Rome, Sep 15 (IANS): Despite a steady increase in the number of new Covid-19 cases and death in Italy, majority of the schools across the country have reopened, amid strict social distancing and health regulations.

Around two-thirds of Italy's 8 million students returned to school on Monday, reports Xinhua news agency.

Rest of the schools, mostly in rural areas, are scheduled to open at the end of the month.

In an interview with the La Nazione newspaper, virologist Andrea Crisanti said that the next 15 to 20 days will "put Italy's health system to the test" amid the return of students, regional elections later in the month, and cooler weather.

"By October we will know much more than we know now," Crisanti said.

On Monday, Italy recorded 1,008 new coronavirus cases and 14 deaths, which took the overall tally and the toll to 288,761 and 35,624, respectively.

The country has now recorded at least 1,000 new cases for 20 out of the 24 days from August 22.

Before the start of that period, Italy had not surpassed that level since May 12.

But since the increase in the second half of August, the daily infection rate has stayed below 1,500 for all but four days, far below peaks of more than 5,000 infections per day in late March and early April, when it was the European epicentre for the pandemic.

The daily mortality rate has stayed relatively low despite the increase in new infections, not surpassing 20 deaths in one day since July 7.