New Delhi: Italy plans to extend its lockdown until April 12 as the new cases of coronavirus infection see a fall. One of the hardest-hit European countries by the pandemic, Italy had entered a strict lockdown restricting all non- essential movement on March 9. The three-week-long national quarantine which saw the closure of all shops, bars and restaurants were supposed to be lifted by this Friday (April 3), but the fall in the number of new cases has prompted for the continuation of the strict regulations.

Despite the severe impact on the economy, the Health Minister Roberto Speranza announced an extension of all containment measures till Easter. Since the outbreak emerged on February 21, Italy has had over 11,000 deaths with the northern regions being the worst affected. Lombardy which has Italy’s financial capital Milan accounts for almost 40 percent of COVID-19 cases and over 60 percent of total fatalities.

Although the death toll rose to 812 in the last 24 hours, with the national doctors' association announcing the deaths of 11 more doctors on Monday, the total number of new cases rose by just 4,050 which is the lowest increase since March 17. This gradual reduction is making officials optimistic even though experts feel that the decrease may be because of fewer tests being conducted in the last six days.

Italy accounts for a third of all global fatalities after China and the United States of America which is turning into the newest hotspot of the infection.

The governor of the southern region of Puglia in Italy also feels the lockdown could be more beneficial if it continues till May