The number of coronavirus cases in Italy showed signs of narrowing again, with officials expressing cautious optimism that the most severe shutdown in the industrialized west is showing results.

Italy's civil protection agency said 5,217 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours - the lowest number in four days and an increase of just 5.6% - bringing the total number to 97,689. In that period, another 756 people with the virus died, bringing Italy's total deaths in the crisis to 10,779.