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March 30, 2020 More than 3.38 billion people worldwide are locked in their homes or otherwise subject to movement restrictions or social isolation measures in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. This is basically four out of 10 people, 43% of the earth's population of 7.79 billion, according to an AFP estimate.

The Chinese province of Hubei and its capital Wuhan, the first epicenter of the new coronavirus, were the first to introduce confinement measures in late January. As the province of Hubei begins to open again after months of isolation, restrictions have multiplied around the world in recent weeks.

After mid-March, the surge in closings and bans. As of March 18, these measures affected over 500 million people. On the 23rd this number rose to more than a billion people, and more than two billion just a day later. On March 25, more than three billion people were affected by confinement measures in some form.

To date, at least 3.381 billion people in at least 78 countries and territories have been called to stay home. Most of these - at least 2.45 billion people in 42 countries and territories - are under compulsory confinement. No region of the world is excluded.

In Europe, the countries affected are Great Britain, France, Italy and Spain. In Asia, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and other countries are affected, while many nations have measures in the Middle East, including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel. In Africa, South Africa, Morocco, Madagascar, Rwanda and other countries.

In the Americas, confinement measures are in place in Colombia, Argentina, Peru and other countries, including most of the United States.

In Oceania, New Zealand has imposed a blockade.

Congo-Brazzaville and two regions of Ghana will also be added to the list early next week.

In most cases people are allowed to leave their homes to work, purchase basic necessities or for medical treatment.

At least nine countries or territories - which comprise about 511 million people - have urged their populations to stay home without imposing threats of punishment. Among these are Germany, Iran, Russia and Uganda.

At least 21 other countries or territories - which comprise around 384 million people - have imposed an evening curfew. This measure is particularly widespread in Africa (Egypt, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Mauritania, Gabon) and in Latin America (Chile, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Panama, Puerto Rico). Saudi Arabia, Serbia and the city of Manila in the Philippines have also imposed a curfew.

At least seven countries have quarantined their main cities, preventing populations from entering and leaving. This is the case of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Riad, Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia, Helsinki in Finland and Baku in Azerbaijan.