Coronavirus: 4.5 billion people confined in their homes

Hong Kong residents wearing face masks as precaution against the coronavirus outbreak are going out for their lunch at midday in the city on Saturday (April 18). Nearly six out of every 10 people around the world are currently forced or urged to stay at home to help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 (coronavirus), according to an AFP count on Saturday morning (April 18). - AFP

BEIJING/HONG KONG/PARIS/TOKYO: Nearly six out of every 10 people around the world are currently forced or urged to stay at home to help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 (coronavirus), according to an AFP count on Saturday morning (April 18).

An AFP database shows that this concerns at least 4.5 billion people, or around 58 percent of the world population which is estimated by the United Nations at 7.79 billion in 2020.