Coronavirus: Italy hits single-day record with 250 deaths

The total number of cases in the European country hardest hit by the virus rose to 17,660

Italian foreign minister used the Chinese aid to criticise fellow member states of the EU, who have refused to supply health equipment

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A worker disinfects the square of the Stazione Centrale railway station in Milan, Italy. Photo: DPA

Published: 2:49am, 14 Mar 2020Updated: 2:49am, 14 Mar 2020

Italy on Friday recorded its highest one-day death toll yet from cases of the new coronavirus, according to official data.

There were 250 deaths recorded over the past 24 hours, taking the total to 1,266, with 17,660 infections overall, a rise of 2,547 since Thursday evening.

As the World Health Organisation declared Europe to be the new epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic, China flew 31 tonnes of medical supplies to Rome, along with battle-hardened experts from the region where the virus first took hold.

Italy’s health care system is straining under the outbreak and the country is on near-lockdown, with citizens ordered to stay at home except for travel to work and other necessities. All shops except food stores, pharmacies, newspaper stands and tobacconists have been closed.

The deputy head of the Chinese Red Cross, Yang Huichuan, who was heading the team of nine experts, said the supplies that arrived in Rome overnight included equipment for intensive care units.

The experts were also ready to provide Italian authorities with the latest version of the country’s control and prevention plan for the disease, Yang said at a joint press conference with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and Chinese ambassador to Italy Li Junhua.

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