ROME, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Italy reported 16,974 coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours, slightly up from 16,168 on the previous day, latest data from the Ministry of Health showed on Thursday.
New active infections kept decreasing, and specifically by 4,637 cases against Wednesday, which brought total active infections to 510,023.
As for the country's death toll, it grew by 380 to 115,937. Meanwhile, recoveries in Italy rose by 21,220 to about 3.2 million. Overall, Italy has recorded some 3.8 million cases.
POSSIBLE BETTER PHASE
Also on Thursday, while briefing the parliament on the pandemic, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said the ongoing vaccination campaign should allow Italians to enter a new, better phase soon.
"I told the truth when it was uncomfortable ... and I am also saying the truth now speaking about the possible beginning of a different phase thanks to the vaccination campaign, which today exceeds 14 million doses (administered)," Speranza said.
He added that data proved vaccination was working, since it has allowed "a sharp decline in infections and deaths" among the categories -- such as health workers and elders -- worst affected by the coronavirus.
"We want to provide certainties and allow a new season, but ... without jeopardizing public health or making risky choices that would lead us back to new closures in a short time," he explained.
Later this month, Prime Minister Mario Draghi's cabinet is expected to relax the current restrictions, at least partially, and especially for retail businesses, restaurants, bars, and other shops, whose activities were still strongly limited or fully halted.
In this perspective, the authorities have recently announced the UEFA EURO 2020 football matches planned at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome later this year will be held at the presence of spectators.
"The authorities have guaranteed at least 25 percent of the stadium's capacity will be filled. As a result, UEFA considers Rome to be fully confirmed as a venue for the tournament," UEFA stated on Wednesday.
NEW VACCINE SUPPLIES IN SIGHT
Fresh government data showed 14,159,851 vaccine doses have been administered so far across the country, and over 4.2 million people were fully immunized after receiving both doses.
The campaign was still focusing on people over-80s (of which more than 4.8 million have received at least one vaccine dose), health workers, and other categories at risk.
Four vaccines -- Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson -- were currently authorized in the country, although health authorities recommended AstraZeneca only for people aged 60 and above and the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson drug has yet to begin, pending a decision on its safety by the European Medicines Agency.
Italy has so far received over 17 million doses. It should get 670,000 more doses in April, another 2.1 million in May, and over 4 million by the end of June, according to the latest update from coronavirus emergency commissioner Francesco Figliuolo.
Vaccination campaigns are ongoing in several countries now, and further 272 candidate vaccines -- including 88 in clinical trials -- are being developed worldwide, including in Germany, Britain, China, United States, and Russia, according to data provided by the World Health Organization up to April 13. Enditem