Italy's daily coronavirus death toll and new cases decline slightly

Mounted police patrol at Via del Corso street, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Rome, Italy April 10, 2020. REUTERS/Alberto Lingria

Deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy rose by 570 on Friday, down from 610 the day before, and the number of new cases also slowed modestly to 3,951 from a previous 4,204.

The latest tallies broadly confirm what experts describe as a plateau of new cases and deaths, which are no longer accelerating but are still not falling steeply.

The total death toll since the outbreak came to light on Feb. 21 rose to 18,849, the Civil Protection Agency said, the highest in the world.

Patrolling mounted police approach a man, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Rome, Italy April 10, 2020. REUTERS/Alberto Lingria

The number of officially confirmed cases climbed to 147,577, the third highest global tally behind those of the United States and Spain.

There were 3,497 people in intensive care on Friday against 3,605 on Thursday -- a seventh consecutive daily decline.

Of those originally infected, 30,455 were declared recovered against 28,470 a day earlier.

(Reporting By Gavin Jones)