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ROME, May 15-- Italy registered 242 new coronavirus fatalities on Friday, bringing the country's death toll to 31,610, out of total infection cases of 223,885, according to the latest data provided by the country's Civil Protection Department. The number of recoveries rose to 120,205, with an increase of 4,917 compared to Thursday. Nationwide, the number of active infections fell by 4,370 to 72,070, according to the Civil Protection Department. Of those who tested positive for the coronavirus, 808 are being treated in intensive care, down by 47 compared to Thursday, and 10,792 are hospitalized with symptoms, a decrease of 661 patients over the past 24 hours. The remaining 60,470 people -- or about 84 percent of those who have tested positive -- are isolated at home without symptoms or with only mild symptoms. Northwest Lombardy and Piedmont regions remained the hardest hit with 27,746 and 11,113 active cases, respectively, followed by central Emilia Romagna with 6,001, and by northeast Veneto with 4,439. PLAN TO REOPEN INTER-REGIONAL MOVEMENT In related news, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's cabinet is mulling easing of the restrictions on people's movement between regions starting from June 3, local media reported. The topic was included in a draft decree submitted to a cabinet meeting on Friday. Under the plan being discussed, moving between regions would be allowed again but would be subject to regional authorities, which could limit it, if they have specific reasons -- linked to the local epidemiological pandemic trend, according to Il Sole 24 ore business daily. | 
