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.
Zia-ul Haq, manager of MA Convent School in Baghara locality, was booked under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act and arrested, officials said.
Comments
The Law of ALLAH is should be first preference... Why ! cos he created all that exists and we are his properties... Some people may ignorantly blame as anti national.. But the manager doesnt want to bow to anything except ALLAH...
Why should he bow down to bharth... does it give anything? it doesnt mean i dont love my country.. ofcourse prophet Muhammad pbuh said love your Place.
But many cheddis alwz complain of others when they themselves doing everything against the LaW of the country as well as Law of the CREATOR ...
A time will come where judgment will be given with JUSTICE by the best JUDGE ... that day CRIMINALS will never escape of their dirty POLITICS and DECEPTION>
Worship your CREATOR not his CREATION.
What has been done by the Manger is very wrong not acceptable.
But Don't forget that even RSS don't sing National Anthem even they had not accepted Tri_Colour Indian Flag.
Authorities have to book the manger, Sealing the school is not the solution, let students attend the classes and Teachers do their duties...
All my dear Hindu commentators.
It is very appreciating you expressed your concerns. While commenting, please try to find out what is the reason which indeed prevents them not singing the Jana gana...
There is one main reason, all Muslims and Non-Muslims should understand about a Fundamental point of Islamic teaching.
If there is any teaching which has the most important that is only 1 point. This point has been preached in 1/3 rd of Hold Quran. And the same teaching is in Hadees the book of prophets message.
What is that main message. Perhaps even many Muslims don't know it well.
Please note it is called attributing any qualities or anything to God's quality. That is called against Oneness of God.
Again rewriting the above statement in other way, wholeheartedly accepting, proclaiming that
'There is only 1 God and no other God, nor anything has the quality of God. ' There is only 1 God, no other God, no any power that equates to that 1 and only God.
In contrary if anybody does worship other than that God, or think anything is there having the power OR quality of that God, then that person is committing a grave and UNFORGIVABLE SIN.
This is the biggest and unforgivable sin. This sin can ruin all good deeds of their life for this easy and grave mistake.
Therefore every Muslim should be careful of committing this mistake.
Now coming to our National anthem, the author has escalated the some portion of the anthem, Bharatha to the quality of God.
The intention of Thagorji might have written in good intention. However Muslims are definitely not against him, but the meaning does not allow them to proclaim that sentence.
The same type has been written in VANDE MATARAM SONG.
My dear all Non-Muslims brothers and sisters this is for your clarification and for your knowledge.
Your true well wisher and patriot Indian Muslim.
I don't think this guy had to take it so serious....at least national anthem ko gaane detha...the word vidhata can be kept silent....but don't take it so extreme and defame all together..
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