Chinanews.com, March 24th. According to statistics released by Johns Hopkins University in the United States, as of 5:10 on the 24th Beijing time, more than 370,000 cases of new crown pneumonia have been diagnosed worldwide and more than 16,000 have died. The spread of new crown virus is accelerating.

Affected by the epidemic, many countries have newly joined the ranks of "cities closure" and "curfews." In addition, according to US media reports, International Olympic Committee member Pound revealed that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be postponed to 2021, and relevant details will be formulated within the next four weeks.

Data map: Tan Desai, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). Photo by China Press Agency Peng Dawei

WHO calls on the G-20 to unite

According to the WHO's daily epidemic report, as of 17:00 Beijing time on the 23rd, there were more than 250,000 confirmed cases outside China. In the past 24 hours, the first confirmed cases were reported in three countries: Syria, Grenada and Mozambique.

WHO Director-General Tan Desai said in his speech on the 23rd that in order to win the epidemic, countries need to adopt a proactive and targeted strategy-detecting every suspected case, isolating and taking care of every confirmed case, tracking and isolating Every close contact.

He called on the international community to unite and work together to respond to the epidemic. This week he will address the leaders of the G20 members, calling on them to work together to increase output, avoid export bans and ensure fair distribution.

On March 19th local time, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics flame transfer ceremony took place at the Panasinaiko Stadium in Athens. Pictured here is the representative of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, Naoya Imoto, lighting the tinder.

IOC members reveal: Tokyo Olympics postponed

Since the outbreak of the epidemic, whether the 2020 Tokyo Olympics can be held as scheduled has received much attention. "USA Today" reported that Dick Pound, member of the International Olympic Committee, revealed on the 23rd local time that, based on information provided by the International Olympic Committee, he determined that the Tokyo Olympics would not start on July 24, but He didn't know the specific plan.

On the same day, Fox News asked the International Olympic Committee for confirmation of the report, and the International Olympic Committee refused to reply with confirmation or denial.

The latest news shows that the president of the British Olympic Association said that if the epidemic could not be alleviated, Britain would not send teams to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Swiss National Olympic Committee has also written to the International Olympic Committee to formally request that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics be postponed.

Earlier, Canada and Australia have announced that they will withdraw from the Tokyo Olympic Games this summer. The International Olympic Committee said on the 22nd that it will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current situation within four weeks, of which postponement is one of the options, and cancellation is not considered.

On March 21st local time, a pedestrian in New York's Times Square was heavily protected. Photo by Liao Pan of China News Agency

U.S. confirmed cases exceed 43,000

Republican bailout bill fails twice

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, as of 5:10 on the 24th Beijing time, the number of confirmed cases in the United States reached 43,214, ranking third in all countries, and the cumulative death cases reached 533.

Washington, New York, and California have successively become "major disaster areas," with the number of patients diagnosed and deaths doubling daily.

On March 23, local time, former US President Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Assistant Thomas Bosset warned that the United States may soon become the country with the most confirmed cases in the world. On the same day, the mayor of New York, Bai Sihao, warned that if the federal government does not take urgent action, New York City medical supplies will be exhausted within 10 days.

At the same time, the three major US stock indexes continued to fall as the US Congress failed to pass a bill designed to reduce the impact of the outbreak on the US economy. Analysts generally believe that there is no evidence that the United States will make greater progress in controlling the epidemic in the next 8 weeks, so individuals and businesses cannot rest assured to normalize economic activities.

On March 12, local time, a man wearing a protective mask walked up the steps in the Spagna Square in central Rome, Italy.

Italy: New single day decline for two consecutive days

As of the 23rd, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in Italy in the epidemic's “stricken area” reached 63,927, and the cumulative number of deaths had reached 6,077. It is worth noting that since the outbreak, the increase in the number of newly confirmed and dead cases in a single day in Italy has shown a downward trend for two consecutive days.

Spain: More than 30,000 confirmed cases

On the same day, data from the Spanish Ministry of Health showed that the country had 33,089 confirmed cases and 2,182 deaths, making it the fourth country in the world to exceed 30,000 confirmed cases. In order to prevent and control the epidemic, the Spanish government decided to extend the national emergency state originally scheduled for 15 days for another 15 days, and various places are also stepping up the construction of "field hospitals" to ease medical pressure.

France: Nearly 20,000 confirmed cases

The cumulative number of confirmed cases in France rose to 19,856 on the 23rd, with 3,838 newly confirmed cases and 186 new deaths. The number of single-day confirmed cases and death cases once again reached a new high. That night, French Prime Minister Philip announced that he would continue to tighten controls.

Germany: Merkel new crown virus test negative

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also announced on the 22nd that it will implement a "person-to-person contact ban" in all states. The core content includes prohibiting the gathering of two or more people, closing restaurants and cafeterias, and valid for no less than two weeks.

In addition, a spokesman for Merkel announced on the 23rd that Merkel's first new crown virus test result was negative. She will undergo multiple tests in the coming days. According to reports, a significant increase in the number of people wearing masks in public places in Germany.

As of 23:00 local time on March 20, Bavaria and Saarland in Germany announced the imposition of a curfew restricting citizens' freedom of travel. Pictured on the 20th, people waiting for payment at a supermarket in Berlin were separated by 1.5 meters from each other. Photo by China Press Agency Peng Dawei

Many countries adopt "curfew" and blockade measures

To curb the spread of the epidemic, South African President Ramaphosa said on the 23rd that South Africa has decided to implement a nationwide blockade of 21 days starting at midnight on March 26 local time. During this period, everyone must not go out unless necessary.

On the same day, countries such as Senegal and Sudan stated that a curfew will be imposed from 8 pm to 6 am from the 24th.

The Nepalese government announced on the evening of the 23rd that a blockade will be implemented nationwide for a week starting at 6 am on the 24th. During this period, everyone must not go out unless necessary.

The management department of Tihar Prison in the western suburbs of the Indian capital New Delhi announced on the evening of the 23rd that it will temporarily release nearly 3,000 prisoners to reduce the congestion status of the prison and prevent the epidemic from spreading in the prison.

The Jordanian government has decided to start the distribution of basic supplies nationwide starting from the 24th to reduce the risk of infection when people go out.