Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Friday that the country will likely extend the July 31 deadline of the state of emergency imposed due to coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

"The possible extension simply means that we are in a position to continue taking the necessary measures," Conte said, on the sidelines of an event in Venice, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

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Italy was the first country outside mainland China that faced the coronavirus outbreak and it declared a six-month state of emergency in late January.&nbsp;

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The coronavirus situation has been largely controlled in the country and 12 new fatalities were confirmed on Thursday, three less than the previous day.&nbsp;

On Thursday, Italy banned travellers from 13 countries, including Brazil that is experiencing an exponential uptick in the coronavirus cases for the past several days.&nbsp;

The 13 countries that are banned on grounds of high risk of COVID-19 transmission, include Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Brazil, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Kuwait, North Macedonia, Moldova, Oman, Panama and Peru.

The decision&nbsp;taken by the health ministry was after the foreign, interior and transport ministries gave their consent.&nbsp;

"Throughout the world, the pandemic has entered a more acute phase," said Health Minister Roberto Speranza.

He said the "sacrifices" made by the Italians in recent months could not be "thrown away".&nbsp;

So far, nearly 35,000 people have died and over 242,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Italy, according to the official figures.&nbsp;

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Friday that the country will likely extend the July 31 deadline of the state of emergency imposed due to coronavirus pandemic.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Friday that the country will likely extend the July 31 deadline of the state of emergency imposed due to coronavirus pandemic. "The possible extension simply means that we are in a position to continue taking the necessary measures," Conte said, on the sidelines of an event in Venice, reported Reuters. Also read | Italy considering whether to exclude Huawei from its 5G network Italy was the first country outside mainland China that faced the coronavirus outbreak and it declared a six-month state of emergency in late January. Also read | Italy to transfer migrants rescued in Mediterranean to ship for quarantine The coronavirus situation has been largely controlled in the country and 12 new fatalities were confirmed on Thursday, three less than the previous day. On Thursday, Italy banned travellers from 13 countries, including Brazil that is experiencing an exponential uptick in the coronavirus cases for the past several days. The 13 countries that are banned on grounds of high risk of COVID-19 transmission, include Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Brazil, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Kuwait, North Macedonia, Moldova, Oman, Panama and Peru. The decision taken by the health ministry was after the foreign, interior and transport ministries gave their consent. "Throughout the world, the pandemic has entered a more acute phase," said Health Minister Roberto Speranza. He said the "sacrifices" made by the Italians in recent months could not be "thrown away". So far, nearly 35,000 people have died and over 242,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Italy, according to the official figures.

Italian PM hints at extending coronavirus emergency as travellers from 13 countries banned

After national health chief warned that Italy has not peaked yet in terms of daily coronavirus cases, the country confirmed its worst single-day death toll, 969.&nbsp;

The infection rate, however, continued declining, with the civil protection agency reporting nearly 86,500 infections in Italy, a rise of 7.4 per cent, down from around 8.0 per cent in previous days.

Earlier, the crisis in worst-hit Italy&nbsp;seemed far from over after experts warned that the country has not seen the peak of infections&nbsp;yet.&nbsp;

"I want to be clear on one point. We have not peaked yet," national health institute (ISS) head Silvio Brusaferro said on Friday. &nbsp;

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"There are signs of a slowdown, which makes us believe that we are close, we could peak in the next few days."

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Virologist Fabrizio Pregliasco said the reduction in the number of infections "should strengthen our desire to continue. We must not drop our guard."

Brusaferro warned that any lifting of strict measures must be done with extreme caution.&nbsp;

"We'll have to take careful measures for some months in order to avoid the epidemic curve rising again," Brusaferro said.

The country imposed nationwide lockdown on March 9, extending strict measures implemented across the northern region, where the outbreak initially began and took lives of many.&nbsp;

Last week, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said that the decision to shut schools, bars and restaurants and curb movement would have to be pushed beyond the original end-date of April 3.&nbsp;

As per latest figures, 8100 have died in Italy due to COVID-19, infecting nearly 80,000 people.&nbsp;

On Thursday, Italy recorded its lowest daily death rate in the crisis, 8.8 per cent.&nbsp;

But regional officials said that hospitals in hard-hit northern region are still under severe strain.&nbsp;

"We have reached saturation point in intensive therapy, despite having doubled bed numbers," said the chief of the Piedmont region, Alberto Cirio.

"If this rate does not drop, we risk not being able to make it," he added while calling for extra ventilators urgently.

The health professionals are also badly impacted by the outbreak in the country, with the deaths of 44 doctors and nearly 6,500 infections to the health personnel.&nbsp;

Italy's defence minister Lorenzo Guerini thanked military doctors and nurses, adding that they are making the country proud.&nbsp;

However, he said "more sacrifices will be required of you" before the worst is over.&nbsp;

(With AFP inputs) 
&nbsp;

After national health chief warned that Italy has not peaked yet in terms of daily coronavirus cases, the country confirmed its worst single-day death toll, 969.

After national health chief warned that Italy has not peaked yet in terms of daily coronavirus cases, the country confirmed its worst single-day death toll, 969. The infection rate, however, continued declining, with the civil protection agency reporting nearly 86,500 infections in Italy, a rise of 7.4 per cent, down from around 8.0 per cent in previous days. Earlier, the crisis in worst-hit Italy seemed far from over after experts warned that the country has not seen the peak of infections yet. "I want to be clear on one point. We have not peaked yet," national health institute (ISS) head Silvio Brusaferro said on Friday. Also read | Italy's medics at 'end of our strength' as they too fall ill "There are signs of a slowdown, which makes us believe that we are close, we could peak in the next few days." Also read | India sends aid to Italy, the new global epicentre of coronavirus pandemic Virologist Fabrizio Pregliasco said the reduction in the number of infections "should strengthen our desire to continue. We must not drop our guard." Brusaferro warned that any lifting of strict measures must be done with extreme caution. "We'll have to take careful measures for some months in order to avoid the epidemic curve rising again," Brusaferro said. The country imposed nationwide lockdown on March 9, extending strict measures implemented across the northern region, where the outbreak initially began and took lives of many. Last week, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said that the decision to shut schools, bars and restaurants and curb movement would have to be pushed beyond the original end-date of April 3. As per latest figures, 8100 have died in Italy due to COVID-19, infecting nearly 80,000 people. On Thursday, Italy recorded its lowest daily death rate in the crisis, 8.8 per cent. But regional officials said that hospitals in hard-hit northern region are still under severe strain. "We have reached saturation point in intensive therapy, despite having doubled bed numbers," said the chief of the Piedmont region, Alberto Cirio. "If this rate does not drop, we risk not being able to make it," he added while calling for extra ventilators urgently. The health professionals are also badly impacted by the outbreak in the country, with the deaths of 44 doctors and nearly 6,500 infections to the health personnel. Italy's defence minister Lorenzo Guerini thanked military doctors and nurses, adding that they are making the country proud. However, he said "more sacrifices will be required of you" before the worst is over. (With AFP inputs)

Italy coronavirus crisis: Nearly 1,000 deaths as country witnesses worst single-day toll

Italy on Sunday confirmed&nbsp;368 new deaths from the novel coronavirus,&nbsp;its highest one-day increase since the outbreak.&nbsp;

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With the new deaths, the total number of deaths in Italy jumped to 1,809, highest outside mainland China.&nbsp;

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The number of infections in the country has reached 24,747, according to a tally released by Italy's civil protection service.&nbsp;

Italy's northern Lombardy region around Milan continue to be European epicentre of the outbreak, reporting 1,218 fatalities, or 67 per cent of the total died in Italy.&nbsp;

However, on Sunday, the death toll in the southeastern Puglia region around the city of Bari doubled from eight to 16.&nbsp;

The Lazio region that includes the capital city of Rome has officially confirmed 16 deaths in all, three more on Sunday, and 436 infections. &nbsp;

Milan's Lombardy region governor Attilio Fontana said the situation in regions nearby Italy's financial capital was "getting worse".

"We are close to the point where we will no longer be able to resuscitate people because we will be out of intensive care unit beds," Fontana said to Italy's Sky TG24 channel.

"We need those machines (doctors) use to ventilate lungs, artificial respirators that unfortunately we cannot find," the governor said.&nbsp;

"As soon as those respirators arrive from abroad, we will be ready to go on the attack."

Milan mayor Beppe Sala said that China managed to deliver surgical masks in order to address the growing shortage.&nbsp;

"The first shipment arrived (Friday) and we will now distribute them to doctors, to our staff," Sala said.

Despite China's aid, the situation remains tense in Lombardy, whose healthcare system has been repeatedly appreciated by the World Health Organization.&nbsp;

"There are no more ambulances" in areas around Milan, Lombardy welfare councillor Giulio told reporters on Saturday.&nbsp;

The governor of Venice's Veneto region urged "everyone to remain in isolation" to avoid overburdening the hospitals.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte insisted on Sunday that his government was paying "maximum attention" to the outbreak in the north.

Conte's government was set to announce a new crisis plan that reportedly would provide relief to families such as parental leave pay and help for the self-employed.

(With AFP inputs)

&nbsp;

Italy on Sunday confirmed 368 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, its highest one-day increase since the outbreak. Also read | Italy unveils $28 billion coronavirus rescue plan With the new deaths, the total number of deaths in Italy jumped to 1,809, highest outside mainland China.

Italy on Sunday confirmed 368 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, its highest one-day increase since the outbreak. Also read | Italy unveils $28 billion coronavirus rescue plan With the new deaths, the total number of deaths in Italy jumped to 1,809, highest outside mainland China. In pics | Italy: A glance at country's unprecedented coronavirus lockdown The number of infections in the country has reached 24,747, according to a tally released by Italy's civil protection service. Italy's northern Lombardy region around Milan continue to be European epicentre of the outbreak, reporting 1,218 fatalities, or 67 per cent of the total died in Italy. However, on Sunday, the death toll in the southeastern Puglia region around the city of Bari doubled from eight to 16. The Lazio region that includes the capital city of Rome has officially confirmed 16 deaths in all, three more on Sunday, and 436 infections. Milan's Lombardy region governor Attilio Fontana said the situation in regions nearby Italy's financial capital was "getting worse". "We are close to the point where we will no longer be able to resuscitate people because we will be out of intensive care unit beds," Fontana said to Italy's Sky TG24 channel. "We need those machines (doctors) use to ventilate lungs, artificial respirators that unfortunately we cannot find," the governor said. "As soon as those respirators arrive from abroad, we will be ready to go on the attack." Milan mayor Beppe Sala said that China managed to deliver surgical masks in order to address the growing shortage. "The first shipment arrived (Friday) and we will now distribute them to doctors, to our staff," Sala said. Despite China's aid, the situation remains tense in Lombardy, whose healthcare system has been repeatedly appreciated by the World Health Organization. "There are no more ambulances" in areas around Milan, Lombardy welfare councillor Giulio told reporters on Saturday. The governor of Venice's Veneto region urged "everyone to remain in isolation" to avoid overburdening the hospitals. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte insisted on Sunday that his government was paying "maximum attention" to the outbreak in the north. Conte's government was set to announce a new crisis plan that reportedly would provide relief to families such as parental leave pay and help for the self-employed. (With AFP inputs)

Italy witnesses highest one-day toll with 368 new deaths