Italy reports more than 19,000 new coronavirus cases
CGTN
Health workers transfer a COVID-19 patient in Italy. /VCG Image

Health workers transfer a COVID-19 patient in Italy. /VCG Image

Italy on Friday reported 19,143 new confirmed coronavirus infections, another daily record.

The figure is an increase of more than 3,000 within the last 24 hours eclipsing the previous record of 16,079 on Thursday. It is the third successive day Italy is reporting a record daily increase in infections.

The regions of Lombardy in the north and Campania in the south reported close to 5,000 new cases and 2,280 new cases respectively. Both regions were among the first to introduce local curfews this week.

Vincenzo De Luca, the president of Campania, earlier on Friday called for another national lockdown in a video message warning of dire times ahead.

"We are one step away from tragedy," De Luca said. "Let's close everything, we need drastic measures."

The Italian government considering imposing new restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. However, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte repeatedly ruled out the possibility of a generalised lockdown. The new measures may be announced as early as this weekend.

The number of deaths in the country is more than 37,000 after 91 additional deaths were reported. Friday's total is a significant decline from Thursday's total of 136.

Italy is one of several European countries battling a resurgence in coronavirus infections. Four countries – France, Russia, Spain and the UK – have been identified as coronavirus hot spots.

(With input from agencies)