Italy's Covid-19 death toll overtakes China's

Italy announced another 427 fatalities on Thursday, taking its death toll to 3,405. Photo: AFP

Italy passed a grim milestone on Thursday when it overtook China's official death toll as the world has stepped up its war to try to contain the rapid spread of Covid-19.



But the death toll has soared in Europe even as Chinese officials said on Thursday no new domestic cases were reported there for the first time.



Italy announced another 427 fatalities on Thursday, taking its total to 3,405, according to an AFP tally.



China, where the outbreak first emerged in December last year, has officially reported 3,245 deaths.



Globally, the death toll from the virus – whose main symptoms are a dry cough and fever – has risen to over 9,000.



Countries have tightened border controls and unleashed nearly a trillion dollars to prop up the teetering world economy, only to see the once-in-a-century pandemic seemingly spiral further out of control.



As the toll surged in his country, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the national lockdown, which has been copied around Europe, would be prolonged to April 3, shattering hopes of a quick end to the crisis.



"We will not be able to return immediately to life as it was before," he said.



France also mooted extending the two-week lockdown ordered this week by President Emmanuel Macron, as the interior minister blasted "idiots" who flout home confinement rules and put others at risk.



The disease continued to hit high-profile figures with EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and Monaco's Prince Albert among those testing positive. (AFP)