Coronavirus deaths could more than double to two million without collective action against the pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned.

According to AFP, the number of cases worldwide has soared past 32 million, with deaths approaching one million, the global economy devastated, and major cultural and sports events disrupted.

"One million is a terrible number and we need to reflect on that before we start considering a second million," the WHO's emergencies director Michael Ryan told reporters when asked how high the death toll could go.