BRUSSELS -- European countries saw the number of coronavirus cases climb on Saturday as the World Heath Organization (WHO) announced that the figure outside China already hit 20,000.

A total of 21,114 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported by 93 countries and regions outside China as of 10:00 CET Saturday, an increase of 3,633 infections from the previous day, according to the WHO daily situation report released Saturday evening.

COUNTRIES HARDEST HIT

Italy, France and Germany were the hardest hit as their numbers of new infections soared around 1,000, 300, and 150 respectively in the day.

Italy's health authorities on Saturday urged people to strictly follow the rules imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus as its accumulated cases reached 5,883, including 233 deaths and 589 recoveries. The rise in new cases was 1,145 while new fatalities stood at 36.

The new rules included a ban to all cultural events, including those in cinema and theaters, unless they could guarantee "the compliance with the interpersonal safety distance of at least one meter."

The same safety measures were also recommended to all people in their daily social life.