With 427 deaths in the last 24 hours, Italy surpassed China on Thursday to become the country with the most coronavirus-related deaths.

Italy, with a population of 60 million, has now recorded at least 3 405 deaths, Angelo Borelli, the head of the country’s Civil Protection Service, said.

That is 156 more than in China - a country with a population over 20 times larger - which has counted 3 249 deaths. New infections in Italy also shot up by 5 322, bringing the country’s total to 41 035 - more than half the world"s cases.