Italy on Monday reported 349 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, taking its total since last month to 2 158, the most after China.

The number of official COVID-19 fatalities has more than doubled since Thursday, when Italy’s toll topped 1 000 for the first time, according to the latest figures from Italy’s civil protection service.

It has reported more than 700 deaths in two days, including a record 368 in a single day on Sunday.

Italy has now confirmed 27 980 infections since the outbreak began, compared to 15 113 four days ago. Of those 2 749 people have recovered, another 414 in the past 24 hours. That leaves Italy with 23 073 active cases of the new virus.

Italian health experts have predicted that the numbers will continue to rise in the coming days, with nationwide quarantine measures implemented on Wednesday expected to show results in around two weeks.