: Coronavirus death toll hits 5,000 from 138,000 cases as COVID-19 pandemic grips the world #WorldNEWS #News THE global death toll for the coronavirus has topped 5,000, AFP reports. Cases of the deadly

Coronavirus death toll hits 5,000 from 138,000 cases as COVID-19 pandemic grips the world #WorldNEWS #News
THE global death toll for the coronavirus has topped 5,000, AFP reports.
Cases of the deadly virus have hit 135,000 as it continues to spread around the world.
AFP or licensors Italy is on lockdown after the cases of the virus rose to 15,113 from a previous 12,462[/caption]

EPA An operator at work during road sanitation to counter the spread of Coronavirus in Brescia, Italy this morning[/caption]
Members of a Chinese aid team arrive at Fiumicino Airport in Rome on Thursday night to assist Italy in fighting the coronavirus outbreakAP:Associated Press
The World Health OrganisationÃ‚Â two days ago declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic.
Bloomberg has reported the exact total of those killed by the virus as 5,056, as Iran announced another 85 deaths today.
The number of COVID-19 victims in Iran has hit 429, and is the centre of one of the world’s worst outbreaks.
In Italy, which is on lockdown, the number of deaths exceeded 1,000 on Thursday with over 15,000 cases confirmed.
It also emerged today that Italian medical chief Roberto Stella, who had been dealing with the coronavirus, died of the disease aged 67.
The tragic news comes as the total number of cases in Italy, the European country hardest hit by the deadly bug, rose to 15,113 from a previous 12,462.
Schools have now been shut down in countries across Europe including France, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Lithuania Algeria and Slovakia.
And France has considered closing its borders in a bid to stop the pandemic.
Last night President Emmanuel Macron called theÃ‚Â COVID-19Ã‚Â outbreak the “worst health crisis in a century,” and if borders had to be closed, the country would do so in line with the rest of the EU.

In the UK, Boris Johnson yesterday described coronavirus as “the worst public health crisis for a generation” as set out measures that could “cause severe disruption” for many months.
Mr Johnson said anyone with coronavirus symptoms, however mild, such as a continuous cough or high temperature, must now stay at home for seven days.
He said school trips abroad should be stopped, while people over 70 with serious medical conditions should not go on cruises.

AFP or licensors President Emmanuel Macron speaking from The Elysee Palace in Paris yesterday[/caption]
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