Italy's COVID-19 death toll has surpassed 30,000, making it the second highest fatality figure in Europe.

The country reported 243 new fatalities on Friday, taking its total tally to 30,201. The previous day, the country reported 274 deaths.

The total number of COVID-19 infections, fatalities, and recoveries since the pandemic began has risen to 217,185 cases over the past 24 hours, from 215,858 on Thursday.

Italy has the third highest number of officially recorded coronavirus deaths in the world, after the U.S. and the UK.

Earlier in the day, Italy's National Institute of Health (ISS) President Silvio Brusaferro said "the epidemiological curve is decreasing" during a televised press conference, adding "we are moving towards fewer and fewer cases" across all of Italy's 20 regions.

(With input from agencies)

(Cover: A man wearing a protective face mask to prevent contracting the coronavirus walks past the Duomo Cathedral in Milan, Italy, March 4, 2020./ Reuters)