Covid-19: Italy's death toll surpasses China's; PM Conte urges caution

Italy on Thursday overtook China's coronavirus death total and braced for an extended lockdown that could see the economy suffer its biggest shock since World War II.

The Mediterranean country's toll reached 3,405 after it recorded 427 new deaths on Wednesday.

China has officially reported 3,245 deaths since registering the first case at the end of last year.

The number of new COVID-19 cases is yet to plateau despite the Italian government's best efforts.

Army trucks delivered new coffins Thursday to a cemetery in the northern Italian city of Bergamo that suddenly finds itself at the global heart of the unfolding disaster.