Italy's COVID-19 Rt transmission number down, but incidence up - ISS

(ANSA) - ROME, APR 29 - Italy's COVID-19 Rt transmission number has fallen slightly but the case incidence has risen a tad, according to the latest weekly coronavirus monitoring report of the health ministry and the higher Health Institute (ISS).
    It said the Rt number dropped to 0.93 in the April 6-19 period, down from 0.96 in last week's report.
    An Rt over 1 indicates the epidemic is in a phase of expansion.
    The incidence rose to 699 cases for every 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 675 in last Friday's report.
    The report said the pressure COVID-19 is exerting on Italy's health system had eased a little.
    It said the proportion of Italy's intensive-care places occupied by coronavirus sufferers was 3.8% on April 28, down from 4.2% on April 21.
    It said the proportion of ordinary-ward hospital places taken up by COVID patients fell from 15.8% to 15.6%. (ANSA).