A cricket fan turns up at the Sydney Cricket Ground in a gas mask after Cricket Australia banned spectators from venues for the three-match series between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney on March 13, 2020. (SAEED KHAN / AFP)

MELBOURNE/SEOUL/CAIRO - New Zealand introduced one of the most severe measures by a nation to control the spread of the coronavirus, announcing that almost every individual who enters New Zealand, including citizens and residents, will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

People coming in from the Pacific Islands -- unless they show COVID-19 symptoms -- will be excluded from the restrictions that will be imposed from midnight Sunday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Saturday at a press conference in Auckland. Cruise ships will not be allowed into New Zealand until at least June 30.

Cruise ships will not be allowed into New Zealand until at least June 30

The decisions come after a coronavirus Cabinet committee meeting on Saturday. 

The government is also encouraging New Zealanders to avoid all non-essential travel overseas to help reduce the risk of bringing the virus back with them.

“It is not realistic for New Zealand to have only a handful of cases,” Ardern said. “The international evidence proves that is not realistic, and so we must plan and prepare for more cases. That’s why we must go hard, and go early, and do everything we can to protect New Zealanders’ health.”

In this March 13, 2020 photo, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern addresses a press conference in Christchurch, New Zealand. (MARK BAKER/AP)

New Zealand has instructed officials to step up enforcement of self isolation through measures such as spot checks, Ardern said. It is already registering all travelers into the country, and Healthline is monitoring the self-isolation process.

Australia steps up lockdown 

Australia’s prime minister canceled plans to go to a rugby game on Saturday after Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton was diagnosed with COVID-19, while the nation’s treasurer called a second crisis meeting over the rapidly growing economic threat from the coronavirus.

The Australian Formula One Grand Prix, scheduled for this weekend, was canceled. A concert by UK pop start Robbie Williams that was to take place at the race track on Saturday was also called off, organizers World Tour said.

Australia has 197 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including three deaths.

Abe avoids calling emergency, pledges economic steps

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said there is no need to declare a state of emergency over the coronavirus at this point, while pledging to support an economy reeling from the spread of the disease.

Abe told reporters on Saturday that the infection rate in the country remains lower than other major nations, while warning Japan cannot let down its guard over the virus.

Abe said he will work with the Bank of Japan and introduce further economic measures as needed

“Preventing the spread of the infection is the top priority at the moment, but after that we will return the economy to a sure path of growth,” Abe said.

Abe said he will work with the Bank of Japan and introduce further economic measures as needed. His government has unveiled two sets of emergency measures to help companies and people affected by the outbreak.

Japan is set to increase virus-testing capacity to about 8,000 a day by the end of the month from the current 6,000. The aim is to prevent an explosive increase in infections and avoid overburdening the healthcare system, he said.

Apart from the some 700 people infected from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama, Japan has had more than 700 confirmed infections and 21 deaths. Abe said about 40% of those infected have left hospitals.

Iran toll rises by nearly 100 to 611 

The death toll from coronavirus infections in Iran rose on Saturday to 611, state TV said, citing a health ministry official who put the total number of those diagnosed with the disease at 12,729.

Iran, one of the countries most affected by the pandemic, reported on Friday a death toll of 514 and a total of 11,364 infections.

READ MORE: Iran asks IMF for funding of US$5b, Manila in 'lockdown'

South Korea reports 107 new coronavirus cases, total 8,086

South Korea reported more recoveries from the coronavirus than new infections on Saturday for a second day.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) recorded 107 new coronavirus cases on Saturday compared with 110 a day earlier, taking the national tally to 8,086. 

In contrast, 204 patients were released from hospitals where they had been isolated for treatment.

Men sit in an empty cricket spectators enclosure before the start of a T20 cricket match at the National Cricket Stadium in Karachi on March 13, 2020. (PHOTO / AFP)

Thailand reports seven new coronavirus cases, bringing total to 82

Thailand reported seven new coronavirus cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of cases in the Southeast Asian country to 82, health officials said.

One person has died so far.

Malaysia reports 41 new cases

Malaysia reported 41 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, all linked to a religious event on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur that was attended by about 10,000 people from several countries.

The new cases bring the total number of infected people in the Southeast Asian country to 238, the health ministry said in a statement.

A total of 81 cases in Malaysia have now been confirmed as linked to the same event held at a mosque between Feb 27 and March 1.

Vietnam to refuse visitors from UK, Schengen countries

Vietnam will deny entry and stop issuing tourist visas to citizens from Europe’s Schengen visa-free area and Britain starting from Sunday

Vietnam will deny entry and stop issuing tourist visas to citizens from Europe’s Schengen visa-free area and Britain starting from Sunday, amid concerns over the spreading coronavirus, its foreign ministry said.

The restriction will start from midday March 15 following a proposal from the country’s prime minister, the ministry said in a statement on its website. Visas on arrival for all foreign nationals are also temporarily halted, it added.

Vietnam has 53 confirmed cases of the disease caused by the virus and 94 suspected cases under quarantine. There are 16 cases of patients who have recovered.

Maldives confirms 9th COVID-19 case

Maldives Health Protection Agency (HPA) has confirmed the island country's ninth COVID-19 infection in a foreign citizen at the Anantara Dhigu Resort on South Male Atoll.

Second COVID-19 death reported in India

A 68-year-old woman died Friday evening of coronavirus in Indian capital city Delhi, the Indian health ministry said.

The second coronavirus death comes at a day when the number of cases in India rose to 83. 

Pakistan closes all border crossings with Iran and Afghanistan 

Interior Ministry has announced to completely close the country's western border crossings with Iran and Afghanistan for an initial period of 14 days starting from March 16, adding that all public and private educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and universities, would remain closed until April 5 with immediate effect.

All kinds of public gatherings, including sports and cultural festivals, recreational gatherings at cinemas and theaters, marriage ceremonies at halls or open places, meetings with prisoners, conferences, political and social rallies, are also banned. 

The country has 28 coronavirus infections. 

Indonesian capital closes schools for two weeks

Indonesia’s capital city will close all schools and ordered remote teaching for at least two weeks starting next week to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan told a broadcasted news conference on Saturday.

Twenty-seven new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Indonesia, bringing the total in the country to 96, the government said on Saturday.

The death toll stands at five. 

Saudi Arabia suspends international flights for two weeks 

Saudi Arabia has suspended all international flights for two weeks, starting Sunday, to prevent the spread of coronavirus, state news agency SPA said on Saturday, citing an official source at interior ministry.

Saudi Arabia has reported 86 coronavirus cases.

Iran to shut top holy Shi'ite shrine

Iran’s Imam Reza shrine, a magnet attracting millions of Muslim pilgrims in the holy city of Mashhad every year, will be closed during the country’s New Year Holidays from March 20 over coronavirus concerns, state TV reported.

COVID-19 cases rises to 10 in Afghanistan, 3 new cases recorded

Seven out of the 10 positive cases were imported as the patients were returned from Iran, however, it was not immediately known whether the three new cases were imported or locally infected.

Cambodia bans visitors from 5 countries 

 "The Ministry of Health decided to temporarily ban foreigners from Italy, Germany, Spain, France and the United States from entering Cambodia for 30 days with effect from March 17," Health Minister Mam Bunheng said in a statement.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases reach 154 in Israel

Another 11 Israelis were tested positive with COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Israel to 154, according to the Israeli Ministry of Health.

Lebanon to shut land borders with Syria

Lebanon informed Syrian authorities that it will shut down land borders with Syria starting on Monday as a measure to restrict spread of COVID-19, Asharq al-Awsat local newspaper reported Saturday.

The newspaper quoted political sources as saying that Lebanon has given two days for the Lebanese outside the country to return to homeland through the land borders.

Yemen's Houthis ends school year 

Yemen's Houthi militia authorities decided to end school year ahead of schedule in cities under its control over concerns about COVID-19, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported Saturday. 

The second semester in all schools across the country's north, largely under Houthis control, was ordered to end on March 25, a month ahead of the scheduled time, it said.