The effects of COVID-19 appear to be unrelenting and there appears to be no respite from this deadly virus. Here are the top 10 global developments on Tuesday:
1. More than one billion people have been asked to stay home in more than 50 countries and territories around the world, with Greece becoming the latest country to impose mandatory confinement measures.
2. There are more than 43,600 cases across the U.S., and more than 550 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.
3. Stock markets dived again in Europe and Asia after US lawmakers failed to agree a trillion-dollar emergency package and amid a host of profit warnings.
4. Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe acknowledged for the first time that postponing the 2020 Olympics “may become inevitable” if the new coronavirus outbreak makes it impossible to hold the Games safely.
5. China has started the first phase of a clinical trial for a novel coronavirus vaccine.
6. The United Arab Emirates has closed shopping centres and restaurants. Foreigners who usually have resident rights are banned from entering until further notice.
7. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued his own stay-at-home order for the U.K, banning gatherings of more than two people and ordering non-essential businesses to close down.
8. President Trump on Monday signaled he wants the economy to be back in full swing as quickly as possible, telling the public during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing that his administration will reevaluate the 15-day guidelines the White House issued last week when that time is up and soon issue new guidelines on how to return to a more normalized economy.
9. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a global ceasefire on Monday to help the world focus on the fight against the coronavirus.
“I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world,” the U.N. chief told reporters during a virtual press conference. “It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives.”
10. At least 15,189 deaths have been recorded since the virus first emerged in December, according to an AFP tally compiled at 1100 GMT on Monday based on official sources.
There have been more than 341,300 infections reported in 174 countries and territories.
The worst affected countries after Italy and China are Spain with 2,182 deaths (33,089 cases), Iran with 1,812 deaths (23,049 cases), France with 674 deaths (16,018 cases) and the US with 471 deaths (35,224 cases).