The worldwide death toll from the coronavirus pandemic surged past 60,000 on Saturday, as more than a third of the population remained in lockdown.

Europe remains the epicentre of the outbreak, with more than 40,000 deaths and over half a million confirmed cases of Covid-19.

While Italy and Spain are the hardest hit countries so far, the latest figures suggest their epidemics may finally be levelling off, with Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said he was ”starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel”.

However France and the UK in particular are seeing larger and larger increases in daily deaths, with their respective totals now standing at 6,521 and 4,313.

And over the last week the US has emerged as the nation with the largest number of confirmed cases, at more than 270,000. Deaths are also rapidly increasing in some areas, with over 1,800 in the city of New York alone.

In the Middle East, Iran remains the worst affected, with 3,452 deaths and 55,743 cases, although there are still concerns about the accuracy of the official figures.

Similarly in China, where only four deaths and 19 new cases were confirmed for Friday, it has been suggested the true death toll is nearer to 40,000 than the official 3,326.

Meanwhile every day more and more nations announce extensions to their existing lockdowns or impose tougher restrictions on daily life to try and reduce the impact of the virus.

India’s entire population of 1.3 billion people is now half way through a three-week lockdown but authorities have warned that it could be extended by at least two weeks. The country appears to be in the early stages of its outbreak, with 3,082 cases and 86 deaths recorded.

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In the UK, a leading government adviser said that restrictions on movement and the closure of pubs, restaurants and most shops would probably stay in place until the end of May. Spain has extended its own lockdown, which began on 14 March, to 25 April.

The US, perhaps influenced by the example of some Asian nations, has recommended that its citizens wear masks or cover their faces in public. France is also said to be considering issuing the same guidance.