The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic continued its relentless rise in Europe on Sunday with Italy announcing 651 dead in one day, bringing its total to 5 476.

It was an increase of 13.5% but down from Saturday’s figure when 793 people died.

The Canadian death toll from the coronavirus outbreak jumped almost 50 percent in less than a day, and the mayor of New York City - the US epicentre of the contagion - called the situation the greatest crisis since the Great Depression and warned hospitals would likely be overwhelmed in 10 days.