Italy plans to end deadlock by Coronavirus

The number of people in intensive care (3,977) dropped 17 since Friday, and the number of new cases increased to 128,948 from 124,632, a rise lower than the day before.

Health Minister Roberto Spranza today spoke on plans for broader tests, as part of a package of measures destined to ease Italy's impasse, set since 9 March.

The government is also struggling with economic disasters caused by the sudden halting of business across the country.

Spranza has outlined five principles about which Rome plans to manage the so-called 2nd emergency phase, when traffic restrictions will begin to rise, but ahead of a complete return to normal conditions.

He said that social distance would have to remain, with broader use of individual protective equipment, such as facial masks, while local health systems would be strengthened, to allow for faster and more efficient treatment of alleged COVID-19 cases.

Testing and tracking contact would be expanded, including using smart phone applications and other forms of digital technology, while a network of hospitals devoted solely to treating patients with COVID-19 broadcast Kosovas.

Until a vaccine is distributed, we cannot exclude a new wave of the virus,” said Speranza for La Repubblica.

There are difficult months ahead. Our task is to create conditions to live with the” virus, he added.

The national stalemate, while generating people's movements and freezing all economic activities not essential, will officially last until at least 13 April, but is expected to expand.

If we're not strict, we risk rejecting all the efforts we've made,” Spranza told the daily Cerriere della Seraão.