Italy will remain in full lockdown until May 3 to stem thetide of new coronavirus infections, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced onFriday, Al Jazeera reports.

"If we gave up now, we would put all the positiveresults achieved so far at stake and restart with a new rise in the deathtoll," Conte said.

The country has already spent a month under strict measureslimiting the freedom of movement of its citizens.

Since February 20, when coronavirus was first detected inthe northern town of Codogno, Italy has recorded the world's highest deathtoll.

On Friday, the country's Civil Protection agency announcedthat deaths rose by 570 within 24 hours to 18,849. This was an increase of 3.1percent, the lowest daily growth since the beginning of the outbreak.

The infection rate has slowed since April began and, afterweeks struggling with a surge of patients in critical condition, healthfacilities are experiencing some relief. A week ago, there were 4,068 peoplebeing treated in intensive care units. By Friday, that number had dropped to3,497.