Coronavirus cases in Italy rose by 21,273 on Sunday, according to Health Ministry figures, a new daily high for the country since the start of the pandemic.
A total of more than 525,000 cases have now been confirmed in the country.
On Sunday, a further 128 people died from the virus, bringing Italy’s total death toll to 37,338.
There are now 1,208 people with Covid-19 in Italy’s intensive care units.
The new figures come as Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte acknowledged during a news conference announcing new restrictions that the “epidemic curve is rapidly increasing” in Italy.
But Conte said he wanted to avoid a nationwide lockdown like the one he imposed in March, because “the country could not afford it.”
Italy imposes new measures: New coronavirus restrictions are set to come into force in Italy on Monday.
Unlike the country’s national lockdown in March, not all economic and production activities are obliged to close under the new decree.
The main restrictions concern bars and restaurants and other food services. They must close at 6 p.m. local time and have no more than four customers per table. Gyms, swimming pools, theaters, cinemas, concert halls, bingo halls, casinos and beauty centers all must close.
Kindergartens and primary schools will stay open but to avoid overcrowded public transport, high schools must hold 75% of lessons remotely.
“We believe that during the next month (November) we will suffer a bit, but gritting our teeth and facing these restrictions, in December we will breathe again” Conte said.