The number of new COVID cases in the
last 24 hours went past 31,000 for the first time in Italy
Friday, at 31,084., the health ministry said.
There were 199 fresh victims, raising the total death toll to
38,321.
Italy is heading for a scenario 4 situation potentially
warranting lockdown with 11 regions at high risk and four
already at stage 4.
Italy is heading for a type 4 scenario in the COVID crisis, with
a rapid worsening of the situation requiring a possible new
national lockdown, the Higher Health Institute (ISS) and the
health ministry said in their weekly monitoring bulletin Friday.
In certain regions, the report said, "the rate of transmission
is already compatible with a phase 4 situation". Phase 4 is
usually when a lockdown is applied.
Eleven regions are at high risk, and four regions - Calabria,
Emilia Romagna, Lombardy, and Piedmont - plus the autonomous
province of Bolzano are already in the phase 4 scenario, it
said.
Those at high risk are Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Liguria,
Lombardy, Piedmont, Puglia, Sicily, Tuscany, Valle d'Aosta and
Veneto.
The R rate of transmission of COVID rose to 1.70 in the week
between October 8 and 21, the report said.
"Today there is no good news, yesterday 26,831 cases, today we
have amply gone past 31,000," said health ministry prevention
chief Gianni Rezza.
Rezza said the virus was "galloping", with 10% of swabs
positive, or 215,085.
The head of the Higher Health Council (CSS), Franco Locatelli,
said the role of family doctors was crucial in treating the
virus.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
