More than 10,000 people have now died in a coronavirus pandemic that has swept from China throughout the world, forcing the confinement of tens of millions in their homes.
The US state of California, among the worst hit in thecountry, has told its 40 million residents to stay at home, the most drasticmove yet in the United States to combat the pandemic. However, the Californiameasures will not be enforced by police unlike in France, Italy, Spain andother European countries where people face fines if they break the rules.
The strict measures follow the template set by China, wherea lockdown imposed in Hubei province where the new coronavirus first emergedappears to have paid off.
Italy is battling the single most deadly outbreak on the planetwith 3,405 deaths, followed by 3,248 in China and Iran with 1,433, according toan AFP tally of official data.
Europe now accounts for half of the 10,000 fatalities linkedto the COVID-19 disease around the world.The United States is showing signs that it isramping up its efforts on all fronts, fast-tracking antimalarial drugs for useas a treatment against the virus and promising a USD 1 trillion emergencyrelief package to combat the economic turmoil.