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.
“Go home and worship your manhood,” he exhorted the Hindu men while addressing a gathering at Jambusar in Bharuch district to induct fresh blood into the saffron outfit on Friday.
Comments
Hindus population could have raised to bit more if Modi, Praveen Togadiya, Mutalik, Sadhvi and other hate mongers could have married.
How our friend in Singapore, is tolerating, when he is branded as IMPOTENT..... When feku Modi is going to take these classes
Go and give your product to Mr. Narahantak Modi first.
Calling hindu men impotent for selling his product. new strategy of marketing...
Calling hindu men are impotent for selling his product....new marketing strategy.. nw wherever he go he will sale his viagra by spitting venom
Muslims has good quality sperm than Hindu, because we believe in one God. If Hindu needs sperm to increase their population, we are ready to supply for free.
Har Ghar main hoga bacha apna
Person who couldn't prove in potency is preaching and marketing his product... he he he
fog out from well
We are already 1.5 Billions....oh my God this stupid is giving wrong idea for hindus....instead he could help securing jobs and education for underprivileged people since their own party BJP is in power.....and is trying to take our country towards ignorance, poverty, illiteracy...
By this kind of speech no improvement will come in to Hindu community but all Hindu girls and women definitely think about the Hindu youths if they are unfit to be with a lady than what is the use of madicine
What a Fantastic Minded man, looks his Brain lost his control, You Bull of the Gate, You need Help to Increase your RSS Population Just a Shout we are here to help, afterword's do not tell \Love Jihad\" once falls Love there is no RSS,Bajji or Ranggi there is Male, Female Master Thogadaia Annanna, Why all these your Counter Partner Master Naraen Gangasara no teach you, we Trained Master Naraen he passed in Distinction level. Do not worry Thogadianna we are here for that, no worries even in Bullet Train or Aeroplane we help you to Produce more and more!!!!!!!!!!
You look like a Watch men in a Appartement, be smart Handsome look then only opposite Gender Love you Master Thogadia, In this stage Looking your Face Like Ugly Baboon no one will not Like you Master, be care otherwise all these Bangali Goons will pick up all go like Gentle Man.
Call us we are awaiting.
Jai Hoo Moidanna
Jai Hoo Hindustan."
IS TOGADIA, the hate monger, Married?
Yaa rabbe... ee report oditt nande nombu poyithaant nakk doubt aayo undu.
Our system is so impotent that Police cannt arrest Togadia. Why? Togadia is against Modi. Deliberately he given dis statement just to harm Namo
This is an attempt by NaMo govt to distract attention of meida from its failure
If impotent Indian media can cover d Charlie Hebdo cartoon or only fight with soft ones i.e Sakhi Maharaj,Togadia,VHP,Bajrang?
Who unable to produce children calls others to make more children who already have enof childrens...! He prepared Indian Viagra for others unfortunately doesnt work for him.
If you have courage marry a women and taste the family life instead of teaching others which is can't do by yourself.
The chemicals in plastic cause male impotence. Plastic water bottles being the biggest source.
It is a huge leap to link a decline in population growth to impotency - what evidence does he have to support such outrageous claims? Chances are that the size of families is being limited by deliberate choice, and not physical fertility problems. Anyone with such a mentality should not be allowed to breed at all!
LOL. Here is another...... But No outrage ?
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