The number of deaths around the world from the novel coronavirus cases stood at 16,961, according to a tally compiled by AFP on Tuesday from official sources.
More than 386,350 declaredcases have been registered in 175 countries and territories since the epidemicfirst emerged in China in December.
The tallies, using datacollected by AFP offices from national authorities and information from theWorld Health Organization (WHO), likely reflect only a fraction of the actualnumber of infections.
Many countries are nowonly testing cases that require hospitalisation. Italy, which recorded itsfirst coronavirus death in February, now has more fatalities than China with6,077, as well as having 63,927 declared infections with 7,432 recoveries.
China— excluding Hong Kong and Macau — has to date declared 81,171 cases,including 3,277 deaths, with 73,159 people recovered. It reported 78 new casesand seven new fatalities since Monday.
Thethird worst hit country is Spain with 2,696 fatalities and 39,673 infections,followed by Iran with 1,934 fatalities and 24,811 cases, France with 860 deathsand 19,856 cases, and the United States with 499 deaths and 46,440 cases. Since1900 GMT Monday, Iceland announced its first death while Myanmar reported itsfirst case.
By continent, Europe has listed 199,779 cases and 10,724 deaths to date, Asia 98,748 cases and 3,570 deaths, the US and Canada together 48,519 cases with 523 deaths, the Middle East 29,087 cases and 1,966 deaths, Latin America and the Caribbean 6,217 cases with 112 deaths, Oceania 2,225 cases with nine deaths and Africa 1,778 cases with 57 deaths.