London: A recent report published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that COVID-19 was in Italy as early as November-end 2019, a month before the first human cases were reported in Wuhan, China.
The first case in Italy, however, was reported in February.
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Another study says that the virus was present in sewage systems in Milan and Turin last December, raising questions as to the origin of the virus.
A throat swab taken from a 4-year-old boy in Milan in early December 2019 had tested positive.
Italy reported 499 COVID deaths on Wednesday, while the daily infection fell from 14,842 to 12,756. It has witnessed the highest number of deaths in Europe after Britain.
