Coronavirus death toll in Italy's Lombardy region rises to 98 from 73 -official

The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in the northern Italian region of Lombardy, which has borne the brunt of a nationwide contagion, has risen over the past day to 98 from 73, a local official said on Thursday.

The latest national death toll figures are due to be released later in the day. On Wednesday the tally stood at 107.