Pope Francis is next month set to make what would be his first visit outside Rome since Italy was put under lockdown in early March when it became the first country in Europe to feel the full brunt of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mexican officials say the number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths has passed 35,000, making it the country with the fourth highest total.

Johns Hopkins University researchers say the global death toll from the coronavirus has surpassed 200,000.

The U.S. has overtaken Italy for the highest death toll in the world from the coronavirus.

Italy has reported 6,153 new coronavirus infections, pushing the global total over half a million, based on a count kept by Johns Hopkins University. Italy now has 80,539 cases, almost as many as China.

Officials say Italy has recorded a smaller day-to-day increase in new coronavirus cases for the second straight day.