Giada Zampano
December 21, 2020•Update: December 22, 2020
ROME
Italy on Monday reported 415 new coronavirus-related deaths, up from 352 the day before, while new infections fell to 10,872 from 15,104, due to the usual decline in testing over the weekend.
Italy remains the country with the highest death toll in Europe, with 69,214 fatalities reported since February. It has also registered about 1.96 million COVID-19 cases to date.
The Health Ministry said on Sunday that Italy has also detected the new strain of the coronavirus found in the UK in an Italian patient who had recently arrived from the country.
The patient had landed at Rome’s Fiumicino airport and is now in quarantine, the ministry added.
Italy on Sunday joined other European countries in banning flights to and from the UK until Jan. 6, due to concerns over the more infectious virus strain that has led to a new lockdown in London.
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock also said Sunday the new coronavirus strain is “out of control”.
Over 1,100 people in the UK have been infected with the new strain of the virus, according to official figures.
The Italian government has imposed strict restrictions over the Christmas holidays to limit public movements and large gatherings that could spread the virus across the country, possibly sparking a third wave early next year.
Italians coming back from travels abroad from Dec. 21 to Jan. 6 will also be obliged to observe a two-week quarantine.
