Global cases reach over 4.5 million

Washington/Rome : The overall number of global coronavirus cases has increased to over 4.5 million, while the death toll has surpassed 307,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

As of Saturday morning, the total number of cases stood at 4,538,406, while the death toll increased to 307,486, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed in its latest update.

The US currently accounts for the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 1,442,819 and 87,530, respectively.

In terms of cases, Russia has the second highest number of infections at 262,843, followed by the UK (238,004), Spain (230,183), Italy (223,885), Brazil (218,223), France (179,630), Germany (175,233), Turkey (146,457) and Iran (116,635), the CSSE figures showed.

Meanwhile, the UK accounted for the second highest COVID-19 deaths worldwide at 34,078.

The other countries with over 10,000 deaths are Italy (31,610), France (27,532), Spain (27,459), and Brazil (14,817).

Meanwhile, the Italian government is easing travel restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, allowing people to move freely inside the region where they live as of Monday, and between regions starting June 3.

The government decree announced early Saturday also permits international travel to and from Italy from June 3.

Italy imposed nationwide lockdown rules in early March after it became the first country outside Asia with a major outbreak of coronavirus. More than 31,000 people have died, leaving Italy with the highest death toll after the United States and Britain.

But the government led by Premier Giuseppe Conte has gradually reopened the country as the rates of infections and deaths have fallen.