Italy Posts Rise in New Virus Cases and Daily Fatalities

(Bloomberg) --

Italy registered an increase of new coronavirus cases and the most daily fatalities in seven days on Thursday, as the government prepares to further ease a nationwide lockdown starting May 18, with shops as well as bars and restaurants expected to reopen on a regional basis.

• Civil protection authorities reported 992 cases -- the most since Tuesday -- compared with 888 a day earlier
• Confirmed cases now total 223,096
• Daily fatalities rose to 262 from 195 on Wednesday, with a total of 31,368 reported since the start of the pandemic in late February
• Number of patients in intensive care fell to 855

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