Latest on the coronavirus: Italy records 919 deaths in a day
ANKARA - Reuters
![Latest on the coronavirus: Italy records 919 deaths in a day](http://image.hurimg.com/i/hurriyet/75/0x0/5e7eff6818c7731f6019541d.jpg)
Coffins are lined up on the floor of the San Giuseppe church in Seriate, Italy, one of the regions worst hit by coronavirus, near Bergamo, waiting to be taken to a crematory, on March 26, 2020. (AP Photo)
The U.S. House of Representatives on March 27 approved a $2.2 trillion aid package - the largest in history - to help cope with the economic downturn inflicted by the intensifying coronavirus pandemic, and President Donald Trump quickly signed it into law.
Deaths, infections
- More than 551,800 people have been infected globally and nearly 24,900 have died, according to a Reuters tally.
Europe
- Italy recorded 919 deaths from coronavirus, the highest daily toll anywhere in the world, while the number of confirmed cases eclipsed the total in China.
- The latest data from Spain's health ministry show the death toll stabilizing.
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his health minister tested positive for the coronavirus and said they were self-isolating.
- French health authorities reported 299 new deaths from coronavirus on March 26, taking the total to 1,995.
- The Kremlin confirmed a coronavirus case in President Vladimir Putin's administration.
- Germany has proposed using big data and location tracking to isolate people with coronavirus once social distancing slows its spread.
- Switzerland's government has allowed regional authorities to shut down or restrict economic sectors temporarily if needed.
- Hungary, where the epidemic is expected to peak in June or July, is imposing a two-week lockdown.
Americas
- Confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States reached 100,040 on March 27, the highest number in the world, a Reuters tally showed.
- New York plans to build eight temporary hospitals to meet an expected surge in coronavirus patients.
- Brazil's governors pressed President Jair Bolsonaro on March 26 for more federal support after he blasted them as job-killers and undermined their orders with a decree keeping churches open.
- Venezuela and Nicaragua reported their first deaths on March 26.
Asia and the Pacific
- Mainland China reported its first locally transmitted coronavirus case in three days and 54 new imported cases, as Beijing ordered airlines to slash international flights.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping told President Donald Trump on March 27 that he would have China's support in fighting the coronavirus.
- Tokyo's governor's plea to avoid non-essential outings until April 12 prompted a rush for supplies despite warnings against hoarding.
- Australia is introducing enforced quarantine by midnight on March 28 for returning citizens and will deploy the armed forces to ensure compliance with self-isolation measures.
- Vietnam will limit domestic flights and stop public gatherings for two weeks from March 28, as it aims to keep the number of cases under 1,000.
- Uzbekistan reported its first death on March 27, as it locked down more cities and districts and declared large bonuses for medical workers.
- Indonesia said it would allow regional authorities to impose lockdowns to control the coronavirus, in a major shift in strategy after previously resisting tougher restrictions.
Middle East and Africa
- Iraqi doctors say the country may be singularly unprepared for the coronavirus, with the number of cases at 450 and deaths at 40.
- Iran started an intercity travel ban, as its death toll rose to 2,378 on March 27.
- South Africans struggled to adapt to confinement rules, with many city streets no less crowded than normal as a strict lockdown begun and it recorded its first deaths.
- The Israeli army will assist police on street patrols to enforce lockdown.
- Algeria extended its curfew to nine more provinces.
Economic fallout
- Stocks across the globe fell on March 27 after a historic three-day run-up, as skittish investors kept indices on track for their worst monthly and quarterly performances since 2008, while the dollar fell by the most in any week since 2009.
- Canada said on March 27 it will cover 75% of wages for small businesses and the central bank cut its key interest rate to the lowest level in a decade.
- The European Central Bank chief urged EU leaders to act more decisively as the bloc feuds over how far to go to cushion the economic hit of the pandemic.
- Investors rushed into cash and out of bonds at a record pace over the past week, BofA's weekly fund flow data showed on March 27.
- Mexico will likely take the longest in Latin America to recover, SP said on March 27, a day after it cut ratings of Mexico and national oil company Petroleos Mexicanos.
- The Reserve Bank of India slashed interest rates.
- Pakistan has requested an emergency loan disbursement from the International Monetary Fund. * Malaysia will launch a $58.3 billion stimulus package, its prime minister said.
- Japan is planning a stimulus that could be worth 10% of its economic output.
Events
- The U.S. Open originally scheduled for June 18-21 has become the third of golf's four major championships to get postponed, the New York Post reported.
- South Korea's boy band BTS will postpone its North America tour due to kick off in April.
- Italy's fashion industry body said the men's fashion shows scheduled for June 19-23 would be held in September.