The number of confirmed new infections rose by 10.4 per cent to 59,138.
Italy’s death toll now stands at 5476.
Sunday’s fatalities were less than the 793 new coronavirus deaths recorded on Saturday, a one-day record.
Italy has reported over 2000 deaths since Friday, a grim figure that suggested the pandemic may be breaking through the government’s nationwide lockdown and containment measures.
But Italian civil protection service chief Angelo Borrelli was hopeful.
“The figures announced today are lower than those for yesterday,” he told reporters.
“I hope and we all hope that these figures can be borne out in the coming days.
“But do not let your guard down.”
Of those originally infected nationwide, 7024 had fully recovered on Sunday compared to 6072 the day before.
There were 3009 people in intensive care against a previous 2857.
