Italy coronavirus deaths pass 7,500 amid fears of spread to south

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte addresses the lower house of parliament on the coronavirus outbreak, in Rome, Italy, March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

ROME (Reuters) - More than 680 people have died from coronavirus in Italy in the last 24 hours, the Civil Protection Agency said on Wednesday, as concerns grew that the disease was spreading more towards the south of the country.

The death toll increased by 683 on Wednesday. That was lower than a spike of 743 on Tuesday but more than the totals of the previous two days and the third highest daily tally since the outbreak emerged in northern regions on Feb. 21.