ITALY yesterday reported 889 new deaths from coronavirus, bringing the total number of victims to 10,023, the highest in the world.

According to Anadolu Agency, based on the latest figures provided by the Italian Civil Protection Department, however, showed that both the daily death rate and the increase in contagion cases grew a bit slower than Friday.

The epicentre of the outbreak in the country remains the northern Lombardy region, which accounts for 5,944 victims alone.

Italian experts said on Friday the country had not reached the peak of contagions yet, but added that since March 19 and 20 the curve had shown a slowdown.

Meanwhile, Italy’s Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese said yesterday it had seemed “unrealistic” that the almost total lockdown imposed on Italian citizens would end, as planned, on April 3.

In a televised news conference on Saturday evening, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the government will provide local administrations with up to €4.3 billion (RM20.8 billion) from an existing solidarity fund, to help them meet the needs of the struggling citizens. – Bernama, March 29, 2020.