Virus in Italy remains stubbornly lethal

Italy reported just under 700 deaths from coronavirus on Friday, and more than 37,000 new cases of infection.

But the resurgence of the virus in Italy seems to be stabilising, said Giovanni Rezza, director of the National Health Institute.

"We are seeing a stabilization for cases, but unfortunately the deaths are many,'' he said.

Daily death numbers have hovered around the 700 mark for some days, still shy of the peak 969 during the deadly spring surge.

The number of positive cases was slightly higher than Thursday, at 37,242, bringing the pandemic total to 1.34 million.

A net 347 more people were hospitalized with the virus, for a total of nearly 34,000, or more than half of Italy's hospital beds.

Thirty- six more intensive care beds were occupied. Officials noted that the rate of transmission has lowered to 1.2, with four regions under one, an indication that measures by Rome taken to put six regions most at risk under partial lockdown are having an impact.

(Pic credit: AP)