New coronavirus cases in Italy have gone down for the fourth day running, at 2,667 in the past 24 hours. The day before the country had registered more than 300 additional cases. The tally currently stands at 165,155.
In its latest bulletin, the Civil Protection announced that 578 people have died (total 21,645) while those hospitalised in intensive care units have continued to decrease (107 less than yesterday).
The Lombardy region has witnessed another 235 deaths, taking the total to 11,377. 827 new cases were registered – the Northern region is home to more than 62,150 cases.
Antibody testing
Domenico Arcuri, Italy’s emergency commissioner has been instructed by Government to commence a public procedure to procure and purchase antibodies test kits which shall be tried out on a sample of around 150,000 persons across the countries, randomly sampled for gender, age and employment. A number laboratories and medical companies around the country are rushing to produce these blood tests, which are reported to be able to identify disease-fighting antibodies in people who have already been infected.
Meanwhile, Government appears to be considered differentiated working hours for industry and office-based enterprises following a possible further reduction in restrictions as from 3rd May. The staggered approach to operational hours is intended to reduce pressure on public transport.
