Italy’s New Cases Level Off as Spain Suffers Deadliest Day
Italy’s New Cases Level Off as Spain Suffers Deadliest Day
(Bloomberg) -- The number of new coronavirus cases in Italy leveled off at a two-week low, a sign the outbreak in Europe’s virus epicenter may be coming under control, even as neighboring Spain suffered its deadliest day yet.
Italy’s new infections totaled 4,053, civil protection authorities said in Rome on Tuesday. That compares with 4,050 the previous day, the fewest new cases since March 17.
The country “has reached a plateau in the contagion phase,” Silvio Brusaferro, head of the public health institute, told reporters.
Developments elsewhere in Europe were less encouraging. Spain, which has the region’s second-highest number of coronavirus infections, recorded 9,222 new cases -- the most in a single day -- and 849 fatalities. France and Britain both suffered their biggest daily death tallies so far.
The spread of the pandemic across the continent and its mounting death toll suggest the unprecedented restrictions on public life won’t be eased soon.
Italy will extend its current containment measures until at least Easter, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said Monday, while local media have reported the curbs could last into early May.
The Dutch government also extended its restrictions, including keeping schools and bars closed. The Netherlands on Tuesday became the latest country to see the death toll surpass 1,000 after 175 more fatalities.
On Europe’s eastern fringe, Romania is suffering an increase in deaths after tens of thousands of its citizens returned from Italy and Spain, making it the worst-hit nation in central and eastern Europe. The toll rose to 69 in the past 24 hours, with more than 2,100 people infected.
The figures come after the World Health Organization called on governments to maintain containment measures, saying Europe’s curbs on movement are starting to have an effect. Mike Ryan, head of health emergencies at the WHO, said Monday that “our fervent hope” is that Italy and Spain -- the epicenters of the pandemic in Europe -- are approaching a peak.
Italy has 105,792 total cases, the most after the U.S., and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is preparing an unprecedented emergency handout for workers trapped in Italy’s underground economy, as his government seeks to stave off social unrest.
‘Green Shoots’
The U.K. is seeing “green shoots” despite data showing a further 381 deaths. Health service medical director Stephen Powis said the next two weeks will be critical, but there are signs the pace of infections is slowing.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government is under pressure over its virus testing rate, as the U.K. lags far behind countries including Germany.
“We must go further, faster,” Cabinet Minister Michael Gove told reporters.
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