Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are adjusting to once-in-a-generation measures to battle the coronavirus pandemic. At least 8,710 people have died from coronavirus and 204,487 have been infected globally. To date, 123,614 cases, 60 percent of the total, have been confirmed outside China, 99.9 percent of which added last week have been reported outside China.

Americas

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law a coronavirus relief package releasing billions of dollars to limit the damage from the coronavirus pandemic through free testing, paid sick leave and expanded safety-net spending. Lawmakers in the Republican-led Senate largely set aside their ideological divisions, passing the legislation by a bipartisan vote of 90-8.

So far, all 50 states in the United States have reported cases and the total number of infections surged past 6,400.

Chile declared a 90-day state of catastrophe on Wednesday.

The head of Brazil's Senate Davi Alcolumbre became the latest high-level political figure to test positive for coronavirus on Wednesday, his office said in a statement. Alcolumbre has no severe symptoms, but feels a little sick and is in quarantine at home. An initial test had come back negative, but a secondary one was positive, the statement added.

Brazilian retail, transport and manufacturing were hammered, and the government stopped accepting Venezuelan refugees at the border.

Peru's President Martin Vizcarra restricted overnight movement across the country.

Europe

Italy on Wednesday reported nearly 500 more deaths from the novel coronavirus, the highest daily official toll of any country. Italy has recorded more than one-third of the global deaths and has shut down all businesses and public gatherings.

"The main thing is, do not give up," Italian National Institute of Health chief Silvio Brusaferro told reporters.

"It will take a few days before we see the benefits" of containment measures, said Brusaferro.

"We must maintain these measures to see their effect, and above all to protect the most vulnerable."

French health authorities reported 89 more deaths from coronavirus on Wednesday, taking the total to 264 or an increase of almost 51 percent.

Belgium imposed a lockdown from Wednesday until April 5.

Switzerland has extended border controls and suspended the issue of Schengen and national visas for three months.

Ukraine, where a lawmaker tested positive, has imposed a state of emergency in the region around the capital Kiev.

Asia

Thousands of Muslim pilgrims from across Asia gathered at Gowa in Indonesia, just two weeks after a similar event in Malaysia caused more than 500 infections.

Indonesia on Wednesday reported 14 more deaths from the coronavirus, making the tally to 19. Now Indonesia has the highest number of fatalities among all Southeast Asian countries.

Two Vietnamese carriers have suspended flights to major Southeast Asian and European destinations.

Bangladesh reported its first death on Wednesday.

Pakistan confirmed its first coronavirus death as the total number of infections climbed to 260.

Middle East and Africa

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will pardon 10,000 prisoners including political ones in honor of the Iranian New Year on Friday, state TV reported.

Iran's death toll rose to 1,135 with 147 more deaths, while the total number of infections hit 17,361.

As of Tuesday, Iran had temporarily freed about 85,000 prisoners from jail, including political ones, in response to the coronavirus epidemic.

Iran said it had 189,500 people in prison, according to a report that the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman, hundreds of whom were arrested during or after the anti-government protests in November.

Turkey announced a second death and said the number of confirmed cases of the highly-contagious respiratory illness had nearly doubled to 191 after it ramped up steps to curb the virus' spread, closing cafes, banning mass prayers and halting flights to 20 countries.

"None of our citizens must leave their homes or get into contact with anyone, unless absolutely necessary, until the threat disappears," President Tayyip Erdogan said in a speech after a meeting of top officials in Ankara to tackle the pandemic.

The United Arab Emirates said it would bar foreign visitors while Saudi Arabia suspended most work in its private sector.

Egypt has reported 14 new cases, the health ministry said on Wednesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 210. The country has so far reported 6 coronavirus related deaths.

Djibouti and Zambia confirmed their first cases on Wednesday.

(With input from agencies)