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9 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 25 MARCH 2020 NEWS INTERNATIONAL India orders 'complete' coronavirus lockdown Countries with highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths PRIME Minister Narendra Modi or- dered a "complete" lockdown for India's 1.3 billion people on Tuesday, warning that "many families will be destroyed forever" if the country didn't get to grips with its coronavirus outbreak in the next three weeks. Modi said the lockdown would start at midnight local time, would last for a minimum of 21 days, and would apply to all of India's 36 states and territories. "You have seen the worldwide situa- tions arising from the coronavirus pan- demic in the news. You have also seen how the most powerful nations have become helpless in the face of this pan- demic," Modi said in a live televised ad- dress to the nation on Tuesday evening ahead of the deadline. India is the world's second most popu- lous country and the fifth biggest econ- omy, but so far, it has appeared to avoid the full hit of the pandemic. The coun- try has confirmed 519 coronavirus cas- es, including 10 deaths and 39 patients who have been cured, according to the Ministry of Health. A number of Indian states have or- dered lockdowns in the past few days, in an attempt to stop the virus from spreading. International borders have been shut to most travelers coming from the Europe. Modi said that the measures are nec- essary to protect the population, and referred to experience from other coun- tries. "What the experts are saying is that social distancing is the only option to combat coronavirus. That is to remain apart from each other and stay confined to within your homes. There is no other way to remain safe from coronavirus. If we have to stop the spread, we have to break the cycle of infection," he said. "From 12 midnight today, the entire country will go under a complete lock- down to save India and for every Indian, there will be a total ban on venturing out of your homes. Therefore, I request you to remain wherever you are in this country," Modi added. Only essential services will be opera- tional. These include water, electricity, health services, fire services, groceries and municipal services. All shops, commercial establishments, factories, workshops, offices, markets and places of worship will be closed and interstate buses and metros will be sus- pended. Construction activity will also be on a halt during this period. Modi said if the outbreak was not dealt with properly it could set the country back decades. "According to health experts, a mini- mum of 21 days is most crucial to break the cycle of infection. If we are not able to manage this pandemic in the next 21 days, the country and your family will be setback by 21 years. If we are not able to manage the next 21 days, then many families will be destroyed forev- er," Modi said. Indian cities are practically deserted as residents are ordered to stay inside their homes Country China Italy USA Spain Germany Iran France Switzerland S. Korea UK Netherlands Austria Belgium Norway Canada Portugal Sweden Australia Brazil Israel Malaysia Denmark Turkey Czechia Japan Ireland Luxembourg Ecuador Pakistan Chile Poland Thailand Finland Saudi Arabia Romania Greece Indonesia Iceland Singapore South Africa Philippines India Total Cases 81,171 69,176 49,665 39,676 32,781 24,811 19,856 9,117 9,037 8,077 5,560 5,010 4,269 2,768 2,583 2,362 2,286 2,144 1,980 1,656 1,624 1,591 1,529 1,394 1,193 1,125 1,099 1,049 972 922 848 827 792 767 762 743 686 648 558 554 552 519 Deaths 3,277 6,820 622 2,800 156 1,934 860 122 120 422 276 28 122 12 25 33 36 8 34 3 15 32 37 2 43 6 8 27 7 2 9 4 1 1 8 20 55 2 2 0 35 10 ITALY reported 743 new corona-virus deaths on Tuesday ending a two day streak of declining totals. The total of confirmed cases in the country come to 69,176 and a death toll to 6,820, said the Civil Protection Agency. On Monday 602 people died follow- ing 650 deaths on Sunday and 793 on Saturday - the highest daily figure since the disease came to light on Feb. 21. The total number of confirmed cases in Italy rose with an 8.2 % increase in line with Monday's growth rate from a previous 63,927 to 69,176, according to the Agency. Lombardy remains the hardest hit northern region with a total of 4,178 deaths and 30,703 cases. That com- pared with 3,776 deaths and 28,761 cases reported up to Monday. Huge jump in Italy coronavirus death toll Medical workers in protective suits check a document as they treat patients in an intensive care unit at the Casalpalocco hospital in Rome