GLOBAL quarantine

Nearly 1 billion people across the world confined to homes, 11K dead

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CLOSE to one billion people worldwide were confined to their homes on Saturday as the global coronavirus death toll shot past 11,000 and US states rolled out lockdown measures already imposed across swathes of Europe.

The pandemic has completely upended lives across the planet, restricting movement, shutting schools and forcing millions to work from home.

NUMBERS TELL THE REAL STORY

The virus death toll surged past 11,000 worldwide, with 4,000 alone in worst-hit Italy where the daily number of fatalities has shot up relentlessly over the past week. An estimated 900 million people are now confined to their homes in 35 countries around the world -- including 600 million hemmed in by obligatory government lockdown orders according to an AFP tally.

W.H.O. WARNS YOUNGSTERS

While the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions are the hardest hit by the virus, the World Health Organisation warned that young people were also vulnerable.