Italy records 349 new deaths from virus in last 24 hours

Italy recorded 349 COVID-19 deaths from Sunday to Monday, bringing the country's death toll to 2,158.

The number of positive diagnoses rose by 13% to 27,980.

Angelo Borelli, the country's Special Commissioner for the Coronavirus, said that cases had slowed in Lombardy, the hardest-hit region.

Italy remains the epicentre of the virus outbreak in Europe.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.