Italy has recorded its highest day to day rise in the number of deaths of people infected with the new coronavirus. Civil Protection Chief Angelo Borrelli said Friday the country recorded 627 more deaths in the 24 hours since Italy surpassed China on Thursday as the nation with the most COVID 19 related deaths. The total now stands at 4,032. Authorities said most of the people who died had existing health problems such as heart disease and diabetes before they were infected with the virus. Borrelli says Italy also saw a staggering increase of 5,986 cases from a day earlier, bringing the offic

Italy has surpassed China as the country with the most coronavirus related deaths. Officials in Rome say 3,405 people in the country have died of COVID-19. That's as the epicentre of the pandemic, Wuhan, China, recorded no new infections. Italy has recorded 41,035 infections, more than half of the world's positive cases.

A trans-Atlantic cruise ship carrying several COVID-19 cases among its passengers and with dozens of Canadians aboard has docked in the French Mediterranean port city of Marseille.Global Affairs Canada says at least 77 Canadians are on the Costa Luminosa.The ship has more than 1,400 passengers.French authorities have allowed the ship to stay for up to four days under strict conditions.It is not known whether passengers will be allowed off, given the current stringent restrictions imposed in France amid the coronavirus pandemic.Global Affairs Canada has said officials are standing ready to pro

The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 207,000 people and killed more than 8,200. The COVID-19 illness causes mild or moderate symptoms in most people, but severe symptoms are more likely in the elderly or those with existing health problems. More than 82,000 people have recovered so far, mostly in China.

A Vancouver man in northern Italy says social distancing directives from the Italian government felt like ``suggestions'' when they were first made several weeks ago as the COVID-19 pandemic flared. But with Italy now within the European epicentre of the outbreak, Alex Grant says Italians now consider self-isolation a ``sacred responsibility.'' Grant and his partner live in a one-bedroom apartment in Milan and he says they are both practising self-isolation. He says he goes out once a week to grocery shop, there are no shortages, no hoarding, and his advice is ``take the situation seriously,

Costco says it has had a surge of business since the COVID-19 outbreak, and is going to start controlling the number of customers allowed in its warehouses in response. The company is also reducing some services and is asking customers and employees to practice social distancing in its stores. Limits have been placed on the number of certain items customers are allowed to buy at once and the company is working with suppliers to make sure in-demand items are available. Costco has also stepped up sanitation of its carts, cashes and product shelves.

US President Donald Trump says discussions are ongoing with Canada about keeping the border open between the two countries. Trump says the U-S is working very closely with Canada and is calling the relationship between the two countries ``outstanding.'' The opposition parties are criticizing the Trudeau government for its decision yesterday to keep letting Americans into Canada even though it has closed the border to most other foreign nationals. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says the government is urgently reviewing the issue.

Scientists at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Research Institute in Seattle have administered first shots of an experimental coronavirus vaccine to four healthy volunteers. The test is leading off a worldwide hunt for protection, even as the pandemic surges. Doctor Lisa Jackson says the vaccine cannot give participants the novel coronavirus. But even if the research goes well, a vaccine wouldn't be available for widespread use for 12 to 18 months.

British authorities have dramatically ramped up measures to combat the new coronavirus. The government is urging all UK residents to avoid unnecessary contact with others. And they say people in the most vulnerable groups should be isolated for almost three months. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says ``now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel.''