Italy's COVID-19 transmission number and incidence drop

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 29 - Italy's COVID-19 Rt transmission number and its case incidence have dropped, according to the weekly monitoring report of the health ministry and the Higher Health Institute (ISS).
    It said the Rt for the July 6-19 period was 1.03, down from 1.23 in last week's report.
    That remains above the threshold of 1, indicating that the epidemic is in a phase of expansion.
    The report said the nationwide incidence has dropped to 727 cases for every 100,000 inhabitants, down from 977 in last week's report.
    It said the proportion of intensive-care places occupied by coronavirus sufferers on July 28 was 4.1%, stable with respect to seven days previous.
    It said the proportion of ordinary-ward hospital places taken up by COVID patients was 17%, down from 17.1%.
    Two regions have incidences of over 1,000 cases for every 100,000 inhabitants - Abruzzo (1234.3) and Marche (1018.1).
    The region with the highest proportion of beds occupied by COVID patients is Umbria - 44%. (ANSA).