Italy COVID-19 deaths top 10,000 amid lockdown

Italy's COVID-19 death toll surpassed 10,000 despite a 16-day lockdown, with the nation experiencing a surge in fatalities.

The country recorded 889 new deaths on Saturday, following a record high of 969 on Friday, indicating the virus is still spreading rapidly.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte suggested that Italians should prepare for an extended period of confinement as the country grapples with the health crisis.

The economic impact of the pandemic has led to a dispute among European leaders regarding the best response, with Italy and Spain pushing for 'corona bonds' to finance recovery efforts.

More fiscally conservative nations like Germany and the Netherlands are hesitant to agree to common debt issuance.

Conte expressed concern that the European Union could lose its purpose if it fails to adequately address the unprecedented challenge posed by the pandemic.

Italy, the first European nation to implement widespread business closures, faces the risk of near economic collapse, with forecasts predicting a significant contraction in its GDP.

There are concerns that the official death toll may be higher than reported, as some retirement homes might not be fully accounting for COVID-19 fatalities.