COVID: New cases down 2.8%, deaths up 8% in last week

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 9 - New cases of COVID-19 in Italy are down 2.8% and deaths up 8% in the last week, the health ministry said in its weekly report Friday.
    The 2.8% drop compared to a 0.7% drop in the previous week while the 8% deaths rise compared to a gain of 9.5% the previous week, the report said.
    In the week of 2-8 December, the ministry said, 221,154 new positive cases were recorded, compared to 227,440 the previous week and 686 deaths (compared to 635 the previous week); there were 1,256,722 swabs with a change of -5.2% compared to the week (1,324,969); and a positivity rate of 17.6% with an increase of 0.4% on the previous week, when it was 17.2%. (ANSA).