THE WORLD GOES INTO SELF-ISOLATION
105 die in Spain in 24 hours; 113 deaths in Iran; worst one-day toll in Italy; Manila shuts; chaos at US airports
MADRID/TEHRAN: Countries across continents tightened lockdowns on Sunday as a spike in deaths from the coronavirus in Spain pushed the global toll past 6,000.
The global death toll rose after 105 died in Spain over the last 24 hours and Iran announced 113 deaths.
While China remains the country with the most deaths at 3,199, the pandemic is now spreading more rapidly in Europe, with the continent’s worst-hit country Italy reporting 1,809 deaths. This includes 368 new fatalities on Sunday, the worst one-day record for the country so far.
Infections in Spain increased by a third to 7,753 even as the government imposed a near-total nationwide lockdown, banning people from leaving home except to go to work, get medical care or buy food.
France ordered the closing of just about everything the rest of the world loves about it — the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the cafes, restaurants and cinemas. But it went ahead with nationwide elections to choose mayors and other local leaders.
Germany will close its borders with France, Austria and Switzerland from Monday morning, a government source told AFP on Sunday, confirming a report in German media.
Italy tightened its nearly week-old lockdown even further. The transport ministry banned passengers from taking ferries to the island of Sardinia and halted overnight train trips, which many in the north had used to reach homes and families in the south. Hospitals were overwhelmed with the sick.
Chaos gripped major US airports on Sunday as Americans returning from coronavirus-hit European countries overwhelmed authorities attempting to process the surge. Frustrated passengers complained of hourslong lines, crowded and unsanitary conditions and general disarray in the system for screening people for symptoms of the virus.
Britain plans to set out emergency powers this week to deal with the viral outbreak, including requiring elderly to self-isolate and banning mass gatherings. Health secretary Matt Hancock said on Sunday the government’s bill laying out its emergency action plan would be unveiled on Tuesday and published on Thursday.
Thousands of police in the Philippines, backed by the army and coast guard, started sealing the densely populated capital Manila from most domestic travellers on Sunday.
In China, where the virus was first detected in December, those arriving on overseas flights were routed to a converted exhibition centre for initial checks before being shuttled off to their homes or other quarantine locations.
South Korea on Sunday reported 76 new coronavirus cases and three deaths, as President Moon Jae-in declared the hardest hit provinces “special disaster zones”. It is the first time South Korea has declared a region a disaster zone from an infectious disease .
In the Middle East, Iran shut a key Shia tomb and appealed to its citizens to stay at home to halt the outbreak that has claimed over 700 lives and infected nearly 14,000 people.
Muslim authorities announced that Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam’s thirdholiest site, would be closed indefinitely due to concerns about the outbreak, with prayers continuing to be held on the sprawling esplanade outside.
Turkey has set up quarantine locations for more than 10,300 people returning from pilgrimages to Islam’s holy sites in Saudi Arabia.
As more African countries report cases, Kenya blocked entry to all except citizens and residents and shut schools.