Madrid, Mar 26: More than three billion people around the world were living under lockdown on Wednesday as governments stepped up their efforts against the coronavirus pandemic which has left more than 20,000 people dead.
As the number of confirmed cases worldwide soared past 450,000, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that only a concerted global effort could stop the spread of the virus.
In Spain, the number of fatalities surpassed those of China, where the novel coronavirus first emerged three months ago, making it the hardest-hit nation after Italy.
A total of more than 20,800 deaths have now been reported in 182 countries and territories, according to an AFP tally.
Stock markets rebounded after the US Congress moved closer to passing a $2.2 trillion relief package to prop up a teetering US economy.
In Washington, President Donald Trump said New York, the epicenter of the US outbreak with over 30,000 cases, likely has a few "tough weeks" ahead but he would decide soon whether unaffected parts of the country can get back to work.
"We want to get our country going again," Trump said. "I'm not going to do anything rash or hastily.
"By Easter we'll have a recommendation and maybe before Easter," said Trump, who had been touting a strong US economy as he faces an election in November.
UN chief Guterres said the world needs to ban together to stem the pandemic.
"COVID-19 is threatening the whole of humanity -- and the whole of humanity must fight back," Guterres said, launching an appeal for $2 billion to help the world's poor.
"Global action and solidarity are crucial," he said. "Individual country responses are not going to be enough."
India's stay-at-home order for its 1.3 billion people is now the biggest, taking the total number of individuals facing restrictions on their daily lives to more than three billion.
Anxious Indians raced for supplies after the world's second-biggest population was ordered not to leave their houses for three weeks.
Russia, which announced the death of two patients who tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday, is expected to follow suit.
President Vladimir Putin declared next week a public holiday and postponed a public vote on controversial constitutional reforms, urging people to follow instructions given by authorities.
In Britain, heir to the throne Prince Charles became the latest high-profile figure to be infected, though he has suffered only mild symptoms.
The G20 major economies will hold an emergency videoconference on Thursday to discuss a global response to the crisis, as will the 27 leaders of the European Union, the outbreak's new epicenter.
China has begun to relax its own draconian restrictions on free movement in the province of Hubei -- where the outbreak began in December -- after the country reported no new cases.
Crowds jammed trains and buses in the province as people took their first opportunity to travel.
But Spain saw the number of deaths surge to more than 3,400 after 738 people died in the past 24 hours and the government announced a 432-million-euro ($467 million) deal to buy medical supplies from Beijing.
The death toll in Italy jumped in 24 hours by 683 to 7,503 -- by far the highest of any country.
The number of French deaths was up by 231 on Wednesday to more than 1,330, and metro and rail services in Paris were cut to a minimum.
Spain and Italy were joined by France and six more EU countries in urging Germany and the Netherlands to allow the issue of joint European bonds to cut borrowing costs and stabilise the eurozone economy.
The call is likely to fall on deaf ears when EU leaders talk on Thursday -- with northern members wary of pooling debt with big spenders -- but they will sign off on an "unprecedented" recovery plan.
At La Paz University Hospital in Madrid, nurse Guillen del Barrio sounded bereft as he related what happened overnight.
"It is really hard, we had feverish people for many hours in the waiting room," the 30-year-old told AFP.
"Many of my colleagues were crying because there were people who are dying alone, without seeing their family for the last time."
Coronavirus cases are also spreading in the Middle East, where Iran's death toll topped 2,000, and in Africa, where Mali declared its first case and several nations announced states of emergency.
In Japan, which has postponed this year's Olympic Games, Tokyo's governor urged residents to stay home this weekend, warning of a possible "explosion" of the coronavirus.
Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed by Christians to house Christ's tomb, was shut as Israel tightened movement restrictions.
The impact of the pandemic is also hitting European football, with leagues and tournaments cancelled, while the fate of the Wimbledon tennis tournament could be decided next week.
The economic damage of the virus -- and the lockdowns -- could also be devastating, with fears of a worldwide recession worse than the financial meltdown more than a decade ago.
But financial markets rose after US leaders reached agreement on a stimulus package worth roughly 10 percent of the US economy, an injection Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said represented a "wartime level of investment."
Meanwhile, more than half of all Americans have been told to stay at home, including residents of the largest state, California.
The United States has at least 65,700 cases and 942 people have died.
With the routes of the alleged syndicate stretching all the way to Nepal and pecuniary gains made by the couple Affaq Husain and Saira running into crores of rupees, the Delhi Police Crime Branch have slapped the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against them, the first such case in GB Road.
Comments
Mayank and Ruvan
Thank God these culprits are caught ..... they are just normal people ...they are not worshiped people by Muslims as in yours how Aashram...Nithyananda....and other Godmen runned prostitute institutions.....hundreds of pimps criminals and rapists are caught without burka and beard daily from saffron color goons and goonesses....so what will be your comment.....never saw it on board..
We are always with the law ...we never defend criminals as you do....any saffron criminal caught dharna protest and violence. On streets demanding for release...
Are these buggers followers of Shanawaz Hussain? As his name ends with Hussain.
Burkha Olagina Rahasya!
Dear #2 Mayank, mumbai
There is no Disgrace to muslim community. In all religion there are some people who do bad that does not mean that because of that their religion becomes disgrace. In hindu religion also there are some people who do this type of business and it is not correct to say that hinduism is disgraced. The problem of these people is they do not study and follow their religion. If people study the holy scriptures of their religion then we can avoid these social crimes.
If they did it then they must be punished severely.
Another thing the supply is based on demand, so cant the men control themselves, is their wife not enough for them? or cant they get married to fulfill their desires?
If men can stay away from illegal desires then all this crime can be stopped to a major extent. Respect the women.
Dear Mayank
As soon as the news comes .. Dont judge. Many times we have be deceived...If its proved right, then they should be punished.
But dear,
Owaisi is not a cheddi member. He will not voice for criminals.
Sadhvi prachi, Aseemanand, Kalburgi killers, Ghandhi killers, Nithyananda sex racket ... cheddis tried to save them all but did not get success till date...
I request government of india to investigate this case and if they are found guilty with this filthy act then please hang them in the public. They have no rights to live in this earth.
These people are to be hanged till death
The crime what they have done is totally Unislamic. So do not judge islam by people's name or appearance. Islam strongly condemn such act.
Disgrace to Muslim community. Wonder why Owaisi does not supply lawyers and fight for them.
why is this whore Saira Begum wearing a burka still when she is in the flesh trade business and exploiting minor girls . Is she still a follower of Islam ?
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