Italy continues to be ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic with more than 1.6 lakh cases and more than 20,000 deaths.
To stem the tide of new coronavirus infections, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has extended the European country's lockdown until May 3.
As the Mediterranean country battles its worst crisis since World War II, here are some scenes from inside Italy's intensive care units, where medical staff are treating the most severe cases of COVID-19.
Photographs: Flavio Lo Scalzo/Reuters
Multiple members of the medical staff in protective suits are needed to move an 18-year old patient suffering from coronavirus in an intensive care unit at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan, Italy.
A medical worker wearing a protective mask and suit treats coronavirus patients in an ICU at the Oglio Po hospital in Cremona, Italy.
A medical staff member disinfects his hands in the intensive care unit, where patients suffering from the COVID-19 are treated, at the Circolo hospital in Varese, Italy.
A medical staff member is seen next to a patient at the Circolo hospital in Varese, Italy.
Medical staff members wearing protective gear show their hands with the words written on gloves "Ce la faremo" (We'll make it) written on them as they treat patients suffering from the coronavirus in the intensive care unit of the Circolo hospital in Varese .
A medical staff member is seen next to a patient suffering from the coronavirus in the intensive care unit at the Circolo hospital in Varese.
Medical workers in protective suits treat a patient suffering with COVID-19 in an intensive care unit at the Casalpalocco hospital, a hospital in Rome that has been dedicated to treating cases of the disease, Italy.
A member of the medical staff in a protective suit is seen in front of a COVID-19 patient in an intensive care unit at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan, Italy.
Members of the medical staff in protective suits pose for a photo in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan, Italy.
A patient suffering from coronavirus is seen in an intensive care unit at the Oglio Po hospital in Cremona, Italy .
