Death toll in Italy soars by 627 in one day - as UK finally shuts pubs, cafés and schools

A man walks past a closed pub on the day British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered all pubs to close in response to the growing number of coronavirus disease cases in London. Photo: REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

Crispian Balmer

The coronavirus death toll in Italy has leapt by 627 to 4,032, an increase of 18.4pc - by far the largest daily rise since the contagion emerged a month ago.

Italy had already overtaken China as the country to register most deaths from the highly contagious respiratory disease.