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.
Comments
It clearly shows the fear of Muslims inside the hearts of these Transgenders.
Pandey Kuch bhi..... no one can stop us from consuming beef. Better u and ur followers know it first that its Mangaluru not Dadri. U will not find here any Akhlaq so easily. This is mangaluru jus keep it ur mind
Is is the duty of SK police dept to take action on such anti national group. Hope they will do their duty sincerely by arresting all these anti national deshi drohi terrorist group.
Even they don't have manners,how to attend meeting or to face photographs.
If u really love your mother cow and born to one father ....STOP BEEF EXPORT then come on public stages
No one has forgotten and will never forget....if punished here , it vl be up to a limit, in sha allah one or the other day will reward the wrong doers .....
Oh chaddi anna.. indu dadri ath iregla gotthundu yenklegla gothundu :D hahaha joke malporchi a.. dayeg bhakterna mange malpwer niklu..
All local pakka Gundas, See their face Uneducated, Illiterate people.
All are drinks man....He go to bar eat beef nd drink alcohol... this is his daily routine
Comedy stage shows these unemployed youths are fooled and taken for a joy ride temporarily these people relish the taste of gowmatha please go to any restaurants which serve their lovely tasty gowmatha you will find the majority of visitors to taste their tasty gowmatha are the Hindus and the brahmins I know many brahmins who regularly eat beef so why this natak let these people first solve untouchability racism and inequality within their so called Hindu fold.
Dear Brothers & Sisters of Sanatana Dharma (Hindu),
Kindly keep informing always to your kids, brothers and sisters to stay away from these dangerous elements, now their main goal is to divide our beautiful and blessed India into many pieces like the dirty British/Zionist minded.
Mera Bharat Mahan, Jai Hind.
After the end of dussera. All fake pili gathered together for bread and butter. Every attendees will get INR 500 + Drinks.
BJP imported Advani from Pakistani for their party. All BJP should migrate to Pakistan under Sindh valley for better life.
All Dandapinda gathered together for their bread and butter.
If they are really worried for Cows. Why they don't come forward to stop beef exporting companies?
Because they knows that its run by RSS.
Mun main ram aur dil main kama
try it in mangalore....u will feel the difference and never even say the name cow from your mouths....ha ha....
stay where you are in your limited auqaad..if you cross the limits..then see
People born with land space and time. How can you send part all those things to Pakistan? You can send person to Pakistan but what about the land, space and time he was born with?
Required surgical strikes on all RSS, BD & VHP terrorist training camps in India. We need to keep our Indian land clean from those vermis.
Most of the RSS terrorist become politicians or join police force or become govt employees. May Allah destroy RSS terrorists and keep Muslims safe from them.
ahh, undu oltha posa piece batthini.
We need to send these goons to Nepal....no....I forgot Nepal is a secular country.....wow these goons have no country....
Bela ijjandina bakwaas,,,
Hindu religion is not your fathers property. Hindu religion is full of tolerance and humble . You goons are backed by RSS for their vote bank.
Can anyone talk about the fragrance of Hindusm or to solve hundreds of problems in Hindus., like dowry system , powerty, etc. etc. You people are doing all these functions just to make anti statement against Muslims.
Some of the muslim youth organization became strong because of you people; they are now well organized became strong to fight against you goons.
Somanath the beef exporter is waiting for YOU Guys .. Can you start with him..
Only FOOLS will not understand this old tactics ....
Who the hell are you people to send indians to pakistan or afghanistan... this actors pay tax in crores to our govt, have you chaddis ever paid a single penny to govt or done any good work to society, dont fool the innocent hindu brothers & sisters in the name of religion for your own benifit...... i think this fools bank account has become emty this days
Third class people,
look at there face, people of hell direct ticket.
Jai Hind ........ Bajrangdal Bandh
Moga nokoru......Manishathwa illathanga....inku Popular front rangame sama
Nachige illadavaru .....beligge horata ...rathre sex mathhu beef oota
Manipal Rape case ...soujanya rape case.... bhat sex scandal.... Yara udhharakkagi.....
Hindu ondu...Dalitaranna Kondu
Modi went to Pakistan without informing Indians
All are local goons.
WE WILL NOT FORGET,HELLO HALLI HIDA THIS NOT DADRI,WE MUSSLIM MANGALORE KARNATAKA ,IF YOU DARE DO THE DADRI IN MANGALORE..
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