Coronavirus, Italy: “The emergency will only end with a vaccine,” 197 new infections

ITALY reported 197 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday for the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number of positive cases to 234,998. Lombardy remains the ongoing epicentre of the virus in Italy and 125 of the new contagions were registered in the region. 

Italy saw a peak in coronavirus cases on Friday but over the weekend the numbers continued to fall. 

“We have left the acute phase [of the virus]. Now we have passed to the stage of living with the virus,” said Italy’s Vice-minister of Health, Pierpaolo Sileri.

Sileri said the situation is, “firmly under control thanks to the measures introduced.”

However, Special Commissioner for the Coronavirus emergency Domenico Arcuri has said, “The emergency will only end with a vaccine.”

Ten regions recorded no Covid-19 fatalities on Sunday: Marche, Campania, Trentino Alto Adige, Abruzzo, Umbria, Sardegna, Valle d’Aosta, Calabria, Basilicata and Molise. 

Out of the 53 deaths recorded on Sunday, 21 were in Lombardy. 

Arcuri has said, “finding the asymptomatic cases is fundamental” now that the borders between regions have been reopened in Italy. 

“We have to continue to act responsibly,” he added, “Italians have been extraordinary in these months and their behaviour has allowed us to leave lockdown and begin a new phase, Now we have to continue along this path.”