COVID-19: Death toll worldwide reaches 175,000

THE number of COVID-19 deaths worldwide has now recorded 175,000 cases as of 5am on Wednesday.

A total of more than 6,000 deaths was reported in the last 24 hours.

According to statistics from Johns Hopkins University, as many as four countries have more than 20,000 fatalities.

The United States (US) remains the country with the highest number of casualties and the only country surpassing 40,000 when it recorded 43,796 cases overall.

The US also recorded an increase of 2,221 deaths in the last 24 hours.

This was followed by Italy which recorded an increase of 534 deaths with a total of over 24,600.

Spain became the third-worst country to record an increase of 430 casualties, totalling 21,000 cases.

Meanwhile, France, which surpassed its 20,000 casualties yesterday, recorded an increase of 531 cases and a total of 20,700.

The United Kingdom (UK) recorded an increase of 868 new victims and a total of 17,300.

However, most European countries that have been severely affected over the last month have begun to show declining death rates.