THIRD OF WORLD ON LOCKDOWN
In Italy, ranks of coffins – a horrific image of pandemic which now has...
MORE than a third of the world’s population was in some form of lockdown yesterday as the Covid-19 pandemic raged on.
Analysis revealed more than three billion people, out of a total of 7.8billion, have been asked to stay at home in almost 70 countries – while the UN said the virus threatens ‘the whole of humanity’.
Europe’s place at the centre of the storm continued as Spain’s death toll overtook China’s to become the second-highest in the world after Italy.
Madrid said total fatalities soared to 3,434 after another 738 succumbed to the virus in 24 hours – Spain’s deadliest day yet.
It means Spain and Italy, whose death toll went up by 683 to 7,503 yesterday, account for more than half of worldwide deaths.
New infections in Spain also climbed by 5,552 to 47,610, while cases in Italy rose by 5,210 to 74,386. Spanish deputy prime minister Carmen Calvo tested positive for the virus.
In Bergamo, Italy, bodies had to be taken to crematoriums outside the region after local services were unable to process the dead. Coffins had been piling up in the city’s cemetery.
Meanwhile police in India used batons to beat people venturing outside as the lockdown of the country’s 1.3billion population began. Over-zealous officers were reported to have harassed food vendors and even healthcare workers exempt from the strict rules. India has reported 519 confirmed cases and nine deaths.
Russian president Vladimir Putin yesterday became the latest world leader urging citizens to stay at home.
Most countries under lockdown, including Britain, France, India and Italy, are threatening fines or arrests for those who flout the rules. Others have gone further by introducing curfews.
In most countries it is still possible to go out to work, buy provisions and seek medical attention. At least seven countries or territories covering 416million people, including Iran, Germany and Canada, have called on their population to stay at home while not making it mandatory.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said: ‘Covid-19 is threatening the whole of humanity – and the whole of humanity must fight back.’
France’s death toll went up by 231 to 1,331 yesterday, its daily toll slightly down from the 240