国际英语资讯:Italy counts 135,586 COVID-19 cases, daily recoveries exceed new infections_时事

国际英语资讯:Italy counts 135,586 COVID-19 cases, daily recoveries exceed new infections

The death toll grew by 604 over the last 24 hours. New fatalities registered on a daily basis had been 636 on Monday, and 525 on Sunday.

"Finally, it seems that we are beginning to see a decrease in new cases," confirmed Giovanni Rezza, Director of Infectious Diseases Department at the National Health Institute (ISS), while addressing the press conference alongside the commissioner.

"In our epidemic curve, after a plateau phase, there seems to be a fall ... the curve tends to bend down," he explained.

However, the epidemiologist warned caution, stressing the ISS experts would rather "wait for tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, before eventually heaving a sigh of relief."

HEAVY PRICE FOR HEALTH STAFF

Borrelli also praised the national health staff for its non-stop contribution in the fight against the new coronavirus. "My thoughts are with medical professionals ... who are making their best to protect all of us," he said.

"My hug also goes to all relatives of the medical professionals who died in the fight against the COVID-19," he added.

As of Tuesday, some 26 nurses and 94 doctors have died since the pandemic hit Italy's northern regions on Feb. 21, according to data provided by the respective professional associations.

Some five physicians lost their lives over the last 24 hours, the country's Federation of Medical Associations (Fnomceo) said.

As for nurses, the national staff registered 6,549 infections, with an increase of 1,049 cases compared to last Saturday, Italy's ANSA news agency reported, citing data by the National Federation of Professional Nurses Orders (Fnopi).