CORRECTS - Italy hits new high in daily virus case count at 4,458

ADDS MISSING PARAGRAPHS

By Giada Zampano

ROME (AA) - Italy reported 4,458 more cases of the novel coronavirus on Thursday, hitting a fresh record since early April, when the country was under a strict lockdown.

According to new Health Ministry data, the number of total infections rose to 338,398 as Italy performed a record 128,098 swab tests.

The country also reported 22 more deaths in the last 24 hours, raising the overall tally to 36,083.

Infections were reported across all regions in the country, with the southern Campania registering 757 new cases, followed by the northern Lombardia with 683 and Veneto at 491.

Campania's hard-line governor, Vincenzo De Luca, responded to the recent spike in infections by ordering bars and restaurants to close by 11.00 p.m. (21:00GMT) He also made it mandatory to wear masks outdoors -- a measure now adopted at the national level effective as of Thursday.

The Italian government has also extended the state of emergency in the country until Jan. 31, making it easier for officials to avoid bureaucratic hurdles and enforce additional restrictive measures.

Earlier this week, Italy's health minister ruled out, for now, the option of another nationwide lockdown, which would bring the country back to last spring, when a nearly total lockdown was imposed at the national level to try to contain the worst outbreak in Europe.

Restrictions were gradually lifted in late spring and during the summer months.

Minister Roberto Speranza noted that the number of new infections in Italy is still lower than other European countries like Spain, France and the UK, but the constant rise in new cases is worrying.

Speranza said the increase in new cases was linked to people meeting with friends and relatives.