HONG KONG: Several Asia-Pacific countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia and Myanmar, have closed their borders on Thursday (March 19) to contain the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, while South Korea announced an emergency financial aid package for small businesses.
AUSTRALIA
Australia's cases of Covid-19 have increased by 111 cases in a single day, bringing the total number to 565 on Thursday morning.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has decided to close the nation's borders for all visitors as the virus is spreading globally.
Travellers who are not residents or citizens of Australia will be banned from entering the country from 9 p.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) on Friday, Morrison told a press conference.
Australia's central bank has cut the country's official interest rate to a record low of 0.25 percent on Thursday, in response to the extensive economic impacts of Covid-19.
The country's national carrier Qantas has halted all international flights and temporarily stood down two-thirds of its workforce, in an effort to endure mass travel disruptions caused by the outbreak.
NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the country's borders will be closed to any visitors except citizens and residents from 11:59 p.m. Thursday due to Covid-19 concerns.
The total number of Covid-19 cases climbed to 28 on Thursday in New Zealand.
SOUTH KOREA
South Korea reported 152 more cases of the Covid-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of midnight on Thursday local time, raising the total number of infections to 8,565.
The newly confirmed cases rose above 100 for the first time in five days, after growing in double digits from Sunday to Wednesday.
South Korea decided to offer 50 trillion won (US$39bil) worth of emergency financial aid package for small businesses amid rising worry about the economic fallout from the Covid-19 outbreak.
South Korean stocks and currency hit the lowest close in over 10 years as fears mounted over the COVID-19 outbreak across the world.
In the morning, its stocks triggered trading halt after plunging over 8 percent and the central bank said it will buy 1.5 trillion won (1.2 billion U.S. dollars) worth of government bonds to help stabilize the local bond market.
JAPAN
Japan's health ministry and local governments said the number of Covid-19 infections nationwide had risen to 936 cases as of 6.30pm local time Thursday.
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) bought 1.3 trillion yen (US$11.91bil) worth of government bonds in an emergency market operation aimed at curbing the rise of long-term yields amid the recent volatility.
FIJI
Fiji reported its first confirmed case of Covid-19 on Thursday.
In a televised speech, Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said that the patient from Fiji's second-largest city of Lautoka is in stable condition and is being monitored by health officials.
He said that the person contracted the disease overseas and the health teams were working on getting in contact with people who could have been potentially exposed to the virus.
SINGAPORE
Singapore reported 47 new cases by Wednesday noon, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 313.
Of the record high of 47, 33 were imported ones, 30 of whom were Singapore residents returning from abroad.
The Singapore government also announced that local residents and short-term visitors must observe a 14-day self-isolation period on entering Singapore starting from 11.59 p.m. March 20.
Singapore shares closed 4.73% lower on Thursday, as rising worries about a global recession kept investors on edge.
AFGHANISTAN
The Afghan government has further toughened measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the country, closing wedding halls, restaurants, sports complexes and public baths.
INDONESIA
The Covid-19 outbreak has claimed 25 lives in Indonesia, with 82 new cases reported across the country, said the government's spokesperson for all coronavirus-related matters Achmad Yurianto.
The total cases have increased to 309 and 15 people have recovered from the disease.
INDIA
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in India rose to 169, India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.
Of these, 144 cases are Indian nationals, 25 are foreign nationals, and the number includes three who have died because of the COVID-19 in the country.
THE PHILIPPINES
Fifteen more people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the Philippines, bringing the total number in the country to 217.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the number of deaths remained at 17, adding eight patients have so far recovered.
The Philippine central bank decided to cut the interest rate by 50 basis points to 3.25 percent, effective on Friday, in an effort to buttress the Philippine economy amid the pandemic.
VIETNAM
Vietnam has made more facilities ready to be used as quarantine centres for 20,000 more people, daily newspaper Vietnam News reported Thursday.
The country's military has established 140 isolation areas nationwide with a capacity of accommodating more than 44,700 people, the news agency quoted brigadier Nguyen Xuan Kien, head of Army Medical Department under Ministry of Defence as saying, adding that the army is working to receive up to 20,000 more people in case of emergency.
LAOS
The Laos government has suspended the issuance of visas for foreign tourists for 30 days and suspended all levels of education to prevent the outbreak, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said.
All types of visas-on-arrival and electronic visas (E-visas) are suspended, the premier said as he concluded the first day of the monthly cabinet meeting for March.
SRI LANKA
The number of confirmed cases of the Covid-19 in Sri Lanka has risen to 51 after eight more patients were detected with the virus on Wednesday, the Health Ministry said.
All those confirmed with the virus are receiving treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) on the outskirts of Colombo, while another hospital is being equipped in Welikanda in the north-central province in case more cases may be found in the coming days.
CAMBODIA
Cambodia decided to shutter its borders with Vietnam in a bid to curb the spread of the Covid19, as the confirmed cases in the kingdom have increased to 37.
"In the spirit of friendship and mutual understanding with regard to the prevention of the spread of the virus, Cambodia wishes to request Vietnamese authorities to inform Vietnamese nationals not to travel to Cambodia by land, waterway and air," said a Cambodian foreign ministry's letter.
Cambodia's Ministry of Health late on Wednesday confirmed 37 total cases of Covid-19, up from 35 cases earlier in the day.
MYANMAR
Myanmar's Foreign Affairs Ministry announced a temporary suspension of entry of foreign nationals through border checkpoints from Thursday to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The country will help the most vulnerable businesses in the garment manufacturing sector, hotels and tourism as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), according to a statement of the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry late Wednesday. - Xinhua/Asian News Network
AUSTRALIA
Australia's cases of Covid-19 have increased by 111 cases in a single day, bringing the total number to 565 on Thursday morning.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has decided to close the nation's borders for all visitors as the virus is spreading globally.
Travellers who are not residents or citizens of Australia will be banned from entering the country from 9 p.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) on Friday, Morrison told a press conference.
Australia's central bank has cut the country's official interest rate to a record low of 0.25 percent on Thursday, in response to the extensive economic impacts of Covid-19.
The country's national carrier Qantas has halted all international flights and temporarily stood down two-thirds of its workforce, in an effort to endure mass travel disruptions caused by the outbreak.
NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the country's borders will be closed to any visitors except citizens and residents from 11:59 p.m. Thursday due to Covid-19 concerns.
The total number of Covid-19 cases climbed to 28 on Thursday in New Zealand.
SOUTH KOREA
South Korea reported 152 more cases of the Covid-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of midnight on Thursday local time, raising the total number of infections to 8,565.
The newly confirmed cases rose above 100 for the first time in five days, after growing in double digits from Sunday to Wednesday.
South Korea decided to offer 50 trillion won (US$39bil) worth of emergency financial aid package for small businesses amid rising worry about the economic fallout from the Covid-19 outbreak.
South Korean stocks and currency hit the lowest close in over 10 years as fears mounted over the COVID-19 outbreak across the world.
In the morning, its stocks triggered trading halt after plunging over 8 percent and the central bank said it will buy 1.5 trillion won (1.2 billion U.S. dollars) worth of government bonds to help stabilize the local bond market.
JAPAN
Japan's health ministry and local governments said the number of Covid-19 infections nationwide had risen to 936 cases as of 6.30pm local time Thursday.
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) bought 1.3 trillion yen (US$11.91bil) worth of government bonds in an emergency market operation aimed at curbing the rise of long-term yields amid the recent volatility.
FIJI
Fiji reported its first confirmed case of Covid-19 on Thursday.
In a televised speech, Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said that the patient from Fiji's second-largest city of Lautoka is in stable condition and is being monitored by health officials.
He said that the person contracted the disease overseas and the health teams were working on getting in contact with people who could have been potentially exposed to the virus.
SINGAPORE
Singapore reported 47 new cases by Wednesday noon, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 313.
Of the record high of 47, 33 were imported ones, 30 of whom were Singapore residents returning from abroad.
The Singapore government also announced that local residents and short-term visitors must observe a 14-day self-isolation period on entering Singapore starting from 11.59 p.m. March 20.
Singapore shares closed 4.73% lower on Thursday, as rising worries about a global recession kept investors on edge.
AFGHANISTAN
The Afghan government has further toughened measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the country, closing wedding halls, restaurants, sports complexes and public baths.
INDONESIA
The Covid-19 outbreak has claimed 25 lives in Indonesia, with 82 new cases reported across the country, said the government's spokesperson for all coronavirus-related matters Achmad Yurianto.
The total cases have increased to 309 and 15 people have recovered from the disease.
INDIA
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in India rose to 169, India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.
Of these, 144 cases are Indian nationals, 25 are foreign nationals, and the number includes three who have died because of the COVID-19 in the country.
THE PHILIPPINES
Fifteen more people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the Philippines, bringing the total number in the country to 217.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the number of deaths remained at 17, adding eight patients have so far recovered.
The Philippine central bank decided to cut the interest rate by 50 basis points to 3.25 percent, effective on Friday, in an effort to buttress the Philippine economy amid the pandemic.
VIETNAM
Vietnam has made more facilities ready to be used as quarantine centres for 20,000 more people, daily newspaper Vietnam News reported Thursday.
The country's military has established 140 isolation areas nationwide with a capacity of accommodating more than 44,700 people, the news agency quoted brigadier Nguyen Xuan Kien, head of Army Medical Department under Ministry of Defence as saying, adding that the army is working to receive up to 20,000 more people in case of emergency.
LAOS
The Laos government has suspended the issuance of visas for foreign tourists for 30 days and suspended all levels of education to prevent the outbreak, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said.
All types of visas-on-arrival and electronic visas (E-visas) are suspended, the premier said as he concluded the first day of the monthly cabinet meeting for March.
SRI LANKA
The number of confirmed cases of the Covid-19 in Sri Lanka has risen to 51 after eight more patients were detected with the virus on Wednesday, the Health Ministry said.
All those confirmed with the virus are receiving treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) on the outskirts of Colombo, while another hospital is being equipped in Welikanda in the north-central province in case more cases may be found in the coming days.
CAMBODIA
Cambodia decided to shutter its borders with Vietnam in a bid to curb the spread of the Covid19, as the confirmed cases in the kingdom have increased to 37.
"In the spirit of friendship and mutual understanding with regard to the prevention of the spread of the virus, Cambodia wishes to request Vietnamese authorities to inform Vietnamese nationals not to travel to Cambodia by land, waterway and air," said a Cambodian foreign ministry's letter.
Cambodia's Ministry of Health late on Wednesday confirmed 37 total cases of Covid-19, up from 35 cases earlier in the day.
MYANMAR
Myanmar's Foreign Affairs Ministry announced a temporary suspension of entry of foreign nationals through border checkpoints from Thursday to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The country will help the most vulnerable businesses in the garment manufacturing sector, hotels and tourism as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), according to a statement of the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry late Wednesday. - Xinhua/Asian News Network
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