Over 1.63 Million Cases Of Covid-19 Confirmed Worldwide

Over 98,000 deaths due to Covid-19 have now been recorded across the globe.

Italy, one of the countries worst affected by the virus, is to extend its lockdown until May.

A map by Johns Hopkins University shows there have been over 98,400 Covid 19 deaths and 1.63 million cases worldwide.

Separate data from an AFP tally of officials reports the death toll in the US stands at over 16 and a half thousand, with half a million diagnosed cases.

Italy, where a lockdown is to be extended for a further 3 weeks, has a death toll of over 18,000.

Europe overall has recorded over 800,000 confirmed cases and 67,000 deaths.

But Spain has seen its lowest daily fatalities in over two weeks, with 605 people dying.

866 patients in England's hospitals have died, up from 765 yesterday to bring the death toll to 8-thousand 114.

another 10 deaths were recorded today in Northern Ireland too, meaning there have been 92 deaths there.