Italy death toll tops 30,000, highest in EU

Italy has become the first country in the European Union to register more than 30,000 coronavirus-related deaths.

It reported 243 new fatalities on Friday (May 8) - down from 274 the day before - taking the total to 30,201.

The daily number of confirmed new cases fell slightly to 1,327, bringing the total number of infections to 217,185.

Italy has the third highest number of officially recorded coronavirus deaths in the world, after the United States and the UK. Britain passed the 30,000 mark on Wednesday.

Italy was the first country in Europe to impose a lockdown when coronavirus cases first started to surface in northern regions in February.

It has now begun to ease restrictions, although pictures shared on social media of people ignoring distancing rules and not wearing protective masks in busy areas have led to an outcry.

(Source: BBC)