The Latest: Infections level off in Italy; restrictions stay

The Latest: Infections level off in Italy; restrictions stay

SeattlePI.com

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ROME — Italy’s coronavirus infections have leveled off after nearly a month of new restrictions, with another 26,323 new positive cases and stabilizing numbers in hospital intensive care units.

But public health officials warned Saturday that the second wave of the outbreak is hardly under control, with 10 regions still declared high risk and the daily number of dead — 686 on Saturday — likely to be the last number to fall.

At a briefing, members of Italy’s government scientific advisory committee said it would be unthinkable to relax restrictions over Christmas or reopen shuttered ski slopes, saying the risk of contagion is particularly high when far-flung extended families get together.

As a result, Italians’ typical Christmas Eve dinner en famille “is something we have to give up this year,” said Dr. Franco Locatelli.

Italy, the springtime European epicenter of the pandemic, has seen a sharp resurgence in infections this fall that pushed its COVID-19 death toll to 54,363, the second highest in Europe after Britain. The government opted against second nationwide lockdown, instead imposing restrictions on a regional basis based on caseload and the ability of the health system to respond.

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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:

— With no action by Washington, states race to offer virus aid

— Los Angeles orders more restrictions as coronavirus surges

— Speed of viral spread causes concern in South Korea

— Christmas tree growers who have faced increased interest in artificial trees in recent years say demand for real evergreens is strong this season.

— Belgium is urging people to leave a chair empty at Christmas dinner — or face the possibility of having that chair empty forever.

— The German government is preparing a...

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