Italian health officials defend new virus measures

Italy's health authorities confirmed on Tuesday that a severe increase in the number of new coronavirus cases across the country, saying that the trend justifies the tough new restrictions imposed by the government over the weekend.

Italy reported nearly 22,000 new coronavirus cases. Health authorities registered 221 new deaths. The President of the Italian national institute of health defended the decision to impose the new restrictions, which include regional curfews, evening shutdowns for restaurants and bars and the closures of gyms, swimming pools and theaters.

He said it was vital to avoid seeing the hospital system overwhelmed with new coronavirus patients, preventing not to overwhelm the hospital system with the admission of new virus patients, otherwise there wouldn't be space for people needing treatment for other conditions.