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Global deaths from COVID-19 have tonight passed the 50,000 mark after Italy announced 760 new fatalities in 24 hours, Euronews reports.

It comes as half of humanity is soon set to be under restriction measures as governments around the world scramble to contain the spread of the virus.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases passed the one million mark on Thursday evening. More than 200,000 have recovered from the disease.

While it was more grim news from Italy on the fatalities front, there is a glimmer of hope that containment measures are paying off. The number of daily new infections now stands at 4,668, down from 6,153 a week ago.

More than 10,000 medical personnel have been infected nationwide and 69 doctors have died, according to the National Institutes of Health and the Italian Association of Doctors.

Earlier, Spain's death count passed the 10,000 mark as a record 950 new COVID-19 victims were announced.

France, in announcing 471 new COVID-19 deaths on Thursday evening, revealed at least 884 of its total 4,503 fatalities had occurred in old people's homes.

Latest updates on coronavirus around the world

• South Korea said more than 27,000 people are under self-quarantine as they tightened border control, AP reported.

• China reported 31 new cases of the virus, with 29 imported from overseas.

• The US is weighing a change to its guidelines on masks that could encourage the general public to wear them.

• The UK announces it will up the number of coronavirus tests it does from 10,000 now to 100,000 by the end of April.

• A French medicine watchdog has warned of the dangerous side effects of malaria and HIV drugs being tested against the novel coronavirus.

• President Vladimir Putin has ordered most Russians to stay off work until the end of the month to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

• The EU is launching a new €100 billion fund to mitigate the economic effects of the lockdowns, looking to help those left out of work, and companies left out of pocket.