COVID-19 incidence and Rt transmission number up

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 18 - Italy's COVID-19 incidence and Rt transmission number have risen, the weekly coronavirus monitoring report of the health ministry and the Higher Health Institute (ISS) said on Friday.
    It said the incidence climbed to 353 cases for every 100,000 inhabitants in the November 5-17 period, compared to 307 in last week's report.
    The Rt was 0.88 in the October 26-November 8 period, up from 0.83 in last week's report.
    An Rt above 1 indicates that the epidemic is in a phase of expansion.
    The report said the proportion of Italy's intensive care places occupied by COVID patients rose to 2.5% on November 17 from 2.0% seven days previous.
    The proportion of ordinary-ward hospital beds occupied by coronavirus sufferers increased from 10% to 11%.
    The report said three regions were above the 15% COVID-hospital-occupancy alert threshold: Liguria (17.8%), Umbria (30.4%) and Valle d'Aosta (16.4%).
    It said the region with the highest incidence was Veneto with 636.3 cases for every 100,000 inhabitants. (ANSA).