Harsh lockdowns aimed at halting the march of coronavirus around the world widened on Monday to include Moscow’s capital as the death toll mounted and fears grew for the fate of the global economy.
The planet is bracing for a long battle against the disease that has so far killed at least 35,000 people, infected more than 700,000 and left two-fifths of the world’s population confined to their homes.
From field hospitals and a US military hospital ship in New York, to the empty streets of European capitals and fears of a new wave of COVID-19 in Africa, the virus has changed the face of the world in a few short weeks.
The march of the coronavirus has also transformed the sporting and cultural calender, with the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games announcing that it will open on July 23 next year.
In Russia, President Vladimir Putin on Monday urged residents of Moscow to respect the lockdown that has seen the closure of all non-essential shops, including restaurants and cafes, in Europe’s largest city.
“I ask you to take these forced but absolutely necessary measures... Very seriously and completely responsibly,” Putin said after regional authorities clamped down because many Muscovites were failing to heed warnings to self-isolate.
Red Square in the heart of Moscow was eerily empty, while the streets were quiet even though traffic could still be seen on the roads.
Coronavirus continues to tighten its grip in Europe, which remains the epicentre of the disease with the death toll there passing 25,000 on Monday, according to an AFP tally. Spain, which has the world’s second biggest death toll from the disease after Italy, announced another 812 virus deaths in 24 hours, although it was the first decline since on Thursday.
Spain has also joined the United States and Italy in surpassing the number of cases in China, where the disease first emerged in December in the city of Wuhan.
“While the isolation measures have reduced the pressure on intensive care units, in the coming weeks it will be significant,” said Maria Jose Sierra of the Spanish health ministry’s emergencies centre.
The lockdowns are causing hardship across the world, but particularly in cities in Africa and Asia where poverty leaves many people scrabbling to survive on a day-by-day basis.
Africa’s biggest city, Lagos, was due to join the global stay-at-home from Monday, with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari ordering a two-week lockdown for its 20 million people. The measures, in force from 2200 GMT, also apply to the capital Abuja.
Zimbabwe on Monday also began enforcing a three-week lockdown in the impoverished southern African country.
Experts in Germany, Europe’s economic powerhouse, said the virus would shrink output there this year by up to 5.4 percent.
The crisis is also testing the balance between civil liberties and the need for restrictions to curb the disease.
Hungary’s parliament on Monday endorsed a controversial bill giving nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban sweeping new powers he says he needs to fight coronavirus.
