Men wearing protective gear carry the body of Fatemeh Rahbar, a lawmaker-elect from a Tehran constituency, who died on Saturday after being infected with the new coronavirus, at Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery, just outside Tehran, Iran, March 8, 2020. (MEHDI KHANLARI / FARS NEWS AGENCY VIA AP)
SEOUL / MANILA / TOKYO / NEW DELHI / DUBAI / DHAKA / JERUSALEM / BAGHDAD / SLAMABAD / SYDNEY / HANOI / JAKARTA / DUBAI — Iran has had 237 deaths from coronavirus and 7,161 infections, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said on state TV on Monday.
The figures included 595 new infections and 43 new deaths within the past 24 hours. Iran has had one of the highest death rates from the illness outside of China, where the virus originated.
Iran has temporarily freed about 70,000 prisoners to combat the spread of the coronavirus in jails, the head of the judiciary said
Iran has temporarily freed about 70,000 prisoners to combat the spread of the coronavirus in jails, the head of the judiciary said on Monday.
Judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi said the release of prisoners would continue “to the point where it doesn’t create insecurity in society”, according to the Mizan news site of the judiciary.
He did not give further details or specify when those released would have to return to jail.
Officials have expressed concern about the possibility of infections spreading during Nowruz, the beginning of the Iranian new year on March 20 which is usually a period where families travel to vacation spots around the country.
The health ministry has told Iranians to stay home and imposed restrictions on travel between provinces.
Despite the warnings, however, authorities have said there has been heavy traffic in recent days on roads headed north to the Caspian Sea, a traditional Nowruz vacation spot.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in, center, speaks during a government meeting on the COVID-19 epidemic at the government complex in Seoul on Feb 23, 2020. (YONHAP / AFP)
South Korea
South Korean President Moon Jae-in expressed guarded hope for the country’s fight against the coronavirus on Monday, saying a downward trend in new infections could lead to a phase of stability, but he warned that it was too early to be optimistic.
The numbers showed the rate of increase in new infections in South Korea fell to its lowest level in 11 days
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 165 new coronavirus cases, bringing the national tally to 7,478, while the death toll rose by one to 51.
The numbers showed the rate of increase in new infections fell to its lowest level in 11 days.
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun also said at a separate meeting that he was still extremely cautious but “there’s hope we can reach a turning point in the near future”.
The Philippines
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared on Monday a state public health emergency after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the local COVID-19 transmission in the country.
There are now 10 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, including one death. Already, the DOH confirmed the local transmission of the deadly virus in the Philippines.
On Saturday, the DOH raised the COVID-19 alert system to code red sublevel 1 and recommended that Duterte declare a state of public health emergency.
Duterte said the COVID-19 outbreak "constitutes an emergency that threatens national security," adding it requires "a whole-of-governnent response".
The Presidential Security Group (PSG) said on Monday that it will implement a "no-touch" policy on President Duterte to ensure his safety amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines.
PSG Commander Colonel Jesus Durante said people expected to get near Duterte especially during meetings and events will be thoroughly screened and tested for any illness related to COVID-19, including PSG personnel, politicians, and dignitaries.
Passengers, some wearing protective masks, wait for their flights at the Manila's international airport Philippines on Feb 3, 2020. (AARON FAVILA / AP)
Japan
Japan is set this week to revise a law allowing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to declare a formal state of emergency over the coronavirus, if needed, as Abe faces persistent criticism for his handling of the outbreak ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games.
In perhaps his biggest test since returning to office in 2012, Japan’s longest-serving premier has come under fire for what critics have called an initial lack of leadership, followed by abrupt steps like school closures that left parents and employers scrambling.
Japan more than 1,000 cases of the virus including about 700 from a cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo last month. Fourteen people have died, including seven from the liner. The virus has spread rapidly around the world, with more than 100,000 confirmed cases and 3,600 deaths.
In a recent opinion poll, 50 percent said they didn’t approve of Abe’s handling of the outbreak, versus 37 percent who said they did.
In its latest move, the government plans on Tuesday to submit to parliament a bill to revise a 2012 law, enacted after the 2009 epidemic, so it can be applied to the coronavirus if necessary. Parliament is expected to sign off on Friday.
The 2012 law was enacted while Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party was in opposition. Officials have said it could not be applied to the coronavirus without changes, although opposition parties and other critics say reinterpreting it is enough.
The law would let the prime minister declare an official state of emergency if the disease poses a “grave danger” to lives and if its rapid spread could have a huge impact on the economy. The impact of the virus outbreak is already increasing Japan’s risk of recession.
Governors in hard-hit regions could then ask residents to stay inside, close public facilities, expropriate land and buildings for medical facilities and request or order emergency transport of goods. The state of emergency could last up to two years with a possible one year-extension.
All contacts of the case being tested and quarantined
Rohit Kansal, Government spokesman
India
India's federal health ministry on Monday said the total number of novel coronavirus cases in the country has risen to 43.
According to the ministry officials, the increase in cases was recorded after the detection of new positive cases.
Local governments in various states have ordered the closure of primary schools until March 31 as a precautionary measure in the wake of the spike in COVID-19 cases.
Health officials said the screening of all the passengers at airports was going on in full swing.
The federal health ministry has launched a helpline number to provide support to people regarding queries on COVID-19. The ministry is also circulating the precautionary measures recommended by the World Health Organization for prevention of the virus in India.
Indonesia
Indonesia said on Monday that the number of confirmed cases of people infected with the coronavirus had risen by 13, including 11 Indonesians and two foreigners, taking the total number of cases to 19 in the Southeast Asian country.
Achmad Yurianto, a health ministry official, told reporters the ages of the newly confirmed cases ranged from 16 to 59 and some had interaction with the country’s first two patients announced a week ago.
Mohammed Alabed Alali, Saudi Arabia's health minstry spokesman, addresses reporters during a press briefing about COVID-19 coronavirus disease, in the capital Riyadh on March 8, 2020 (FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP)
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia imposed on Sunday a temporary lockdown on its eastern oil-producing province of Qatif, home to most of its 15 coronavirus infections, and suspended schools and universities nationwide.
Four new cases, including an American arrival who visited Italy and the Philippines, took the tally to 15 on Monday, as the kingdom suspended travel with nine nations, from neighboring United Arab Emirates to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Egypt.
The interior ministry announced the lockdown in Qatif, which has a large Shi’ite Muslim population, after Saudi Arabia confirmed the four latest cases. It is not expected to have any impact on Saudi oil production, two industry sources said.
Work at all public and private institutions is halted as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the disease
Ministry of Interior
Saudi Arabia
“Work at all public and private institutions is halted as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the disease,” the interior ministry said in a statement, adding that only vital services such as security and provisioning would be excluded.
The ministry said the Qatif curbs on movement would allow residents to return home and commercial supplies to continue.
Cement blocks were placed on the main road to Qatif, said one resident of the province, while others reported a rush to grocery shops after the lockdown began.
The entertainment authority announced on Monday the closure of leisure attractions Riyadh Boulevard and Winter Wonderland, over virus concerns.
Sunday’s precautions included suspending all educational and Koranic activities in mosques in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam.
All public and private schools and universities would also be suspended from Monday until further notice, state media said, adding that distance learning measures would be adopted.
Saudi Arabia, which suspended travel with nine countries on Monday, had already banned travel to Iran.
On Sunday, the Saudi government restricted land crossings with Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE to commercial trucks with passenger arrivals limited to three airports.
Qatar, with 15 cases, is to temporarily bar travelers from 14 countries from Monday.
Bahrain, with 85 infections, said its Formula One Grand Prix would go ahead this month without spectators.
Kuwait reported two more infections on Sunday, taking its total to 64, and its central bank announced a fund of 10 million dinars (US$33 million) for the virus fight.
ALSO READ: S. Korea urges cooperation as epidemic rages across region
Three people confirmed to have the virus are in isolation currently in a hospital in Dhaka
Meerjady Sabrina Flora, Head of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh's Health Ministry announced the first three confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday.
Professor Meerjady Sabrina Flora, head of the country's Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) under the Health Ministry, told Xinhua that "Two men and a woman of the same family were tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday."
She said two of the victims are Bangladeshi returnees from Italy while another one is their family member in Dhaka.
"Three people confirmed to have the virus are in isolation currently in a hospital in Dhaka," said the IEDCR chief.
She, however, said they are all considered to be in stable condition.
Apart from them, Flora said three more people who are waiting for results this week have been quarantined in the country.
Israel
Israel's Ministry of Health announced on Sunday that 14 more Israelis were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of COVID-19 patients in Israel to 39.
The patients diagnosed with the virus include residents who came back from Spain, Austria, Belgium and Italy.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the creation of an assistance fund of 4 billion new shekels (about US$1.15 billion) for the companies affected by COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Israeli researchers, in collaboration with a Swedish pharmaceutical company that manufactures vaccines, are developing a vaccine to deal with the novel coronavirus, the Bar Ilan University (BIU) said Sunday.
The BIU scientists are developing a system of harmless viruses containing various components such as the coronavirus envelope protein to test their response to substances and the efficacy of vaccines against the virus, the university said in a statement.
Iraq
Iraqi Health Ministry on Sunday announced two more deaths and six new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of the confirmed cases to 60 in the country, of whom up to six have died.
The Iraqi authorities have been taking a series of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 after cases were confirmed in the country.
READ MORE: Iran has 1,000-plus infections in 1 day, Bhutan bans foreign tourists
Pakistan
Pakistan on Sunday reported the seventh confirmed case of COVID-19 with the new patient tested positive in capital city Karachi of the country's south Sindh province, an official with health department said.
Currently, the total number of the COVID-19 patients in the country is six, with one patient discharged from a hospital in Karachi after recovering and testing negative of the virus. Three of the disease-infected patients are currently being treated in Karachi while the other three are in isolation wards in Islamabad.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Zafar Mirza said in an earlier press briefing that all the patients are recovering quickly, and their clinical condition is stable.
The country has taken serious measures to stop the spread of the disease in the country, including strict screening at airports and closing of schools for more than two weeks in Sindh.
Australia
Two Sydney high schools closed on Monday after three students tested positive for COVID-19 as health authorities ramped up preparations for a larger outbreak with the number of infections in Australia exceeding 80.
The Australian government has confirmed a coronavirus stimulus package to support businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Monday confirmed.
The "substantial" package, which could be worth up to 10 billion Australian dollars (US$6.4 billion), is expected to be announced within a week.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has exacerbated the damage done to the Australian economy by the bushfire crisis.
Vietnam
Vietnam on Monday decided to temporarily suspend visa-free travel for citizens from eight European countries amid growing concern over the coronavirus epidemic, according to the government.
The temporary suspension applied to citizens of Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Spain, the government said in a news release on its website.
The move comes after the Southeast Asian country recorded an additional 14 cases over the weekend, of whom 11 were in patients who had traveled from Europe.
The government said it would consider the same measure to countries that have had more than 500 total infection cases or more than 50 cases reported in a day.
In all Vietnam has 30 confirmed cases of the disease caused by the virus, 100 suspected cases under quarantine and 16 cases of patients who have recovered, its health ministry said.
The country earlier halted visa-free travel for Italian and South Korean over the virus concern.
