Over 2.6 billion people worldwide—nearly a third of humanity—are under lockdown orders amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As concerns mount in India, Italy and Spain report surging fatalities.
As of the evening of March 24, 2020, France recorded 22,633 confirmed cases and 1,100 deaths, ranking seventh among the hardest-hit nations. Currently, 2,516 patients are in intensive care, up 434 from the previous day.
Jérôme Salomon, France's Director General of Health, described the 1,000 deaths as a "small share of mortality." Primary locations include hospitals and nursing homes, though nursing home and at-home deaths are not yet included in official tallies. Testing has ramped up to 9,000 daily, aiming for 10,000 by week's end and doubling the following week.
Italy reports 69,176 cases and 6,820 deaths, with two-thirds in Lombardy. Spain logs 42,058 cases and 2,991 deaths. These nations, Europe's most affected, represent over half of continental cases and have extended lockdowns. Italy halted all non-essential production this weekend.
Other European updates: Germany (32,991 cases / 159 deaths), Switzerland (9,877 / 122), UK (8,164 / 422), Netherlands (5,585 / 276).
The world's second-most populous nation has ordered a 21-day lockdown, its first major measure. With 562 cases and 11 deaths, India was previously less impacted, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned: "If these 21 days are not respected, the country and your family will go back 21 years."
The US sees rapid growth, with 55,222 cases and over 700 deaths; New York is the epicenter, cases doubling daily. President Trump cautioned that prolonged lockdowns risk economic ruin. Globally: over 423,000 cases and nearly 19,000 deaths, including 2,000 in the last 24 hours.
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