COVID risk high in 5 regions, new measures needed says ISS

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 26 - The general COVID-19 risk situation has deteriorated in Italy for the fourth consecutive week and new measures are need to combat contagion, according to a draft of the weekly coronavirus monitoring report of the health ministry and the Higher Health Institute.
    It said the number of regions/autonomous provinces where the contagion risk level is high has gone up from one to five. They are Abruzzo, Lombardy, Marche, Piedmont and Umbria.
    The number of regions/autonomous provinces considered to be of low or moderate risk has decreased, from eight to six and from 12 to 10 respectively, the report said. It said the upswing in the spread of the coronavirus was linked to the arrival of more contagious variants.
    "Further mitigation measures are urgently needed across the national territory and timely mitigation-containment measures are needed in the areas of greatest spread to prevent health services being overwhelmed," it said. (ANSA).