A shop selling children's products reopens in Rome, Italy, April 15, 2020. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

-- Death toll hits 21,645 in Italy, hospitalized patients drop;

-- France's COVID-19 deaths reach 17,167;

-- Germany extends social distance restrictions to early May;

-- Death toll reaches 12,868 in UK, 98,476 cases confirmed.

BRUSSELS, April 15  -- The following are the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in European countries.

ROME -- The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 21,645 lives in locked-down Italy, bringing the total number of infections, fatalities and recoveries so far to 165,155, according to the latest data released by the country's Civil Protection Department on Wednesday.

The number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized showed a relevant drop, with 27,643 hospitalized, down by 368 compared with the previous day, including 3,079 in intensive care units, down by 107. Meanwhile, 74,696, or about 71 percent, are isolated at home because they are asymptomatic or with light symptoms, Civil Protection Department Chief Angelo Borrelli told a televised press conference.

There were 578 new fatalities on a daily basis, Borrelli said, adding that active infections rose by 1,127 compared to Tuesday to a total of 105,418.