An elderly couple were pictured in a tearful reunion after spending a month apart as they both fought coronavirus.
The couple, known only as Giorgio and Rosa both underwent treatment for the virus at Cremona Hospital in Lombardy - the worst hit spot in Italy.
Both were hospitalised in March - leading to the longest time they had spent apart in their 52-year marriage.
After both their conditions improved considerably, staff at the hospital organised a surprise reunion.
Doctor Manuela Denti said: “It was one of those moments that cannot be forgotten. We could not avoid breaking into tears.”
Italy has come the worst hit spot for coronavirus in Europe, with over 22,00 deaths and more than 168,941 cases.
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Lombardy accounts for 11,608 deaths and 63,094 confirmed cases.
The World Health Organisation has said the next few weeks will be "crucial" for Europe and warned there will be "no fast road back to normal".
Dr Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, warned that the next few weeks of the coronavirus response are 'critical' and that there is 'no fast road back to normal'.
Speaking at a briefing yesterday, Dr Kluge said: "The storm clouds of this pandemic still hang heavily over the European region.
"The next few weeks will be critical for Europe.
"Make no mistake, despite the spring weather, we are in the middle of a storm."
He added: "There is no fast road back to normal."
Dr Kluge announced that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases reported in Europe has nearly doubled over the past week.
The figure now stands at close to one million across the continent.
Countries which were badly affected by the coronavirus towards the beginning of the pandemic do not yet have the end in sight.
Spain, which has reported 182,000 cases and more than 19,000 deaths, has endured a sudden spike in cases over the last two days just as its trend line looked to be flattening out.
Italy has managed to flatten the curve with weeks of social restrictions, although it is still seeing more than 500 die every day.
UK Government health minister have echoed Dr Kluge's sentiments over the past day.
On Wednesday night, health minister Nadine Dorries took to Twitter to urge journalists to stop asking about an exit strategy.
She said: "There is only one way we can 'exit' full lockdown and that is when we have a vaccine. Until then, we need to find ways we can adapt society and strike a balance between the health of the nation and our economy."
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Thursday he agreed that things will not go back to how they were, at least in the short term.
He stressed the number of deaths is still "far too high" for any exit strategy to be set out, adding the public must instead focus on staying at home.
