COVID: Cases back up, 3.8%, ICU cases down 12.6% in week

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 27 - In the last week, there was a slight increase in new cases of Covid-19 (29,438 versus 28,347, i.e.
    +3.8%) and a decrease in deaths (244 versus 299, i.e. -18.4%), according to the Gimbe Foundation's independent monitoring of the week 17-23 February.
    On the other hand, there has been an increase in admissions with symptoms (3,331 against 3,200, i.e. +4.1%), while the decline in intensive care continues (133 against 154, i.e. -13.6%).
    "After six consecutive weeks of decline," says Nino Cartabellotta, president of Gimbe, "there is a slight increase in the number of new weekly cases, which nevertheless remain largely underestimated.
    Daily administrations of the fourth doses of the anti-Covid vaccine are still falling (-25.8%), and 12.1 million people are exposed, the weekly survey showed.
    The coverage rate for fourth doses is 31.2% with clear regional differences: from 14% in Calabria to 44.8% in Piedmont.
    The coverage rate for fifth doses, on the other hand, remains at a virtual standstill and stands at 15.1%, again with clear regional differences: from 5.2% in Campania to 28.7% in Piedmont.
    As of 24 February, 6.78 mln people had not received a single dose of vaccine. (ANSA).