(Bloomberg) --
Italy registered the lowest number of new coronavirus cases and fatalities since early March -- roughly when the country's lockdown began -- on Sunday, as Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said he may take the next step in easing a national lockdown earlier than planned.
Conte, under pressure from coalition allies, regional and business leaders as well as public opinion after two months of containment measures, told newspaper Corriere della Sera that bars, restaurants and barbers could be allowed to reopen before June 1, the date previously set by the government. Shops are due to reopen on May 18.
- Civil protection authorities reported 802 cases for the 24-hour period -- the fewest since March 6 -- compared with 1,083 a day earlier
- Confirmed cases now total 219,070
- Daily fatalities fell to 165 -- the fewest since March 9 -- from 194 on Saturday, with a total of 30,560 reported since the start of the pandemic in late February
- NOTE: Italy's nationwide lockdown began in early March, though parts of the north were cordoned off late in February
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