The rate of infections worldwide continues to rise, with one million new cases recorded in just six days.

More than 10 million cases of the new coronavirus have been officially declared around the world, half of them in Europe and the United States, according to an AFP tally at 0930 GMT Sunday based on official sources.

At least 10,003,942 infections, including 498,779 deaths, have been registered globally.

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Europe remains the hardest hit continent with 2,637,546 cases including 195,975 fatalities, while the United States has 2,510,323 infections including 125,539 deaths.

The rate of infections worldwide continues to rise, with one million new cases recorded in just six days.

Family members surround the coffin containing the body of a woman who died of the coronavirus in Mexico. Reuters

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

Many countries are testing only symptomatic or the most serious cases and some do not have the capacity to carry out widescale testing.

Member of Doctors Without Borders do paperwork in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, on Wednesday. AFP

The British government is considering imposing a lockdown in the city of Leicester after a surge of coronavirus cases there, the Sunday Times newspaper reported, citing senior government sources.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is examining a legislation required for the shutdown after it was disclosed that Leicester, a city of around 350,000 people in the East Midlands, has had over 650 COVID-19 cases in the fortnight to June 16, the newspaper reported.

A woman of the Warao tribe suffering from coronavirus has checked by Doctors Without Borders in Manaus, Brazil. AFP

Hancock is considering "all options", including imposing a localised lockdown.

In India, experts are warning the worst is far from over.

Deaths from coronavirus in New Delhi are almost twice as high as official figures show, a city leader said.

Agencies