Italy reports 161 new deaths, gov't passes key test

By Giada Zampano

ROME (AA) - Italy on Wednesday reported 161 more fatalities from the novel coronavirus, bringing the death toll to 32,330, as the government survived a key political test.

Data released by the country's Civil Protection Department confirmed the peak of the outbreak was left behind. The tally of active infections on Wednesday fell again by 2,377, placing the total at 62,752.

Meanwhile, recoveries continued to climb, reaching 132,282, as more patients left intensive care, easing pressure on Italy's overwhelmed health care system.

The epicenter of the Italian outbreak remains the northern Lombardy region where fatalities has risen to 15,662, almost half of the country's total deaths.

On Wednesday, the government led by Premier Giuseppe Conte survived a crucial parliamentary vote, as senators rejected two no-confidence motions against Justice Minister Alfonso Bonafede.

Bonafede was harshly cricitized for his decision to concede house arrest to mafia bosses due to high contagion risks in Italian prisons. If one of the two no-confidence motions had been approved, he would have been forced to resign, putting the whole government at risk.

The government relies on a very thin majority in the Senate, so it needed to secure the votes of the tiny Italia Viva party -- headed by former premier Matteo Renzi -- to survive the no-confidence motions against Bonafede.