ITALY recorded a jump in deaths from coronavirus of almost 800 Saturday, taking the toll in the world’s hardest-hit country to almost 5,000.

In its latest desperate effort to halt the epidemic, Rome ordered that all businesses must close until April 3, with the exception of those essential to maintaining the country’s supply chain.

“It is the most difficult crisis in our post-war period,” Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in a video posted on Facebook, adding “only production activities deemed vital for national production will be allowed.”

Supermarkets, pharmacies, postal and banking services will remain open and essential public services including transport will be ensured.

Italy on Thursday overtook China as the country worst hit by the highly contagious virus.

On Saturday fatalities jumped by 793 to 4,825 in the largest one-day rise since the contagion emerged a month ago.

Reported infections rose to 53,578 from 47,021, the Civil Protection Agency said. There were 2,857 people in intensive care, up from 2,655.

In Spain, the death toll from the coronavirus epidemic soared to 1,720 yesterday from 1,326 the day before, according to multiple media outlets citing the latest health data.

The number of registered cases in the country rose to 28,572 yesterday from 24,926 in the previous tally announced Saturday, the reports added.

The Spanish Government said Saturday it would do whatever was needed to combat the coronavirus pandemic and warned that “the worst is yet to come.”

“We have yet to receive the impact of the strongest, most damaging wave, which will test our material and moral capacities to the limit, as well as our spirit as a society,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told a news briefing. (SD-Agencies)