A cafe is seen empty at a deserted street, as Italy begins to ease some of the restrictions of the coronavirus lockdown, in Taormina, Italy. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello

ROME: Deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy climbed by 172 on Tuesday (May 12), against 179 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, but the daily tally of new cases doubled to 1,402 from 744 on Monday.