Spain death toll breaches 20,000 as COVID-19 rampage continues in Europe

Italy prepares for "Phase Two"

With 482 more COVID-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, Italy, the worst-hit country in Europe, now has a total of 23,227 deaths.

The total number of confirmed cases -- combining active infections, fatalities and recoveries -- rose to 175,925, an increase of 3,491 against Friday, according to fresh figures from Italy's Civil Protection Department.

According to the Italian government, the lockdown that went into effect on March 10 in the country will continue until May 3, which will be followed by a so-called "Phase Two," involving "the gradual resumption of social, economic and productive activities."

Domenico Arcuri, the government's special commissioner for the coronavirus emergency, said at a Saturday's press conference: "For Phase Two, we are ready to supply the national territory with all the needed equipment today. This does not mean that Phase Two should begin today."

Arcuri said that while it is not his job to decide when Phase Two should start, it is his job to "make sure we are ready" when it does.

He said that there are "three arrows to our bow: swabs, blood tests, and contact-tracing" and that "we will have to use them massively" to keep the pandemic under control during Phase Two.

The swab test refers to the coronavirus testing which takes a sample from the throat or nose. The official added that a new contact-tracing mobile phone app, commissioned by the government, is "being tested." The next step will be to roll it out in some parts of the country on an experimental basis.