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Italian Embassy corrects UK minister claim that ‘over 60s not being treated’

The Italian Embassy has moved to quell fears after UK health minister Nadine Dorries claimed that Italy has stopped intubating patients over 60.

It comes as it was announced yesterday that almost 3,500 patients have now died from coronavirus (Covid-19) in Italy, surpassing the number of deaths in China, according to the BBC.

In a Tweet that has now been deleted, Ms Dorries said: ‘Sobering @itvnews Italy has stopped intubating patients over 60. All ICU patients on ventilators are below 60 and not one has been weaned back off to breath independently.

‘We must follow the advice on social distancing if we are to crack this #coronavirus.’

However, the Italian embassy said this was ‘fake news’ and called on Ms Dorries to ‘deny it immediately’.

It added: ‘Italian health system staff have been working round the clock to save “all” human lives.’

Meanwhile, the Government today launched a ‘The NHS needs you’ campaign, urging more than 65,000 former doctors and nurses – including 5,000 GPs – to return to work to support the efforts against coronavirus.