ROME, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Italy's coronavirus infection rate is on the rise again, according to data released Friday by the government's main health research institute, although the transmission rate is still declining.

       Italy's National Institute of Health (ISS) reported Friday that for the one-week period ending on Thursday, the number of infections rose for the first time in weeks, reaching 222 cases per 100,000 residents. This was an increase from 207 per 100,000 inhabitants over the previous week.

       However, the Rt rate, a measure of how fast a disease is spreading, was low. It continued to drop over the June 3-9 period, despite an increase in the infection rate.

       The percentage of infected patients in intensive care units also dropped to 2.0 percent, down from 2.3 percent a week earlier, ISS reported.

       All but two of Italy's 21 regions are now considered low risk, while two at moderate risk.

       As of Friday, Italy had just over 620,000 active cases of COVID-19, the lowest number since Dec. 28, 2021. At the peak of the pandemic, the country had around 2.8 million active cases.

       Also on Friday, there were around 21,500 new infections, 200 less than the previous day. Meanwhile, 52 new COVID-related deaths were reported over the previous 24 hours.