Coronavirus: The six countries where more than 3,000 people have died from COVID-19
The global coronavirus death toll now stands at more than 48,000 people, with six nations suffering at least 3,000 fatalities.
In the UK, deaths linked to COVID-19 are rapidly increasing, with the latest tally of people who have died from currently at 2,352.
In total 29,872 people have tested positive for the disease in Britain, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
As of 12pm on Thursday there have been around 952,000 confirmed cases worldwide, with Italy, Spain, China, France, Iran and the United States all suffering more than 3,000 deaths.
Italy
Italy officially has the highest death toll from coronavirus, with the disease killing more than 13,000 people in under six weeks.
The government has imposed a nationwide lockdown to try to contain the outbreak.
The restrictions have brought the Italian business world to a halt, with a huge knock-on impact for many people’s livelihoods.
Spain
On Thursday it was confirmed that Spain’s coronavirus death toll has climbed by 950 to more than 10,000, which is thought to be the largest daily increase in COVID-19 related deaths.
The country now has 10,003 recorded deaths and more than 110,000 infections.
Spain has rapidly risen to levels seen only by Italy so far among European nations, and has passed China’s official recorded number of cases.
China
China, where the coronavirus originated, has had more than 81,000 reported cases and 3,318 deaths.
It has begun to ease lockdown restrictions and is now reporting on asymptomatic cases as part of an effort to allay fears that people could be spreading the virus without knowing it.
Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice
Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world
Fact-checker: The number of COVID-19 cases in your local area
6 charts and maps that explain how COVID-19 is spreading
United States
More than 5,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the United States, it emerged on Thursday.
The total confirmed cases has risen to 216,722, which is the most in the world.
Almost half of the new fatalities were in New York state, the epicentre of the pandemic.
White House medical experts say 100,000 to 240,000 people could ultimately die from the respiratory disease in the US.
France
More than 4,000 people have died from the coronavirus in France.
The country is now in its third week of lockdown to try to slow the spread of the virus.
President Emmanuel Macron pledged to make France self-sufficient in protective masks by the end of the year and learn lessons from the coronavirus emergency, firing back at growing criticism of his government over equipment shortages.
Iran
Iran’s death toll from the coronavirus has reached 3,136, the country’s health minister confirmed on Thursday.
There have been 124 deaths in the past 24 hours
Kianush Jahanpur said the country now has more than 50,000 cases.
The US has been urged to lift sanctions on Iran to help it fight the pandemic.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo raised the possibility Washington might consider easing penalties but gave no concrete sign it plans to do so.
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said the US has missed a historic opportunity to lift sanctions on his country.
Coronavirus: what happened today?
Click here to sign up to the latest news, advice and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter
