Italy has announced the lowest number of deaths linked to Covid-19 in more than three weeks.
More people have died after contracting coronavirus in Italy than in any other country so far, with its death toll reaching almost 20,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.
But the number of new coronavirus-related deaths reported on Sunday - 431 - was lower than any day since March 19.
The number of people given intensive care treatment and rates of people admitted to hospital have also been going down for nine straight days.
More than 150,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Italy so far, with the northern region of Lombardy hit particularly hard.
Italy has increased its testing capacity in recent days, the country's health officials said.
This has yielded more positive tests - but also gives the Government to track and quarantine people who are infected more effectively.
The country is in its fifth week of lockdown to control the spread of the virus, and the strict measures are set to remain until at least May 3, the Prime Minister announced on Friday.
Giuseppe Conte added: "If we gave up now, we would put all the positive results achieved so far at stake and restart with a new rise in the death toll."
Meanwhile migrants in refugee rescue ships will be placed in quarantine, the head of Italy's civil protection agency said.
Angelo Borrelli said last week that foreign-marked refugee rescue ships would be turned away.
Italy now has fewer people with coronavirus than Spain, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Spain has nearly 167,000 confirmed cases - second only to the United States - although its death toll remains below Italy.
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