Italy sees record high in daily coronavirus recoveries, death toll rises to 22,745
Xinhua
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rome streets (xinhua).jpg

Empty street in Rome, Italy. (Photo: Xinhua)

ROME, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 22,745 lives in locked-down Italy, bringing the total number of cases, including fatalities and recoveries, so far to 172,434, according to the latest data released by the country's Civil Protection Department on Friday.

Addressing a televised press conference, Civil Protection Department Chief Angelo Borrelli said the virus has claimed another 575 lives over the past 24 hours, bringing the country's death toll to 22,745 since the pandemic first broke out in northern Italy on Feb. 21.

Borrelli explained a record high was registered in the daily number of people cured -- 2,563 more recoveries, taking the total to 42,727.

"It (the daily increase) is the highest figure ever registered since the beginning of the emergency," the official stressed.

A total of 355 new active coronavirus infections were also registered, bringing the nationwide total to 106,962.

Of those infected, 2,812 patients are in intensive care -- down by 124 compared to the previous day, another 25,786 are hospitalized -- down by 1,107, and 78,364 are isolated at home because of asymptomatic or light symptoms.