An-Najah News -
Italy coronavirus death toll surges past 10,000
The death toll from the outbreak of coronavirus in Italy surged past 10,000 on Saturday, a figure that made an extension of a national lock down almost certain.
Officials said 889 more people died in the past 24 hours, the second highest daily tally since the epidemic began on Feb. 21, and total fatalities stand at 10,023.
Confirmed cases rose by about 6,000 to 92,472, the second-highest in the world after the United States.
Officials said the numbers would have been worse without a national lock down.
Italy, the first Western country to introduce severe restrictions on movement after uncovering the outbreak five weeks ago, has since then increasingly tightened them, and hopes that they would be eased from next Friday were fading fast.
Italy’s minister for southern regions expressed concerns about potential social tensions and civil unrest in poorer areas if, as expected, the epidemic moves south.
