Italian death toll tops 30,000, highest in EU
Italy is just about the first country in the European Union to register more than 30,000 coronavirus-related deaths.
It reported 243 new fatalities on Friday - down from 274 the day before - taking the total to 30,201.
The daily number of confirmed new cases fell slightly to at least one 1,327, bringing the full total number of infections to 217,185.
Restrictions have begun to help ease around the county, but one doctor described the location of Milan as a period "bomb," according to local media.
Italy gets the third highest number of officially recorded coronavirus deaths on the globe, after the United States and the united kingdom - which is no more a member of the EU.
Britain passed the 30,000 mark on Wednesday. Spain is Europe's third worst-affected country with more than 26,000 deaths.
Italy was the first country in Europe to impose a lockdown when coronavirus cases first began to surface in northern regions in February.
Some lockdown measures have already been rolled back. This week, Italians have already been able to exercise for the first time in weeks, as long as they respect rules on physical distance and wear masks where distancing is difficult. They could visit relatives - however, not friends - within their region.
Catholic churches are also preparing for the resumption of Mass on 18 May, but you will have strict social distancing and worshippers must wear face masks. Other faiths may also be permitted to hold religious services.
However, schools, cinemas & most shops will remain shut, and all public gatherings remain banned. Bars and restaurants are due to begin allowing customers to sit at tables in June.
While some restrictions remain in place, images shared on social media show persons in busy areas ignoring distancing rules rather than wearing protective masks, resulting in an outcry.
Massimo Galli, head of the infectious diseases department at Milan's Sacco hospital, told La Reppublica newspaper it had been clear that lockdown easing "may present problems".
He said: "We've a very high number of infected people time for circulation."
Coronavirus commissioner Angelo Borrelli warned the public that containment measures would "be stiffened" if the virus showed signs of taking off again.
"We are monitoring things carefully," he said on Thursday.
Police in the administrative centre Rome said they were setting up checkpoints on roads resulting in the coast, lakes and rural tourist spots over the weekend.
They said they might also be monitoring areas popular for nightlife.
The Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, issued an "ultimatum" on Friday after footage emerged of crowds of individuals - the majority of them young - shunning face masks or social distancing in the city's popular Navigli area.
Milan may be the capital of the Lombardy region, which has been the epicentre of the Italian outbreak.
"I'll take measures, I'll close the Navigli," Mr Sala threatened, describing the scenes as "disgraceful".
In another development, an Italian government agency has warned that the cash-starved tourism industry is vulnerable to incursions by mafia organisations as the lockdown eases.
A written report by the Covid-19 criminal infiltration monitoring body said the tourism and catering sectors would have a "lack of liquidity which will expose them to loan sharking".
It said the mafia groups will be looking to spend money on struggling businesses such as hotels and restaurants with the purpose of laundering money.
