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
muhammad rafique, you cant tell me what i should do . theres nothing like behaving like a muslim. i know what i have done. i am not trying to impress the management or any of the members. i did what was right. i am not against anyone . But, protesting against the college was not an option. i dont want you to fight (if you knew about islam you would also know what violence is haram) .
Thanks for helping me understand that you are a girl student .
dear sister it's better not drag my family members here.
firstly I didnt comment on you personally unless you are Naureen. i still wonder how can someone feel instigated with the phrase "justice for scarf and namaz" '
Mr. Narang kotian, we don’t want your sympathy , don’t pull down Pakistan’s politics to us keep quit.
Mr Rafeeq,
You need not to teach me where to raise my voice and where not. I also have the right to hide my identity (just like you have right to wear hijab). By the way, instead of asking me to show the guts, ask the female members of your family. Mind your tongue while arguing with a girl
why commenting with anonymous identify ? have guts to reveal yourself
why are you silent when cheddi goons have been creating ruckus in the name of moral policing?
give your suggestions to morons like pumpwell, etc
Congrats to Naureen. Muslim girls like you are asset of the nation. Don’t hesitate to go and file complaint against those who issue you threats. They are jihadists. People like them had tried to kill Malala too. I am sure that you will face more threats in future from thirbokis. But believe me, the more threats you receive, the more you become stronger.
Jai Hind
CFI has only these 3 members..! in thier protests, always these 3 people. No other people is there for them. Somehow they managed to get few girls this time for the protests.
I wont believe a muslim father will tell against issue if the intention is true. I believe CFI using that girl and politicising the issue.
Appreciate the courage of Naureen, who braved threats and issued a bold statement. All are with you. Don’t worry. Let the misogynists go to hell.
Mr Rafeeq. First you behave like a Muslim by understanding the issue. What’s the meaning of your question? Whats the meaning of asking justice for scarf & namaz? What happened in Agnes is its internal issue. You need not to send your sister or daughter to this college. Stop giving ur bullshit advices to other girls.
CFI supports only unwanted issues.
Was it too bad than your right wing folks have been spreading hatred against muslims?
Sister Naureen, what is wrong in asking justice for scarf & namaz?
First try to learn what Islam is and behave like a Muslim. Rather being a office bearer of a student council and impress upon the management and others .
Admin of the jihadist whatsapp group 'Justice for Scarf and Namaz' must be arrested immediately. This group is responsible for all the confusion. One of my Muslim friends showed me the conversations in the group. It was too bad
Some students were used by the CFI and some by the college. Please allow the students to lead the life as they wish and concentrate on education. Keep communal hatred away from the campus
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