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Italy Reports Lowest Number of New COVID Deaths in 3 Weeks

VOA News

   Italy is reporting its lowest number of new coronavirusdeathsin three
   weeksandofficialssay hospitalization,includingthe number of patients
   admitted to intensive care, are also down.

   Italy has been Europe's COVID-19 hot spot with more than 156,000
   confirmed cases overall.But some Italian experts say the actual number
   may be much higherbecause of the high rateoffatalitiesinnursing homes
   where many of the patients were not tested before they died.

   The Associated Press, which has kept its own count, reports the number
   of coronavirus deaths in U.S. nursing homes has jumped since the start
   of April to more than 3,300. But justlike Italy, the true number may
   never be known because of patients dying before they could be tested.

   Dr. DeborahBirxof theWhiteHouse COVID task force believes testing in
   facilities for the elderlyshould be a priority.

   "We need to really ensure that nursing homes have sentinel
   surveillance. And what do I mean by that? That we're actively testing
   in nursing homes, both the residents and the workers,at all
   times,"Birxsaid.

   Back in Europe,Franceis alsoreportinga dropin coronavirus deathsand
   Spanishofficialsare lettingconstructionand other industrial
   workersreturn to theirjobsonMondayafter a two-week shutdown.But
   Spanishstores,exceptpharmacies and food stores, will continue to be
   closed and anyone who can work from home are still being told to do so.

   Turkish Interior MinisterSuleyman Soylu handed in his resignation
   Sunday after a two-daycoronavirus-relatedcurfew across the
   countrytookTurks by compete surprise.

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