Hospitals see rising numbers

Italian health officials are warning that the rate of occupation by COVID-19

patients of hospital beds both in intensive care units and in regular wards has surpassed the “critical level” nationally.

A top Health Ministry official, Gianni Rezza, also said the incidence of cases is growing, with 783 confirmed COVID-19 infections per every 100,000 residents in Italy. The country hit another high for daily new caseloads on Friday — 144,243 confirmed cases.

Nearly 12% of more than 1.2 million swab tests conducted since Thursday resulted positive, according to the ministry, which urged vaccinated persons to get booster shots.

With the nation slammed by the surge of infections, the government banned public New Year’s Eve celebrations.