A WORLD IN CHAOS
Global death toll nears 5,000 New York cases double overnight
CORONAVIRUS panic tightened its grip worldwide yesterday as scores of countries dramatically upped their response to the deadly pandemic.
There were 6,729 new cases recorded globally, bringing the total confirmed number to 134,317. The death toll also rose by 351 to 4,968.
It led to several countries being effectively put into lockdown as they closed schools, mass events and shops, while in the US, the mayor of New York declared a state of emergency in the city.
The death toll in Italy – the hardest-hit country after China – climbed from 827 to 1,016 and total infections soared by 21% to 15,113. In an unprecedented move for modern times, Rome’s more than 900 Catholic churches were ordered to shut. Previously, only Masses had been cancelled.
The decree by the Pope’s vicar for the Rome archdiocese will remain in effect for at least three weeks and temporarily excuses Catholics in the area from their obligation to attend Mass.
The move follows a decision by the Italian government on Wednesday to close all shops apart from pharmacies, food shops and other essential stores.
In the north of the country, a couple who had been together for 60 years died from the coronavirus just two hours apart.
Severa Belotti, 82, and Luigi Carrara, 86, spent the last days of their lives in lockdown, in their home town of Albino, in the province of Bergamo.
Their son, Luca Carrara, claimed they were confined to their home for eight days, without medical assistance, running a fever of 39C.
He told how he was unable to see his parents before they died and had to say his goodbyes to them on Facebook.
Five more countries – including Ireland, as well as France, Austria, Turkey and Norway – announced the closure of all schools, universities and nurseries. French president Emmanuel Macron said the closures would come into force on Monday, as he unveiled a raft of emergency measures to help France deal with the crisis.
He warned the country, which yesterday had a total of 2,876 confirmed cases and 61 deaths, was facing ‘its most serious health crisis in a century’.
Public transport would still run but people should keep travel to an absolute minimum, he said. People over 70 or with underlying health conditions were urged to limit their contact with the outside world.
Spain became Europe’s second worst-affected country with 3,004 cases and 84 deaths. The government announced a €13.5billion injection into the economy.
Every Spanish cabinet member had to be tested after equality
‘This is going to be a long, long battle’