People visit the Colonna Palace with face masks in Rome, Italy, May 23, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)

ROME, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Italy recorded 178 fresh cases of infection from the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the lowest such figure since Feb. 27, the Civil Protection Department said on Monday.

The overall number of COVID-19 infections, fatalities and recoveries rose to 233,197 cases over the past 24 hours, from 233,019 cases on Sunday.

The pandemic began in Italy on Feb. 21 in the northern, densely populated and highly industrialized Lombardy region, whose capital is Milan.

Total active infections stood at 41,367, down from 42,075 on Sunday, while another 848 COVID-19 patients recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 158,355.

Another 60 patients died, bringing the death toll to 33,475.

The overall fatalities include 166 doctors, according to the National Federation of Orders of Surgeons and Dentists (FNOMCeO), which is keeping a running tally of doctors who died in fighting the virus.

The Lombardy region still had the lion's share of cases with 20,861 active infections -- down from 20,996 cases by Sunday.

At the other end of the spectrum was the small mountain region of Valle d'Aosta, located in the Alps and bordering France and Switzerland, with 17 cases, up from 15 cases Sunday.

Lombardy had over 10 million inhabitants and Valle d'Aosta had almost 126,000 residents as of Jan. 1 last year, according to Italy's National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT).

Of those who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, 424 are in intensive care, 11 fewer compared to Sunday; and 6,099 are hospitalized with symptoms, down by 288 patients over the past 24 hours, the Civil Protection Department said.

The rest 34,844 people, or 84 percent of those who tested positive -- are quarantined at home because they are asymptomatic or have very light symptoms.