Rome, Dec 18 : Italy's coronavirus infection rate continued its downward trend, but authorities have warned that another resurgence was "inexorable" with the upcoming holiday season around the corner.
On Thursday, the country recorded 18,236 new cases, the 12th consecutive day with fewer than 20,000 infections -- a level surpassed in 39 days since October 25, including the all-time peak of 40,896 infections on November 13, reports Xinhua news agency.
The new cases increased the overall infection tally to 1,906,377,
On Thursday, the country also saw 27,913 recoveries over the past 24 hours, which outnumbered new infections by nearly 10,000, a near-record level.
In mid-November, Italy was seeing more new coronavirus infections than recoveries in most days.
There were 2,855 patients in intensive care units on Thursday, 71 fewer than a day earlier.
Ten days ago, there were nearly 3,500 seriously-ill coronavirus patients in hospitals.
However, the country's mortality rate remained stubbornly high.
On Thursday, 683 people lost their lives to Covid-19, down from a one-day peak of 993 on December 3, but the third straight day above 600 after a brief decline in the death rate.
The country's total death toll now stands at 67,220.
Nino Cartabellotta, President of Gimbe Foundation, a scientific monitoring entity, warned that the worst may not be over for Italy.
Cartabellotta said the restrictive measures introduced in the government's November 3 decree "curbed the spread of the virus", but noting that with the holidays approaching, "the curve will probably slow its descent first and then inexorably start to rise again".
In a statement released on Thursday, the Health Minister also said that while infections have declined slightly, "they are still high and very far from levels that would allow us to return to the 'containment phase'", similar to the one in force over the summer when restrictions were eased.
The Ministry added that the "strong variability" between regions was a worrying trend that put stress on the nation's hospital system.
Italy's education officials also joined those urging caution over the December holidays, suggesting a full reopening of schools be in January in the country.
On vaccines, Franco Locatelli, president of Italy's Higher Health Council, said the imminent arrival of coronavirus vaccines represented "a light at the end of the tunnel" that offered hope to a tired public.
Italians are likely to start to receive vaccinations before the end of the year.
"Everything is ready for the start of vaccinations at the end of the month, as soon as the drug agencies give the green light," said Domenico Arcuri, special commissioner for the Covid-19 emergency.
--IANS
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Source: IANS
