Italy recorded 2,987 deaths from nCoV after increasing 475 cases a day, almost equal to the number of deaths in China of 3,237.

The Italian Civil Protection Agency said it recorded an additional 475 deaths from nCoV, the world's highest daily increase and the highest since the country released the data. Of the 475 cases, the Lombardy region alone recorded 319 cases.

A total of 35,713 people were infected with nCoV, 2,978 died, 4,025 recovered in Italy as of March 19. The number of deaths from nCoV in Italy accounts for more than a third of global deaths, in the context of the closure of all businesses, banning public gatherings.

"The current main measure is not to give up," said Italy National Institutes of Health Silvio Brusaferro in Rome on March 18. "It will take a few days before we see the benefits of preventive measures. We have to continue to see their effects and above all protect the most vulnerable," Brusaferro said. .

The epidemic is spreading strongly in Europe. In addition to Italy, Spain recorded more than 14,700 infections, 638 deaths, Germany more than 12,300 infections, 28 deaths, France more than 9,100 infections, 264 deaths, Britain more than 2,600 infections, 104 deaths.

Covid-19 has appeared in 173 countries and territories since the outbreak in Wuhan, China in December 2019, causing more than 218,000 infections, nearly 9,000 deaths, and more than 84,000 recovering. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a pandemic and urged countries to strengthen response measures.