(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 14 - Italy's COVID-19 incidence rose again in the week of January 7-13, rising to 1,988 cases for every 100,000 inhabitants, up from 1,699 the previous week, according to the weekly coronavirus monitoring report of the Higher Health Institute (ISS) and the health ministry.
    It said the nation's Rt transmission number was 1.56 in the December 22-January 4 period, up from 1.43 in last week's report.
    An Rt over 1 indicates the epidemic is expanding.
    It said the proportion of Italian intensive-care places occupied by COVID-19 sufferers had risen from 15.4% to 17.5%.
    The report said the proportion of ordinary hospital beds taken up by coronavirus patients had climbed from 21.6% to 27.1%.
    Italy looks set to become a medium-COVID-risk orange zone rather than moderate risk yellow on the basis of the number of coronavirus hospital admissions.
    Calabria and Piedmont may be bumped up to orange on Monday and 10 other regions are at risk of being reclassified.
    Val d'Aosta will become orange on Monday and Campania yellow, Health Minister Roberto Speranza decided.
    The ISS said the growth of the COVID-19 contagion curve had been "very significant" in the last 14 days. (ANSA).