen by 651 to 5,476, officials said on Sunday, an increase of 13.5 percent but down on Saturday's figure when some 793 people died. The total number of cases in Italy rose to 59,138 from a previous 53,578, an increase of 10.4 percent, the Civil Protection Agency said - the lowest rise in percentage terms since the contagion came to light on February 21.

Of those originally infected nationwide, 7,024 had fully recovered on Sunday compared to 6,072 the day before. There were 3,009 people in intensive care against a previous 2,857. Italy on Friday reported a record 627 new deaths from the novel coronavirus and saw its world-leading toll surpass 4,000 despite government efforts to stem the pandemic's spread. The Mediterranean country's daily death rate is now higher than that officially reported by China at the peak of its outbreak around Wuhan's Hubei province. Italy's previous one-day record death toll was 475 on Wednesday.

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Italy has seen more than 1,500 fatalities from COVID-19 in the past three days alone. It has now recorded the five highest one-day tolls officially registered around the world.

Italy's total number of deaths now stands and 4,032. Infections rose by nearly 6,000 to 47,021. The nation of 60 million currently accounts for 36.6 percent of the world's coronavirus deaths. "There are so many people walking around who have the virus and who are at risk of infecting others," Matteo Bassetti, the director of the infectious diseases department at Genoa's San Martino clinic, told Italy's AGI news agency.

Also Read | Italy: 627 New Coronavirus Deaths Recorded In A Single Day, Total Tally Reaches 4,000

"The 40,000 cases we are talking about could actually be 100 times higher." The Italian government intends to extend a ban on public gatherings and the shutdown of almost all businesses past their March 25 deadline.

Regional leaders and city mayors are urging the Italian government to adopt even tougher restrictions such as a ban on outdoor exercises and the closure of all stores on Sundays.

(With agency inputs)