Global death toll from coronavirus exceeds 50,000

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Coronavirus-related deaths pushed past the 50,000 mark Thursday as the spread of the pandemic surges.

The virus emerged in Wuhan, China last December and spread to at least 180 countries and regions.

According to running tally of U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University, the total number of deaths stands at 50,230 and confirmed cases are leaning on the 1 million mark with 981,200.

However, the number of recoveries quadrupled the death toll with more than 204,600.

Italy, Spain, China and France continue to be the most affected countries, while the highest number of cases are in the U.S. with more that 226,300, cases. The U.S. has confirmed close to 5,320 deaths.

Italy recorded its highest number of fatalities with nearly 14,000 and more than 110,500 cases, while Spain reported deaths exceeding 10,000 and diagnosed greater than 110,200 patients.

France surpassed the death toll of China, on Wednesday with more than 4,040 deaths. It has nearly 58,000 infected. China followed France with 3,322 fatalities, while its confirmed cases have neared 82,500.

In recent days, according to the Johns Hopkins data, daily fatalities remain in single digits in China and it recorded the most recoveries from the epidemic with more than 76,570, followed by Spain and Germany with 26,743 and 19,175 recoveries, respectively.

Many countries have restricted travel from the most affected areas and implemented lockdowns as the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic and Europe the new epicenter.