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Jo McKenna: Italy reports record 40,000 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours

Published: Nov. 19, 2020, 1:42 a.m.

Italian authorities have reported more than 40,000 new Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours, the largest daily increase since the pandemic started. 

There were 40,902 new cases on Friday, data from the Italian Health Ministry showed. The total number of infections in Italy is now at 1,107,303.
Authorities also reported 550 additional deaths from the coronavirus, with the total death toll from the virus rising to 44,139. 
The record in daily infections comes despite the infection rate having decreased slightly, according to the head of the prevention department at the Italian Health ministry, Gianni Rezza.
It is the “first sign of the decrease in transmission that could be attributed to the (containment) measures that have been taken,” he said.