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Coronavirus: Moscow and Lagos in lockdown as countries tighten restrictions Coronavirus: Moscow and Lagos in lockdown as countries tighten restrictions
(about 1 hour later)
Global death toll passes 34,000 and 725,000 have been infected as 3bn people live in isolationGlobal death toll passes 34,000 and 725,000 have been infected as 3bn people live in isolation
Europe’s largest capital and Africa’s most populous city have gone into lockdown and countries including the US have prolonged and tightened already strict confinement orders as the coronavirus epidemic continues to spread across the globe. Europe’s largest capital and Africa’s most populous city have gone into lockdown as countries across the globe including the US prolonged and tightened already strict confinement orders in an effort to contain the coronavirus epidemic.
Moscow imposed strict isolation measures on Monday after many residents ignored official requests to stay indoors, confining citizens to their homes unless for a medical emergency, to travel to essential jobs, shop for food or medicines or walk their dogs.Moscow imposed strict isolation measures on Monday after many residents ignored official requests to stay indoors, confining citizens to their homes unless for a medical emergency, to travel to essential jobs, shop for food or medicines or walk their dogs.
The prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin, asked authorities across Russia to prepare similar orders as the country began a “non-working” week declared by the president, Vladimir Putin. Facial recognition cameras will police the measures in the capital, which has reported more than 1,000 confirmed cases. At the request of the prime minister, Mikhail Mishustin, regional authorities across Russia started preparing similar orders as the country began a “non-working” week declared by the president, Vladimir Putin.
On the other side of the world, the 21 million inhabitants of Lagos in Nigeria, which has recorded one death from Covid-19, enter a two-week lockdown on Monday evening, a measure experts have warned could prove difficult if not impossible to enforce in a city where millions live in poverty and rely on daily earnings to survive. “I ask you to take these forced but absolutely necessary measures ... very seriously and completely responsibly,” Putin said. Facial recognition cameras will police the measures in the capital, which has reported more than 1,000 confirmed cases.
In the US, Donald Trump prolonged emergency physical distancing restrictions until 30 April after the country’s leading infectious diseases scientist, Anthony Fauci, warned that 100,000 to 200,000 Americans could die and millions could be infected. On the other side of the world in Nigeria, the 21 million inhabitants of Lagos, which has recorded one death from Covid-19, prepared to enter a two-week lockdown on Monday night. Experts have warned the measure could prove almost impossible to enforce in a city where millions live in poverty and rely on daily earnings to survive.
Trump, who had previously said he wanted the country – where the death toll has doubled in four days to more than 2,300 – back at work by Easter, warned that the death rate was likely to peak in two weeks. “Nothing would be worse than declaring victory before the victory is won,” he said. In the US, where Donald Trump on Sunday extended emergency physical distancing restrictions until 30 April, Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House’s coronavirus task force, said on Monday that if the country did things “almost perfectly, we could get in the range of 100,000 to 200,000 fatalities”.
According to the Johns Hopkins University tracker, the coronavirus pandemic has infected nearly 725,000 people and killed more than 34,000. More than 3 billion people around the world are living in voluntary or mandatory confinement. The number of confirmed cases in the US has passed 140,000 with more than 2,500 deaths. A 1,000-berth US navy hospital ship with 12 operating rooms, the USNS Comfort, pulled into a cruise ship terminal in New York on Monday, while a 68-bed field hospital designed as a respiratory care unit has been put up in Central Park.
Of Europe’s worst-affected countries, Spain, which on Monday logged a slight fall in the number of people dying from the coronavirus after days of record death tolls, began its first day of even more restrictive lockdown after the government banned all bar essential workers from leaving their homes. According to the Johns Hopkins University tracker, the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 740,000 people and killed more than 35,000. Nearly 3.5 billion people around the world are living in voluntary or mandatory confinement.
The health ministry said 812 people had died from the virus between Sunday and Monday, bringing the country’s total to 7,340 with 85,195 cases. Fernando Simón, the head of Spain’s centre for health emergencies, is awaiting confirmation that he has tested positive for the virus. Of Europe’s worst-affected countries, Spain, which on Monday joined the US and Italy in surpassing the number of cases in China, where the virus originated, began its first day of even more restrictive lockdown after the government banned all bar essential workers from leaving their homes.
The Spanish health ministry said 812 people had died from the virus between Sunday and Monday, a slight fall on the previous 24 hours, bringing the country’s total to 7,340 with 85,195 confirmed cases.
In Italy, which accounts for a third of all global deaths from Covid-19, the government warned citizens should be ready for a lengthy confinement that would only be lifted gradually. “We are in a very long battle,” the government medical adviser, Luca Richeldi, said on Monday. “Through our behaviour, we save lives.”In Italy, which accounts for a third of all global deaths from Covid-19, the government warned citizens should be ready for a lengthy confinement that would only be lifted gradually. “We are in a very long battle,” the government medical adviser, Luca Richeldi, said on Monday. “Through our behaviour, we save lives.”
The regional affairs minister, Francesco Boccia, said all talk of re-opening was inappropriate and irresponsible. “The measures expiring on 3 April will inevitably be extended,” Boccia said. “We all want to go back to normal. But we will have to do it by turning on one switch at a time.” The regional affairs minister, Francesco Boccia, said all talk of reopening was inappropriate and irresponsible. “The measures expiring on 3 April will inevitably be extended,” Boccia said. “We all want to go back to normal. But we will have to do it by turning on one switch at a time.”
Italy’s death toll rose by 756 on Sunday, well below Friday’s record of 969, and the the total number of infections increased by less than 6% for the first time. But the strains on Italian society imposed by the near-total lockdown are starting to show. Italy’s death toll also rose by 812 to 11,591, reversing two days of declines in the daily rate, but the number of new cases increased by just 2% to 101,739, the lowest since March 17. The strains on Italian society imposed by the country’s near-total lockdown, however, are starting to show.
The government has set aside €400m (£358m) for food vouchers amid reports that people in the south of the country were running out of food and money. In Sicily, armed police began guarding entrances to supermarkets after local media reported looting by people who could no longer afford food.The government has set aside €400m (£358m) for food vouchers amid reports that people in the south of the country were running out of food and money. In Sicily, armed police began guarding entrances to supermarkets after local media reported looting by people who could no longer afford food.
In other developments:In other developments:
Hungary’s parliament passed a state of emergency without a time limit that could allow prime minister Viktor Orbán to rule by decree.Hungary’s parliament passed a state of emergency without a time limit that could allow prime minister Viktor Orbán to rule by decree.
Austria is to hand facial masks to shoppers before they enter supermarkets.Austria is to hand facial masks to shoppers before they enter supermarkets.
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, went into self-isolation after coming into contact with infected people.
Iran’s official death toll reached 2,757, with more than 40,000 confirmed cases.Iran’s official death toll reached 2,757, with more than 40,000 confirmed cases.
New York state’s death toll from coronavirus climbed above 1,000, less than a month after the disease was first detected in the state.New York state’s death toll from coronavirus climbed above 1,000, less than a month after the disease was first detected in the state.
Tokyo has recorded its biggest daily increase in cases and Japan will expand its entry ban to include citizens travelling from the US, China, South Korea and most of Europe.Tokyo has recorded its biggest daily increase in cases and Japan will expand its entry ban to include citizens travelling from the US, China, South Korea and most of Europe.
Vietnam’s prime minister has asked major cities to prepare for lockdowns.Vietnam’s prime minister has asked major cities to prepare for lockdowns.
South Korea is to provide emergency cash payments to many families.South Korea is to provide emergency cash payments to many families.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will open on July 23 next year.
The UN called for a $2.5-trillion aid package to help developing countries, including debt cancellation and a health recovery “Marshal Plan”.The UN called for a $2.5-trillion aid package to help developing countries, including debt cancellation and a health recovery “Marshal Plan”.
In China, meanwhile, where the pandemic originated, authorities on Monday reported 31 new confirmed coronavirus cases, all bar one of them imported, the fourth consecutive daily fall.In China, meanwhile, where the pandemic originated, authorities on Monday reported 31 new confirmed coronavirus cases, all bar one of them imported, the fourth consecutive daily fall.
The city of Wuhan, at the centre of the outbreak, reported no new cases for a sixth day. Businesses were reopening and residents set about resuming a more normal life after a lockdown that has lasted almost two months.The city of Wuhan, at the centre of the outbreak, reported no new cases for a sixth day. Businesses were reopening and residents set about resuming a more normal life after a lockdown that has lasted almost two months.
In a further indication of the devastating economic impact of the pandemic, the budget airline EasyJet said on Monday it had grounded its entire fleet of aircraft for at least two months in response to the destruction of demand for air travel.In a further indication of the devastating economic impact of the pandemic, the budget airline EasyJet said on Monday it had grounded its entire fleet of aircraft for at least two months in response to the destruction of demand for air travel.