AKIPRESS.COM - France has become the fifth country to report more than 1,000 coronavirus-related deaths - as another 743 people died from the disease in Italy, Sky News reports. 

The death toll in France stands at 1,100, compared with 860 deaths yesterday - an increase of 240.

A French public health official also said there are 2,516 people needing life support.

Over the same 24-hour period, Italy registered its second-highest number of deaths in a day as it continues to be gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials said today that 743 people had died after testing positive, bringing the total to 6,820.

Italy has recorded more coronavirus-related deaths than anywhere else in the world.

More than 69,000 people have tested positive in Italy, with 5,249 new cases reported on Tuesday.