Rome, Sep 1 (IANS): Italy's new coronavirus cases fell below the 1,000 mark as the country reported a total of 996 infections in the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said.

New cases jumped over the 1,000 mark on August 26 (1,367) and continued until August 30 (1,365), reports Xinhua news agency.

With the 996 new cases reported on Monday, the overall tally now stands at 269,214 since the pandemic began in Italy in February.

Six new deaths were also reported, which increased the death toll to 35,483.

In its weekly Covid--19 monitoring report for August 17-23, the Ministry noted that "an increase is confirmed in new cases reported in Italy for the fourth consecutive week, the majority of cases continue to be contracted on the national territory" while 20.8 per cent of the new cases were imported.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte wrote on Twitter on Monday that "once again, Italy is on the frontlines to elaborate useful strategies to combat the coronavirus.

"Thanks to (Health) Minister Roberto Speranza, today 53 countries in dialogue with (the World Health Organization) WHO on safe reopening of schools. This is our priority today."