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.
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If Mr.Bhat arrested then it will be in Guinnus Book of records!! Congress Government have no guts to do it!! Mr. Bhat a well known figure in creating communal tension involving directly / indirectly in various types of crimes in our district since 35 years!!! but no Government so far not even able to file an FIR against him!! This is very sad news for peace loving people of this district. In this case also CID is helpless.
Do anybody have the guts to touch this chaddi? Hope atleast this time.
Put him behind the bars. Law is equal to all.
No one can touch bhat, even congRSS goverment cannot touch him because all are wearing his chaddi.
Not god call father or baap, shame on you yaar study history of that rowdy bhat, do you know he is barking about cow but he is selling cow from your mother land sulliya asram,
Arrest this insect of mangalore Before he spread the virus
he will get punishment for his mistake,. but why people are so much interested in his life,
Prabhakar Bhat is Like Poojary, No hold for tongue. creating non sense in the society
kalladka bhat dont have any work to go behind this rape case?
Manohar! This is the problem with you guys.. If he says one word against Minorities then he is god for you.. grow up buddy! Before making him god try to understand what type of god he is? Good or bad!
No guts to congress arrest bhat, its 100% sure.. this congress only cheating minoties name of bhat and RSS. they are also blindly supporting Congress.. Above 70% of congress leaders touched with RSS. then how they are arrest
This person actually divides the community with his poisonous speech causing hatred among people.
It is individuals choice how he/she wants to live.
How can he impose Hindutwa on others who has his own principles.
There is a limit for toleration and patience, one day when the limit exceeds, then automatically faces the consequence.
If the law can not protect, then it needs to protect the law and do the justice to all.
Manohar ,
There are many faces who are sheep in front & Fox from behind.. Which u guys are unable to recognize... Go and ask with the Victim. If u personally did not met them. then Dont judge and give certificate of Honesty... A honest person will never give hate speeches..
Now behind Harish Murder ???? who sponsored ??? who is giving bike , car, money and legal protection to Bhajrang dal Boys???
If brain map Mr. Bhat ..... all these stories will come out.
He is the paid goonda from RSS. Its the closing time of bhatta.
Manohar, Bhatta is a stray animal......
will congi govt show guts to teach him lesson? i dont think so bcz most congi leaders are in touch with him
Guilty Must be Punished.
Such dual personality person cant fool people for long
Bhat bajrangi clean bowled....jail term not less then 10 years.....all the best....
The Great RSS!!!!
sabko pap yek din bugathna hoga.
Put him in jail forever, he s one and only person who creates communal dispute in the society.
THU THO GAYA BHAT ISS BAAR...
Must be a trap by congress, Kalladka Bhat is a prominent personality. goons are trying to defame some innocents
Great Personality of Tulu Nadu, This s the Fake news, he s like god to us, he cant make this .
Bhat is a murderer, This type of goons must be sent to pakistan.
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