ROME, Dec 11 (Reuters) – Italy reported 761 coronavirus-related deaths on Friday from 887 the day before, the Health Ministry said, while the daily count of new infections rose to 18,727 from 16,999.
190,416 swabs were done last day, up from 171,586 earlier, the ministry said.
Italy, the first western country affected by the virus, has recorded 63,387 deaths from COVID-19 since the outbreak emerged in February, the second highest figure in Europe after Great Britain.
It has also registered 1,806 million cases to date.
Hospitalized COVID-19 patients stood at 28,562 on Friday, 526 less than the day before.
There were 208 new admissions to intensive care units, down from 251 on Thursday.
The number of intensive care patients decreased from 26 to 3,265, reflecting those who died or were discharged after recovery.
When the second wave of the epidemic in Italy accelerated rapidly in the first half of November, hospital admissions increased by around 1,000 per day, while intensive care occupancy increased by around 100 per day. (Reporting by Gavin Jones; Editing by Crispian Balmer)