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More than 1 billion told to stay home worldwide over virus
PARIS, March 23, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – More than one billion people have been
asked to stay home in over 50 countries and territories around the world as
governments battle the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe, according to
an AFP tally Monday.
Some countries have imposed mandatory lockdown measures, while others have
issued stay-at-home recommendations to stem the spread of the virus.
At least 34 countries or territories have established mandatory lockdown
measures ordering people to stay in their homes, accounting for some 659
million people.
This includes France, Italy, Argentina, the US state of California, Iraq
and Rwanda.
Greece is the most recent country to impose mandatory confinement measures,
which came into effect on Monday morning.
Colombia will enforce an obligatory lockdown on Tuesday and New Zealand
will follow suit Wednesday.
In most cases it is still possible to leave the house to go to work, buy
essentials or seek medical care.
At least four countries with a collective population of more than 228
million people, including Iran, Germany and Britain, have urged their
populations to stay indoors and limit contact with other people as much as
possible.
But the impact of these non-mandatory recommendations has been limited.
In Britain, the government warned of tougher measures after crowds gathered
in parks and beaches over the weekend, while millions of people in Iran
travelled for the Persian New Year last week.
Parts of India, the world’s second biggest country by population, also
faced lockdown orders affecting some 700 million people.
At least 10 countries and territories with a total population of 117
million people have issued curfews and barred overnight travel.
These measures are in place in Burkina Faso, Chile, the Philippines’
capital Manila, Serbia and Mauritania, while in Saudi Arabia a curfew will be
imposed from Monday evening.
Elsewhere, some countries have imposed isolation measures in main cities,
with measures barring people from entering or exiting.
These measures have been seen in Almaty, Bulgaria, Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan
and Azerbaijan’s Baku.
Combined, these cities have an estimated 10 million inhabitants.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 2028 hrs