The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has risen by 97 to 463, Reuters reports quoting the Civil Protection Agency.

The total number of cases in Italy, the country hardest hit by the virus in Europe, rose 24 per cent to 9,172, the largest daily increase in terms of absolute numbers since the contagion first came to light on Feb 21.

The head of the agency said that, of those originally infected, 724 had fully recovered, compared to 622 the day before.