'We don't count the dead now' - Italy toll worse than China's

A total of 427 deaths were registered in Italy in a day, bringing the total nationwide tally to 3,405 since the outbreak surfaced on February 21. China has recorded 3,245 deaths since early January.

However, Italy has far fewer confirmed cases - 41,035 as of Thursday, against 80,907 in China.

Elderly

Officials and experts believe the total number of infections in Italy is significantly higher, with testing largely limited to those arriving for hospital care.

The country's large, elderly population, which is particularly vulnerable to the virus, is also seen as a factor in the high number of fatalities.

"We're working in a state of very high stress and tension," said Daniela Confalonieri, a nurse at a hospital in Milan, the capital of the wealthy northern region of Lombardy, which has been the epicentre of the epidemic.

"Unfortunately we can't contain the situation in Lombardy. There's a high level of contagion and we're not even counting the dead any more," she said.

Underscoring the scale of the drama, soldiers transported bodies overnight from the northern town of Bergamo, north-east of Milan, whose cemetery has been overwhelmed.

An army spokesman said 15 trucks and 50 soldiers had been deployed to move coffins to neighbouring provinces.

Earlier, local authorities had appealed for help with cremations as their own crematorium could not cope with the huge workload.

"Look at the news that's coming out of Italy and take note of what the situation really is like. It's unimaginable," said Ms Confalonieri.

Italy went into virtual lockdown before other countries in Europe but, with cases still rising, the government is considering even tougher measures that would further restrict the limited amount of outdoor movement currently permitted.

Luca Zaia, governor of the Veneto region neighbouring Lombardy, demanded stronger curbs from Rome, including closing all shops on Sunday, and said if they were not passed, he would consider passing a regional decree.

"I hope there will soon be measures to restrict people jogging or going out for walks. I'm sorry about that, but the alternative is intensive care, hospitalisation and contagion," he said.

At the other end of the country, in Sicily, the regional governor said the army would now help police make spot checks to ensure only people with legitimate reasons were out.

Police across Italy have stopped more than 1.2 million people over the past week and booked some 51,000 for violating the rules, the interior ministry said yesterday.