GENEVA: The global coronavirus death toll could hit two million before an effective vaccine is widely used, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

Mike Ryan, the WHO’s emergency head, said the figure could be higher without concerted international action, BBC reported.

Almost one million people have died with COVID-19 worldwide since the disease first emerged in China late last year.

Virus infections continue to rise, with 32 million cases confirmed globally.

The start of the second surge of coronavirus infections has been seen in many countries in the northern hemisphere as winter approaches.

(With inputs from agencies)