Italy reports 243 new deaths, total tally crosses 30,000

ROME Italy on Friday reported 243 new fatalities from coronavirus, bringing the total to 30,201, as the number of active infections continued to fall. Data released by Italy’s Civil Protection Department confirmed the peak of the outbreak passed, but experts keep warning that a relaxation in the lockdown could spark a rebound in the virus contagion curve. The tally of new active infections on Friday fell further by 1,663, putting the total at 87,961. Meanwhile, recoveries continued to climb, jumping to 99,023 as more patients left intensive care, easing pressure on Italy's struggling healthcare system. The epicenter of the Italian outbreak remains the northern Lombardy region, where fatalities has kept rising, reaching 14,839, almost half of the country's total deaths. The lockdown easing -- called phase 2 -- started on May 4 and included mainly strategic factories and construction sites. The lockdown is scheduled to be further eased in gradual steps: first on May 18 for retailers, and on June 1 for bars and restaurants. Schools will stay closed until September, while travel between regions -- except for justified reasons -- is still banned. The government insists phase 2 consists of “living with the virus” and that restrictions need to be lifted gradually. This means the announced steps could be pushed back or even canceled if scientific evidence shows the spread of the virus starts picking up again. Images of the city of Milan published on social media -- depicting a lively neighborhood full of people, with no social distancing -- sparked a heated controversy, pushing the mayor of the northern city to threaten a new lockdown with stricter rules.