Rome, Mar 11: Italy has recorded its deadliest day of the coronavirus crisis despite locking down the entire country, as New York deployed the National Guard to contain a disease that has sown worldwide panic.
The hardest-hit country in Europe said its death toll from the COVID-19 virus had risen Tuesday by a third to 631, with the surging epidemic taking its toll on global sporting, cultural and political events.
While authorities in China, where the outbreak began, have declared it "basically curbed", cases are multiplying around the world, sparking panic buying in shops, and wild swings on financial markets.
China remains the hardest-hit overall with more than 80,000 cases and over 3,000 deaths, out of a global total of 117,339 cases and 4,251 deaths across 107 countries and territories, according to an AFP tally.
The virus is infecting all walks of life, including politics, with US Democratic presidential hopefuls Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden both cancelling campaign rallies and British health minister Nadine Dorries saying she had tested positive.
And amid criticism of the US authorities' response, New York deployed the National Guard for the first time during the crisis to help contain the spread of the disease from an infection-hit suburb.
There have been 173 confirmed cases in New York state, including 108 in Westchester County, home to New Rochelle where the majority of infections have been detected.
"It is a dramatic action, but it is the largest cluster in the country. This is literally a matter of life and death," said state governor Andrew Cuomo.
"People are scared, it's an unusual situation to be in," Miles Goldberg, who runs a New Rochelle bar, told AFP.
"It makes people nervous to be around others, it makes people nervous to get inside into businesses and such," he said.
In an unprecedented move, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has told the 60 million residents of his country they should travel only for the most urgent work or health reasons.
And while squares in Milan and Rome were emptied of their usual bustle and traffic, some residents appeared uncertain if they were even allowed to leave their homes for everyday tasks like shopping.
The virus has battered tourism around the world, as people scrap travel plans, and a restaurant owner in Florence in northern Italy said that the impact on business had been catastrophic.
"We hope that we will see the end of it, because from around 140 covers a day, this afternoon, we've gone down to 20-25," Agostino Ferrara told AFP.
Pope Francis also seemed to muddy the waters, holding a mass in which he urged priests to go out and visit the sick -- something Conte has specifically discouraged.
Sporting events continued to fall victim to the virus as authorities urge people to avoid large gatherings.
Arsenal's game at Manchester City was postponed after players from the London club were put into quarantine, making it the first Premier League fixture to be called off because of the virus.
The virus has sparked doubts about the Olympics due to open in Tokyo on July 24 and the traditional flame lighting ceremony in Greece is set to be held without spectators.
In the United States, organisers rescheduled the two-week Coachella music festival for October.
The virus and the response to the crisis has prompted pandemonium on global markets with volatility not seen since the world financial crisis in 2008.
After suffering its worst session in more than 11 years at the beginning of the week, the Dow Jones Index in New York bounced back significantly, rising five percent on Tuesday.
Politicians around the world have scrambled to put together emergency packages to ease the significant financial hardships the virus is expected to cause for households and businesses.
US President Donald Trump, who is relying on a strong economy to boost his re-election hopes, promised to announce "major" economic measures on Tuesday.
The biggest item on his wish list is a cut in payroll taxes. But even allies in Congress and reportedly some aides in the White House are sceptical, questioning the cost.
Italy prepared Tuesday to let families skip mortgage and some tax payments while Japan unveiled a second emergency package to tackle economic woes stemming from the outbreak, including $15 billion in loan programmes to support small businesses.
Analysts warned of further volatility ahead however.
"It's like winding up a rubber band. The more you wind it, when you let go, the more it pops," said LBBW's Karl Haeling.
"A lot of the uncertainty goes to the root of the virus itself."
Comments
Hegde is correct. He did not say that bjp has come to power to change indian constitution. He actual said that bjp is in the power to respect constitution and respect all the religions. Media twisted his statement. Hegde is a silent person as like his Go matha. He never says anything bad to others. He loves every one and respects all religions. He did not provocate the mob in Sirsi and Kumta who damaged private and govt perperty worth crores of rupees. Actually he was there to stop any voilence. He is ready to sacrifice his life to maintain peace n the society. He tried very hard to stop people from burning police car and commiting murderous attack on police. He even tried his best to stop people from posting rumours in whstasp and media that one Hindu girl was raped by gang of about 10 muslims boys and they even tried to kill her. He even asked Honnavar people not to make Paresh Mesta death issue a big one as it was planned by insiders only. Mr. Hegde is a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and he respects Bapuji very much. He cries on death anniversary of Bapuji and hates the killer Godse. He never visits Godse Mandir built by sangh parivar. Hegde is eligible person for next PM or President of India. He should be awarded with all kinds of awards ie. Padma Chakra/Padma Bhusan/ Padma shri for his noble nature and respect to all the citizens. He will be remembered by our generations to come. He will be a hero. His face itself shows how decent and nice person he is. He is ready to get slapped on face by any one and will never take revenge. He is follower of Jesus and will ask anyone who slaps on his right side to slap on left side also. Really he is a great person. Media is trying to defame him. I think whatever media doing against him is political motivated and his enemies are tryig to bring bad name to him.
He ate back what he vomited just because of the pressure by Patriotic Indian nationals. It is in their contaminated dirty blood that these anti-national communal Manuvadi Aryan parivar neither recognize nor respect Indian Secularism, Indian Constitution and Indian Flag.
shame on you Mr. AK Hegde.....
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