Up to half of the deaths in Europe occurred in long-term care facilities, according to Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization regional director for Europe.

Kluge announced the tally on Thursday, terming it a "deeply concerning picture."

It's an "unimaginable human tragedy," he said.

Europe has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, having registered more than 110,000 fatalities.

The figure means the continent has accounted for more than 59 percent of global COVID-19 fatalities.

The global death toll exceeds 186,000.

Some countries in Europe are however considering lifting travel restrictions that have been in place to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Sections of leaders in countries including France and the U.K. argue that the lockdowns have done a lot of harm economically. The leaders are pushing for a conversation of live beyond the disease, rather than simply surviving the pandemic.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom has however warned countries against rushing to reopen, saying that could pose a risk of a second wave of infections.