Italy's death toll from coronavirus close to 20,000

The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 19,468 lives in locked-down Italy, bringing the total number of infections, fatalities and recoveries so far to 152,271.

This was revealed by the country's Civil Protection Department recently.

Addressing a televised press conference, Civil Protection Department Chief Angelo Borrelli said fatalities grew by 619 on a daily basis, while active infections increased by 1,996 to 100,269.

Meanwhile, 2,079 new recoveries were registered over the last 24 hours, bringing its total to 32,534.

Of those who have tested positive, 28,144 people are currently hospitalized, 3,381 are in intensive care and 68,744 are isolated at home, Borrelli said.