US leads in daily new infections, European countries switch to 'war economy'

(Patria) - Spain has extended the state of emergency with the strictest measures for another two weeks to continue fighting the epidemic which claimed 738 lives on Wednesday alone.

Thus, Spain has surpassed China in terms of the number of victims, which has reached 3,434, making it second only to Italy, which has lost 6,820 of its citizens.

France now has 25,233 confirmed infections, with 1,331 lives lost, as many as 231 in a single day. French President Macron announced that the country is switching to a 'war economy', and experts recommend that the country remain closed for at least 6 weeks from the start of the epidemic.

Finland is also closing the capital city and surrounding area, given 880 confirmed cases and 3 deaths.

The number of infections in Turkey has sharply increased to 2,433, and 59 people have lost their lives.

On Wednesday, the British ambassador to Hungary, Steven Dick (37), died from the coronavirus infection.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reported that more than 400,000 Britons have signed up to volunteer in healthcare.

The US government has approved a domestic economic aid package worth $2 trillion.

The US has surpassed Italy in the number of new cases - as many as 15,000 new infections were confirmed on Tuesday alone, bringing the total number to 67,800 and 900 deaths.

Russia has postponed the vote on constitutional changes due to the crisis. President Putin addressed the nation, appealing for people to stay home, noting that only pharmacies, food stores, and banks continue to operate. More than 600 people are infected in Russia.

In Spain, hotels have been converted into temporary hospitals to accommodate severe cases. The number of cases is rapidly increasing, even by 20% in one day, and now stands at 47,610.

Italy remains the most affected nation in the world with over 69,000 infections and 6,800 fatal outcomes. Authorities are investigating whether a Champions League match held in February in Milan 'poured fuel on the fire'. Hospitals are overcrowded, and Italian doctors have to make difficult decisions daily about who to put on a respirator.

14% of those infected in Italy and Spain are healthcare workers.

The UN has called on the governments of developed countries to support a plan to help the poorest countries with $1.85 billion.

- If we do not act decisively now, I fear that the virus will linger in the weakest countries in the long term, making the world even more vulnerable, noted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.