Italy

ROME, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 19,899 lives in locked-down Italy since the pandemic first broke out in the country on Feb. 21, according to the latest official data released on Easter Sunday.

Speaking during a televised press conference, Civil Protection Department Chief Angelo Borrelli said that the total number of infections, fatalities, and recoveries has reached 156,363.

The day also saw 1,984 new active coronavirus infections, bringing the nationwide total to 102,253.

BERGAMO/Italy/, April 12. /TASS/: Russian military specialists have disinfected retirement homes in three settlements in Italy’s Lombardy, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press service said on Sunday.

"Russia’s military specialists jointly with the servicemen of the chemical protection and biological troops of Italy’s Armed Forces carried out a disinfection effort at retirement homes in three settlements in Lombardy in the towns of Costa Volpino, Sovere and Lovere," the ministry said.

ROME, Apr 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, extended the country’s national COVID-19 lock-down to “at least” May 3.

“The national quarantine will be extended to at least May 3,” Conte said. “The decision is not an easy one, but it is what the situation required.”

The prime minister’s announcement came, about one month after the first decree went into force. Since then, Conte has periodically strengthened the terms of the lock-down and extended its length.

ROME, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 18,279 lives in locked-down Italy, bringing the total number of infections, fatalities and recoveries to 143,626 by Thursday, according to the latest data released by the country's Civil Protection Department.

Thursday saw 610 new fatalities and 1,979 new recoveries, raising the total recoveries to 28,470.

ROME, April 9. /TASS/: EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell believes that Russia and China exploit the sanitary crisis, caused by the coronavirus, and provide aid to other countries in a bid to increase their geopolitical role in the world. He expressed this stance in an interview for la Repubblica daily that came out Thursday.

ROME, April 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italian ports cannot be considered safe because of the coronavirus epidemic and will not let charity migrant boats dock, the government has ruled.

The decision was taken after a ship operated by the German non-governmental group Sea-Eye picked up some 150 people off Libya and headed towards Italy.

“For the entire duration of the national health emergency caused by the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Italian ports cannot guarantee the requisites needed to be classified and defined as a place of safety,” the decree said.

ROME, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Italy on Tuesday registered 135,586 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including 17,127 fatalities, according to fresh figures from the Civil Protection Department managing the COVID-19 emergency.

Of these, the new active infections registered against Monday were 880, which brought to total 94,067 infections nationwide. Recoveries kept rising, with a relevant number of 1,555 more people cured compared to the previous day, reaching 24,392 in total.

ROME, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy unveiled a record 400 billion euro stimulus to help businesses hurt by a month-long national lockdown that is like to run on for many more weeks.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told the nation to be patient in the face of a pandemic that has now officially claimed 16,523 lives in the Mediterranean country and left millions at least temporarily unemployed.

“We will soon see a new spring for Italy but for the moment we must stay at home,” the Italian leader said in a television address.

BRUSSELS, Apr 6 (NNN-XINHUA) – COVID-19-stricken Europe breathed a sigh of relief Sunday, as Italy reported its lowest single-day deaths in nearly three weeks and Spain saw continued fall in new cases and deaths.

Between Saturday and Sunday, the death toll in Italy was 525, the lowest one-day total since Mar 19. The country registered its one-day high of 969 fatalities on Mar 27. Still, the pandemic now resulted in 15,887 deaths, more than in any other country.

ROME, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Italy registered 525 coronavirus deaths over the past 24 hours, the lowest one-day total since March 19, health officials said Sunday.

The country registered its one-day high of 969 fatalities on March 27. The death toll has decreased in five of nine days since then.

Still, the coronavirus pandemic that claimed its first life in Italy on Feb. 20 has now resulted in a total of 15,887 deaths, more than in any other country based on official figures.

Police clean the ground in Rome, Italy, April 4, 2020. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)