The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 around the world has now passed four million.

The US has over 1.3 million confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University in America, which has been compiling the figures.

Spain, which has the second highest number of cases, at over 233,500, is among country's set to loosen restrictions from tomorrow.

People wearing face masks walk at Gran Via avenue in Madrid, Spain, 08-05-2020. Image: Manu Fernandez/AP/Press Association Images

Italy, which yesterday became the second European country to record more than 30,000 deaths has the third-highest number of cases with 218,268, according to the university.

The UK is in fourth with over 216,500 cases and Russia in fifth with 198,676.

The British Prime Minister will this evening set out a roadmap for easing restrictions in England.

Boris Johnson will announce the plan in a televised address to the nation.

He has previously suggested some restrictions could be eased as soon as tomorrow; however, Cabinet Minister Brandon Lewis warned people not to get their hopes up.

He said officials would be "very cautious" due to the risk of a second spike in coronavirus infections.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson applauds on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street in London for frontline workers on Thursday, April 30th 2020. Picture by: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP/Press Association Images

A five-tier alert system is expected to be announced, similar to the UKs terror threat system.

Level five would see temporary hospitals re-opened - while level one would see the lockdown dropped - but that would probably need a nationwide vaccine programme.

France is among the other European countries moving to ease restrictions tomorrow.

In Ireland, the Department of Health yesterday announced 18 further coronavirus-related deaths, taking the national toll to 1,446.

Another 219 cases have also been confirmed, taking the total to 22,760.

The Health Surveillance Protection Centre said that, as of midnight on Thursday, over 29% of the confirmed cases (6,669) were associated with healthcare workers.

Some 57% of all cases were women with men making up 43% of the total.

There had been 2,954 cases hospitalised, making up 13% of the total and 381 people had been admitted to intensive care.