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ROME, June 14-- Italy's four-month-old coronavirus situation continued to trend in the right direction, data from the Civil Protection Department showed Sunday, as political leaders are shifting their attention toward assuring safety and economic growth during the post-coronavirus period. Over the previous 24 hours, Italy recorded 44 deaths from COVID-19, the lowest one-day fatalities since March 7. There were 338 new cases of the disease recorded over the last day, down from 346 a day earlier but higher than 163 on Friday. Health officials said that day-to-day fluctuations are less important than the overall trend, which has been positive. The total of new cases has now been below 500 for 15 of the last 16 days, including Sunday, a level reached only three times over the 86 days before that. The total number of active COVID-19 cases, as well as the figure of those hospitalized with symptoms, those in intensive care units, and those recovering at home, all dropped. Earlier on Sunday, it was announced that Minister of Health Roberto Speranza signed a cooperation agreement with his counterparts in France, Germany, and the Netherlands for the co-production of a vaccine against COVID-19 when it is available. The deal guarantees that at least 30 million doses of the vaccine will be made available for Italy, the equivalent for around half of the country's population. Water Ricciardi, a Health Ministry official, said that once a vaccine is available the first Italians to be protected against the coronavirus will be those in high-risk professions, such as frontline workers in hospitals. | 
