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
when a human being brutally killed, people are talking based on religion...... shame on you guys...... see his face.... it is the height of the cruelty... may his soul rest in peace
ARUN KUMAR
DUBAI
Idiot YOGESH, don't just say what ever you get into your mind, I work for RSS & MRM, You should know the fact that Ismail nelyamajalu used to visit tirupathi lord balaji for darshan with his family once or twice a year, he also used to conduct jathara(festival) at a temple in sullia, DK, every year. He was a very kind human being more than a muslim & a politician.
A very good husband, father, brother and a friend, I personally know him since 2013.
Please know the facts before you bark.
Naren, you did not explain what is 72.....you are just making bow, bow,..... you are free to take action against any one making hate comments .....
Dear mr SK ,mr true Indian ...police commissioner alla even DIG bekadru complaint kodi ...mr viren ,bopanna and yogesh and including me have the right to comment ..its not a social media like Facebook and twitter to lodge complain ...this is strictly controlled by admin ......cyber cell will also check anti Hindu comments too ..do u think we will keep quiet ...? We also know laws ...how we can sit when our patriotic organisation like sangh is mocked ...so better mind ur business ...better u talk to CD ...being a responsible media they are responsible for posting news which don't instigate ...but they are not doing ....
Naren, singapore ..what is this figure of 72 ... can you explain further ????
True Indian, Mangalore...it is better to report such matters with mangalore police commissioner,Mr chandrashekar....
Frustrated Brothers Naren And Viren.Papa pandu.Day is not far to pay for all your Comments.In sha allah.We give damn to all your Comments.Carry On.
Papa athmakke shaanthi sigali ..mele 72 virgins sigali .........yelli faizhal Bhai kaanistha illa .....banree \ innu illari rajiwoon antha helree \""
Coastal Digest please do not entertain Brother Viren's Such Comment which disturbs the readers or else we will have to complain against him with the Cyber cell.Please take this message seriously.
Death is not a disaster simply a passing from this world onto the next. It should make us reflect and ponder about the purpose of the life and what will become of us after death. Innah ilahi wa inna ilaihi rajihoon Deep condolence insha Allah grant him forgiveness and higher in heavens. Ameen
I have conducted a survey of Friday murders in coastal Karnataka. Especially immediately after or before Muslims special prayers. 99% of such murders are committed by Muslims only.
So Yogesh is making a confession that BJP is behind this murder ?
Shocking incident, he was really a prominent leader of congress. anyways rest in peace.
May his soul rest in peace
whoever made this brutal crime must be punish them in the like same. seriously a inhuman act.
How people can b so cruel? Y can't we lead our four days of life happily. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon.
Innalillahi va inna ilayhi rajivoon
Innalillah
Inna lillahi wa inna elaihi rajiwoon.
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