Blow for Italy as death figures rise again

ITALY’S hopes of having the pandemic under control were dashed last night after its death toll rose by 743 – the second deadliest day on record.

Europe’s worst-hit country had been cautiously optimistic early yesterday after deaths and infections fell two days in a row.

But figures last night revealed fatalities were up by 142 on the 601 on Monday.

The toll had been falling since the 793 deaths on Saturday, Italy’s deadliest day. Infections were also up by 5,249 yesterday, nearly a ten per cent increase on the 4,789 new cases recorded on Monday.

It means Italy’s total death toll is now 6,820 - more than double China’s 3,277. Nearly 70,000 people have been infected, not far off China’s 81,171.

The virus has wreaked havoc, with hospitals overwhelmed and the army called in to remove a pile-up of bodies.

Priest Don Giuseppe Berardelli, 72, was among the new victims after donating his respirator to save a younger patient. One mourner posted: ‘You may not believe in a God, but believe in this man’s kindness.’

Yesterday Rome unveiled details of a new decree which means the country’s lockdown, initially imposed until this weekend, can be extended until July 31.

Civil Protection Agency head Angelo Borrelli said he believes as many as 640,000 may have caught the virus country-wide.

Misery also continued in Spain, Europe’s second-worst hit country, where the day-today rate of deaths and infections continued to grow faster than Italy’s.

Madrid reported another 514 deaths, taking the country’s toll from 2,182 to 2,696. Overall cases also shot up to nearly 40,000.

Madrid’s hospitals are on the verge of collapse, one nursing body warned.

France saw its deadliest day yet yesterday, with fatalities going up by 240 to 1,100. Germany recorded another slowdown with 3,725 infections and 33 deaths, down from 4,183 but up from 29 respectively the day before. Rates were also down in Switzerland.