Italy's first coronavirus murder: Nurse kills doctor girlfriend after claiming she gave him Covid-19

As countries grapple against the deadly coronavirus and half the globe under lockdown, concerns regarding a potential spike in hysteria, racism, hate crimes and domestic violence are gaining speed.

In Italy, the worst-hit country in Europe with over 10,000 deaths, a nurse strangled his doctor girlfriend to death because he thought she had infected him with the deadly pandemic.

Twenty-eight-year-old Antonio De Pace called the police to confess to his crime on Tuesday, according to Italian media.

Police found the dead body of the 27-year old victim, Lorena Quaranta, and De Pace lying on the floor with slash marks on his wrist at the apartment.

Early indications suggest that neither of them have contracted Covid-19, though tests are ongoing.

The pair had both worked at a hospital in Messina, Sicily, and were working at the frontline in the fight against the spread of the deadly new coronavirus.

In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, many campaigners have warned that widespread panic and hysteria due to the lockdown could spark a surge in violence against spouses and partners.

Italy, the epicentre of the coronavirus emergency in Europe, was the first Western country to introduce sweeping bans on movement and economic activity, having first confirmed the presence of coronavirus almost six weeks ago.

Since Feb. 23, when Rome imposed the first set of measures to contain the outbreak, Milan's blue chip index has fallen more than 30% and the lockdown, which will be extended until at least April 13, has brought the economy on its knees.

After originating in Wuhan last December, COVID-19 has spread to at least 180 countries and regions across the world, with its epicenter shifting to Europe.

The virus has killed at least 47,280 people and infected more than 939,400 globally, while above 195,000 have recovered from the disease, according to figures collated by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.