Pressure eases on Italy’s intensive care units

Pressure on Italy's intensive care units continued to ease on Wednesday with 99 fewer beds occupied over the past 24 hours, according to the country's government.

Additionally, the number of recorded recoveries since the pandemic hit Italy hit a record, at 2,099, marking a one-third increase on the number of patients discharged the previous day.

The daily coronavirus death count in the South European country was at its lowest number in nearly a month, at 542 deaths since Tuesday. However, the number of new cases crept up slightly, to 3,836.

As of Wednesday evening, deaths from COVID-19 in Italy totalled 17,669.

Italian authorities are looking ahead with apprehension at the upcoming Easter weekend and have urged residents not to lower their guard even as a national lockdown enters its fifth week.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

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