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
Dr Zakir naik' s naik controversy is bound to happen due to his increasing popularity around the world for spreading peace. Our hypocrite politicians and news channels and their blatant liars like Arnab goswamy do not want peace makers in the society as it wont help them to accomplish their agenda. Dr Zakir naik never breaks any law of the land and always preached the truth.. Quran is the only religious book which specifically and strongly condems killings of innocent people. Dr Naik will have the help of Allah no matter how hard the media tries to malign his name. May Allah be with you Dr Zakir bhai and all Muslims. Ameen.
Bopanna, if you are real hindu, and against these muslims, how you can work in muslim country? By working there you are helping these People. So resign immediately and come back to india. Let us see your real Hinduism. For the money you will do everything this is the fact. If you don't resign then don't blame them. Instead accept their religion and live with them.
Mr.Bopanna.... please be careful on what you comment.. know the facts and provide sources before spitting out sensitive words...
Islam exists for more than 1400 years and terrorists less than 50 yearsss, if Holy Quran teaches to kill Kuffars as you say then I am surprised that not 1% of the world's killings is done by Islam....
There are more than 2 billion muslims in the world and is 30% of the worlds population.... if we all muslims become terrorists then jerks like you would have vanished in minutes... but no, our religion doesn't teach that.... no where we are thought in Quran to kill kafirs or non muslims than helping them....
IF ISIS, daesh or any terrorists organisation u label them as muslims, then u are ignorant, illiterate and an idiot.... can u not see the recent blast in baghdad killed more than 220 muslims, turkey more than 40, Ksa recently.... how an earth a terrorist can kill muslims if his target is kuffars....are the terrorists idiots enough to make out the difference is religion....Terrorists has no religion and ISIS,Daes or any group of idiots are not a part of our holy religion which promotes peace....not killings
Non muslims are just scared of ZN coz of the conversion ratios of non muslims into Islam....I doubt any of his videos have thought or inspired any one to become a terrorists... none of them I have seen... If he is then I will never be his supporter but if he is not then please dont comment unnecessary things in social media.... without a valid source....
Surprisingly u seems to be a reisdent of KSA.... how on earth with somuch hatredness within yourself can work in a muslim country abiding all muslim laws... and enjoy the incomes of muslim ruled companies, Money changed ur mind and developed tolerance with u... lol...
Brothers... dont blindly believe media as most of the storie are fabricated.. there is story behind what media portrays... Islam is never a religion of killing but a religion which promotes peace and condemns killing....
i strongly beleave this game is being played by sri sri ravi shanker... he was bashed black and blue(exposed) by dr zakir some years back in frount of a very larg croud and whole world came to no about his truth that he is nothing but just a fake god man.... am very sure when dr zakir nayaks isseue goes to the cort he will come clean.... its just that people cant defeate his through debates so they r using all other means to defame him... sri sri if u r a man (whuch i dought) defeate him by debating him not like this.....
All critics of ZN should watch his video preach.
They should compare these with other hate mongers speech can realize who is who?
Asatyameva Jayate, yes you are a terrorist no doubt. All Muslims are terrorists since they abide by the Koran - which asks to kill all Kuffars. Koran shuld be banned and all Muslims Jailed
Every Hindu or Muslim once took a oath in school......... every Indians are my brothers and sisters..... if one of them become terrorist can we arrest the whole nation as their relatives.....ha ha.....
If a rapist or a terrorist is inspired by any god book religion or any person are you going to ban or arrest them all......joke hai yaar.............
I am inspired by dr. Zakir Naik and also some good words from some Hindu purohits. Am I going to be a terrorist???
Indresh Kumar's Sufism more active in Bangladesh....!
Does India ever taken against Indresh Kumar who accused in Samjoutha Express and Pakistan asks us to take action against him? Why much eagerness in what Bangladesh's baseless demand?
Those who can't face ZN on talk or debate, obviously they go for backdoor to defame ZN. Modi's popularity going down in day by day and also UP elections ahead, so this 'inspire' story has more depth to divert people's attention. RSS pracharak and terror accused Indresh kumar founded modern Sufism and using the same Sufism against Islam. US did the same in Iraq, Libya, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan to destroy Islam by 'Muslims'. Muslims are scapegoat of divide and rule either by western country or India.
Some so called our scholars also knowingly or unknowingly victim of Sufism to defame Islam and against ZN.
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