A patient (center) is transferred to a medicalised hotel during the COVID-19 outbreak in Madrid, Spain. AP

The worldwide number of officially confirmed fatalities from the novel coronavirus rose to 59,456 on Saturday, according to a tally compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT from official sources.

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More than 1,122,320 declared cases have been registered in 190 countries and territories since the epidemic first emerged in China in December. Of these cases, at least 211,600 are now considered recovered.

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

Medical staff-members transport an Italian patient upon arrival in Bonn, Germany from Bergamo, Italy. AFP

Many countries are only testing cases that require hospitalisation.

Italy, which recorded its first coronavirus death at the end of February, has 14,681 fatalities, with 119,827 infections and 19,758 people recovered.

Spain has recorded 11,744 fatalities and 124,736 infections.

A member of the Military Emergencies Unit sprays a crucifix as they carry out a general disinfection in Barcelona. AFP

China — excluding Hong Kong and Macau — has to date declared 3,326 deaths and 81,639 cases, with 76,755 recoveries.

France has reported 6,507 deaths and 83,165 cases.

An elderly COVID-19 patient is transferred to an ambulance from a Hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Felipe Dana/AP

The United States has the highest official number of infected people with 278,458 diagnosed cases, 7,159 deaths and 9,772 recoveries.

Europe has listed 603,778 cases and 43,146 deaths to date, the US and Canada together have 290,219 cases with 7,325 deaths, Asia 115,730 cases and 4,123 deaths, the Middle East 70,731 cases and 3,612 deaths, Latin America and the Caribbean 27,713 cases with 885 deaths, Africa 7,744 cases with 332 deaths and Oceania 6,407 cases with 33 deaths.

Staff prepare to load equipment into London Ambulance Service vehicles in the east car park at the ExCeL in London. AFP

US President Donald Trump said he was considering a plan to halt domestic flights to coronavirus hot spots inside the United States.

The Pentagon is looking to provide up to 100,000 body bags for use by civilian authorities.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she wants to virus-proof the November election by including funding to boost voting by mail in the next pandemic response plan, as confirmed cases in the country climbed to 186,101 and while deaths rose to 3,603.

The governor of New York cracked down even harder on public gatherings, calling residents who disregarded stay-at-home rules "selfish" as California's governor warned his state will run out of hospital beds by next month.