Italy’s death toll in the last 24 hours has peaked at 743, head of the Civil Protection Agency said. China where the virus started, did not at any point reach such numbers.
Italy has been the most hard hit country, with the virus now having claimed 6,820 lives. On Monday, 602 people died in Italy.
Italy’s confirmed cases have risen to 69,176 from 63,927, an increase of 8,2% in line with Monday’s growth rate the Civil Protection Agency said.
The region with the most cases and deaths is Lombardy. 4,138 people have died out of 30,703 cases confirmed to be positive.
Army chips in to dispose bodies
Italy’s army has now been tasked with the disposal of dead bodies as cemeteries have run out of grave space. The death toll is coming so heavy that funeral parlours can no longer afford to handle the numbers.
Cuba doctors touch down Italy to help
Doctors from Cuba arrives in Italy to assist a day after nearly 800 people had died. Cuba sent its medics to Lombardy. Cuba is known to have a strong medical team. Cuban doctors were on the front lines in the fight against cholera in Haiti and against Ebola in West Africa 10 years ago.