The number of officially confirmed deaths around the world from the novel coronavirus passed 30,000 on Saturday, according to a tally compiled by AFP at 1900 GMT from official sources.

Two-thirds of the 30,003 deaths from coronavirus have now been recorded in Europe.

More than 640,770 declared cases have been registered in 183 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December. Of these cases, at least 130,600 are now considered recovered.

The tallies, using data collected by AFP offices from national authorities and information from the World Health Organization (WHO), likely reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections.

Many countries are now only testing cases that require hospitalisation.

Since 1900 GMT Friday, there have been 3,417 new deaths and 68,734 new cases confirmed worldwide.

The countries with the most deaths over the last 24 hours were Italy with 889, Spain with 832 and the United States with 453.

Italy, which recorded its first coronavirus death in February, has to date declared 10,023 fatalities, with 92,472 infections and 12,384 people recovered.

Like Italy, Spain also has more fatalities than China with 5,690, as well as having 72,248 infections.

China -- excluding Hong Kong and Macau -- has to date declared 3,295 deaths and 81,394 cases, with 74,971 recoveries. The country declared 54 new cases and three new fatalities since Friday.

The other worst-hit countries are Iran with 2,517 fatalities and 35,408 cases, and France with 2,314 deaths and 37,575 cases.

The United States has the highest number of infected people with 115,547 diagnosed cases and 1,891 deaths. Cases there have soared from 41,511 on Monday, making it the country with the fastest progression rate.

Since 1900 GMT Friday, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Jordan, Brunei and Togo have announced their first deaths.

By continent, Europe has listed 351,877 cases and 21,334 deaths to date, Asia 103,943 cases and 3,742 deaths, the Middle East 43,414 cases and 2,592 deaths, the US and Canada together 120,981 cases with 1,950 deaths, Latin America and the Caribbean 12,315 cases with 242 deaths, Africa 4,103 cases with 128 deaths and Oceania 4,145 cases with 15 deaths.

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