Coronavirus: Italy death toll climbs to 148

By Baris Seckin

ROME (AA) - The death toll from novel coronavirus in Italy surged to 148 on Thursday, according to an official.

Angelo Borelli, head of Civil Protection Department, said in a daily briefing that the coronavirus cases rose to 3,296, while the total number of affected, including deaths and recoveries, reaching 3,858.

Borrelli said that 41 more deaths recorded over the past 24 hours, adding that some 414 people have recovered so far.

According to the local media, a new-born baby in Brescia city tested positive for the new coronavirus.

The country suspended all schools and universities until the mid-March amid the spread of disease.

The government has been taking measures to curb any effect the outbreak will have on the economy.

To prevent further spread, the government urged everyone in the county not to shake hands, all sports activities and congresses have been suspended and those older than 65 have been advised to stay at home.

The virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, in last December and has spread to at least 80 countries.

The global death toll from the virus is more than 3,200, with over 95,000 cases of infection.

After declaring the outbreak an international health emergency, the World Health Organization last week updated the global risk level to very high.