Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte offered a hopeful message as the country moved to its final stage in easing lockdown restrictions.
“We deserve to smile, to be cheerful, after weeks of great sacrifice,” he said.
He added that now was the time for the country to enact economic reforms.
With more than 33,600 fatalities and almost 234,000 cases since the coronavirus outbreak began, Italy has been one of the hardest-hit countries.
Only the US and the UK have recorded higher death tolls.
Mr Conte’s comments came the same day as the country entered its final phase in easing lockdown restrictions, allowing domestic travel between regions and opening its international borders.
