Pedestrians with protective masks are reflected in the mirror at a shop on April 8, 2020, in Tokyo. (PHOTO / AP)

SYDNEY / BENGHAZI / COLOMBO / ISLAMABAD / BANGKOK / NEW DELHI / JAKARTA / WELLINGTON  / HANOI — Tokyo recorded 144 coronavirus infections on Wednesday, its biggest daily jump since the start of the pandemic, the city’s governor Yuriko Koike said, on the first day of a state of emergency aimed at containing the outbreak.

Total infections in the Japanese capital stand at 1,339, said Koike, a rise that helped carry the nationwide tally to 4,768, according to an evening report by public broadcaster NHK.

Deaths in Japan as of Wednesday morning stood at 98, said the NHK.

Japan will next week pledge to contribute to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) trust offering debt relief to low-income countries hit hard by the coronavirus, a finance ministry official told Reuters on Wednesday.

Japan's Finance Minister Taro Aso will deliver the pledge, along with other contributions, at one of the meetings of the IMF and finance leaders of the Group of 20 major economies next week, said the source, who had direct knowledge of the matter but spoke on condition of anonymity.

READ MORE: Japan declares emergency, approves near US$1-t stimulus

Australia

Australia’s parliament passed a record A$130 billion (US$80 billion) jobs-rescue plan on Wednesday, as the government continues efforts to buttress the economy from the coronavirus outbreak.

“It’s unprecedented in its scale and its scope, and around six million workers should be able to use this program to stay in a job,” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said in a television interview. The package “will help build that bridge to the recovery on the other side.”

Total fiscal and monetary stimulus has now exceeded A$320 billion, or 16.4% of gross domestic product.

Australia's Finance Minister Mathias Cormann warned on Wednesday that the nation's medical stockpile has been "somewhat exposed" to international shortages amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Some of the personal protective equipment, when there is global competition and strong global demand for access to these products, then obviously we were somewhat exposed," said Cormann .

Some of the personal protective equipment, when there is global competition and strong global demand for access to these products, then obviously we were somewhat exposed

Mathias Cormann, Australia's Finance Minister

Addressing Parliament before debate on the legislation began, Prime Minister Scott Morrison praised Australians for successfully slowing the rate of COVID-19 infection but said that the nation still has a long way to go in fighting the virus.

Australia’s coveted ‘AAA’ rating came under a cloud under the shadow of the virus.  “The COVID-19 outbreak has dealt Australia a severe economic and fiscal shock,” S&P said as it lowered the outlook on the country’s ‘AAA’ sovereign rating to “negative” from “stable”.

Parliament was sit with fewer than normal lawmakers amid efforts to stop the virus from spreading, with some MPs given special permission to cross state boundaries to pass the legislation, the ABC reported.

The total number of cases across Australia is creeping toward 6,000 with 50 deaths, although the pace of infections has slowed.

This picture taken on April 5, 2020 shows people wearing face masks in Singapore. (ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP)

India

India is considering plans to seal off coronavirus hotspots in Delhi, Mumbai and parts of the south while easing curbs elsewhere as a way out of a three-week lockdown that has caused deep economic distress, officials said on Wednesday.

The sweeping lockdown of India’s 1.3 billion people to prevent an epidemic of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, ends on April 14 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to take a decision this week on whether to extend it.

Scenes of poor migrant workers and their families walking long distances on empty highways to their homes in the countryside have increased the pressure on Modi to re-open parts of Asia’s third largest economy.

More than 80 percent of the positive cases of the coronavirus have been traced to 62 districts — less than 10 percent of India’s landmass — according to government data.

These are concentrated in the western state of Maharashtra, home to financial capital Mumbai, Delhi and the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala.

Many parts of the country have not reported a single case.

India's federal health ministry Wednesday said the death toll due to COVID-19 in India rose to 149 and the total number of confirmed cases in the country reached 5,194.

Singapore 

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called for close cooperation among all countries to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in a video message posted on Facebook on Wednesday.

"This is the only way humanity can bring this pandemic under control," he said.

The prime minister said the battle against COVID-19 is far from won, but it can be won if all countries fight together.

Singapore is adopting new laws that ban both public and private gatherings of any size as the city-state ramps up social distancing measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Laws debated in parliament on Tuesday criminalize gatherings among friends or family members who are not living together -- and apply to private quarters or public spaces such as parks, according to a copy of a speech by health minister Gan Kim Yong.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed 106 cases of COVID-19 infection in Singapore.

ALSO READ: Japan declares emergency, approves near US$1-t stimulus

Iran

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday the International Monetary Fund would be guilty of “discriminatory behaviour” unless it provides US$5 billion in emergency funding to help Tehran fight the coronavirus outbreak.

The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed nearly 4,000 lives out of the over 60,000 infected cases in Iran, while more states in the Middle East started to require wearing face masks to curb the spread of the pandemic.

The death toll of the virus in Iran rose by 133 to 3,872 on Tuesday, Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education said, adding the confirmed cases went up by 2,089 to 62,589.

Also, the number of recovered cases hit 27,039, while 3,987 others are in critical condition.

Iran announced that it will mass-produce homemade equipment developed to deal with the COVID-19, including diagnostic kits, anti-coronavirus masks and light ventilators.

South Korea

South Korea’s government said on Wednesday it will increase restrictions on people traveling from overseas to prevent new coronavirus infections, and announced new stimulus measures for exporters hit by the outbreak.

South Korea will temporarily suspend visa waivers for citizens of countries that have imposed travel bans on South Koreans, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said.

The change will affect travelers from at least 88 countries, including Australia, Canada, Russia, and France, among others.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday that his government will add about 56 trillion won (US$46 billion) for additional economic stimulus package to help prevail over the economic fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak across the world.

"The global economy is falling into an extreme downturn. Our economy with high dependence on foreign trade is suffering a tsunami-like shock. (We) are in a dark tunnel with no end in sight," Moon said during the fourth weekly meeting of the emergency economic council, according to the presidential Blue House.

Moon said the stimulus package was aimed to reinvigorate export, bolster domestic demand and support start-ups and venture companies.

South Korea reported 53 more cases of the COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of midnight Wednesday local time, raising the total number of infections to 10,384.

The newly confirmed cases stayed around 50 for the third consecutive day, after recording 47 both on Monday and Tuesday. Of the total new cases, 14 were imported ones.

Eight more deaths were confirmed, lifting the death toll to 200. The total fatality rate came in at 1.93 percent.

A total of 82 more patients were discharged from quarantine after making full recovery, pulling up the combined number to 6,776.

People wearing facemasks wait outside a municipal health centre to get tested for the coronavirus during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the spread of the virus in Mumbai on April 7, 2020. (PHOTO / AFP)

Turkey

In Turkey, its health minister on Tuesday reported 3,892 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number in the country to 34,109.

The deaths from the virus have reached 725 after 76 new ones were registered, and 1,582 patients have recovered, while 1,424 others are still being treated at the intensive care units.

The foreign ministers of Iran and Turkey, the two worst-hit countries by COVID-19 in the Middle East, discussed the means to contain the virus' spread, IRNA news agency reported.

Both sides extended sympathy over the fatalities and vowed readiness for cooperation to tackle the crisis.

Israel

The Israeli health ministry announced on Tuesday that all those aged above six in Israel will be required to wear face masks outside homes starting from next Sunday morning.

This obligation does not apply to those who drive alone in their cars or have a significant difficulty in using the mask because of disability.

Also, two employees who regularly work in the same room will not be required to wear masks if they keep at least two meters from each other.

Israel so far registered 9,248 COVID-19 cases, of whom 65 have died.

The United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday announced 300 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 2,659.

The spokesperson for the UAE health sector Farida Al Hosani said in a press briefing that the new cases include different nationalities. All are in stable condition and receiving medical treatment.

A total of 53 more patients made full recovery from the virus, taking the tally of the recoveries to 239, according to Al Hosani.

Iraq

In Baghdad, the Iraqi Health Ministry on Tuesday confirmed one more death from COVID-19 and 91 new cases, bringing the total number of infections to 1,122 and death toll to 65.

Kuwait

Kuwait's health ministry reported on Tuesday 78 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number in the country to 743.

So far, 637 patients are still receiving treatment, including 23 in ICU. The number of the cured in the country now reached 105.

Lebanon

Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased on Wednesday by 27 to 575 while the death toll remained unchanged at 19, the National News Agency reported.

The total infected people include those who arrived a day earlier from Madrid and Paris in addition to one coming from Britain on a private jet.

Oman

Oman's Ministry of Health said in a statement on Tuesday that it recorded 40 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of the infections in the country to 371.

Jordan

Jordan's health minister said on Tuesday four cases of the novel coronavirus were detected in the capital Amman, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 353, and the overall number of recoveries went up to 138.

Palestine

In Palestine, the infections with the virus have risen to 263 cases, including one death and 42 recoveries.

Palestine on Tuesday said that it will begin implementing precautionary measures to prevent the contamination of wastewater with COVID-19.

If wastewater is contaminated, it may reach citizens, the Palestinian Water Authority said in a press statement.

Saudi Arabia

The situation in Saudi Arabia also seems getting worse. Its official data showed the total number of COVID-19 cases in the kingdom reached 2,795 on Tuesday, including 615 recoveries and 41 deaths.

The Saudi Health Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said in a statement that studies estimated that the number of COVID-19 infections in the kingdom in the next few weeks will be between 10,000 and up to 200,000.

"Lack of commitment will lead to an enormous increase in the number of infections," the minister warned.

The Saudi government has allocated 15 billion Saudi riyals (about US$3.99 billion) as financial support to confront the virus' impact.

Moreover, the Saudi G20 Presidency announced on Tuesday a G20 energy ministers' virtual meeting will be held on April 10 to discuss how to stabilize energy markets, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

This meeting comes at a time as the Saudi G20 Presidency focuses on mitigating the effects of the virus' spread on people's health and global economy.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday urged political parties and the public to cooperate with the government's efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement, Rajapaksa said that after the first patient was detected, the government made all efforts to protect children and all citizens and Sri Lanka emerged as one of the first Asian nations to set up a Special Presidential Task Force on Essential Services which ensured that people had access to food and other essential services.

The number of positive COVID-19 patients in Sri Lanka rose to 185 on Tuesday after new patients were detected within the day, the Health Ministry said in its latest statement.

According to the Health Ministry, a majority of those infected were receiving treatment at the National Infectious Disease Hospital and out of the total detected so far, 32 people have recovered and been discharged. Another 142 people are under observation in the designated hospitals across the country.

Sri Lanka remains under a countrywide curfew since March 20 as people have been banned from leaving homes to prevent the spread of the virus.

China has stepped up its efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and medical aid to Sri Lanka as the two countries battle the COVID-19 pandemic in recent weeks, strengthening the solidarity between the two countries, officials said.

A tourist wearing a face mask walks with others as she enters the foyer of Parliament House in Canberra on March 22, 2020. (DAVID GRAY / AFP)

Pakistan

Police in Pakistan's southern Sindh province have arrested around 4,100 people for violating regulations during the lockdown period that entered its 16th day in the province on Tuesday, police said.

According to the data released by the health ministry of the country on Tuesday, 986 people have been tested positive of the virus in Sindh, out of which 18 lost lives while 253 were declared virus-free in their lab reports.  

Pakistan's total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 3,864 including 54 deaths, according to the data updated by the country's health ministry on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Singapore says it was 'correct' not to close schools earlier

Thailand

Thailand's eastern seaside tourist city Pattaya is imposing a temporary lockdown to keep out all visitors in sustained effort to stem the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several road checkpoints have been set up to screen people entering the city areas around the clock.  

Thailand on Wednesday reported 111 new coronavirus cases and 3 more deaths.

Since the pandemic escalated in January, Thailand has reported a total of 2,369 cases and 30 fatalities, while 888 patients have recovered and gone home.

The Thai cabinet on Tuesday decided to re-open schools from July 1 instead of May 16, to avoid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Indonesia

Indonesia has raised US$4.3 billion from the issuance of dollar-dominated bonds, including the longest maturation bonds ever issued in Asia, to finance efforts to contain the rapid COVID-19 spread in the country, a minister said on Tuesday.

Minister Indrawati said the cash raised will be used to help finance COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts and boost the foreign exchange reserves of the central bank, Bank Indonesia, which has been aggressively conducting intervention in the financial market as the economic fallout from the pandemic has pushed investors to hold the greenback in cash as safe haven.

The number of new COVID-19 cases reported by the Health Ministry rises with record high in the country almost every day, suggesting that the virus is still spreading rapidly.

At a press conference, the government's spokesperson for the COVID-19 Achmad Yurianto said that the number of confirmed cases jumped to 2,956 and as many as 222 patients have recovered from the disease.

New Zealand

New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said on Wednesday she was cautiously optimistic about slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus as authorities reported the lowest number of new daily cases in two weeks.

New Zealand reported 26 new confirmed and 24 new probable cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total number of confirmed and probable infections to 1,210 in the country.

One person has died from COVID-19 so far, and 282 people had recovered, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield from the Ministry of Health said at a press conference.

There are 12 significant clusters across the country. Community transmission accounts for 2 percent of the cases, Bloomfield said.

The State of National Emergency to support the COVID-19 response will be extended a second time, for a further seven days.

Health Minister David Clark said a range of support is being rolled out across New Zealand to help people look after their mental health during COVID-19.

Vietnam

Vietnam's Ministry of Health on Wednesday morning confirmed two more COVID-19 cases, bringing the total in the country to 251.

Vietnam has 2,738 suspected cases with nearly 75,000 being monitored and quarantined as of Wednesday morning, while 122 patients have recovered with no deaths reported so far in the country, according to the health ministry.

Cambodia

Cambodia on Wednesday confirmed a local couple was tested positive for the COVID-19, bringing the total number of the confirmed cases in the kingdom to 117.

According to a Ministry of Health statement, the new patients are a 47-year-old husband and his 45-year-old wife, who live in Chrouy Changvar district in capital Phnom Penh.

According to the statement, to date, five more COVID-19 patients in Cambodia had recovered, raising the tally of patients cured in the kingdom to 63. 

Mongolia

The total number of COVID-19 cases has reached 16 in Mongolia after one more case was confirmed on Wednesday.

The latest case returned to Mongolia from Russia via Altanbulag border crossing in late March.

The Philippines

The Philippines’ health ministry said on Wednesday the coronavirus outbreak has killed five more people, with 106 additional infections.

In a bulletin, the health ministry said total deaths have risen to 182 while infections have increased to 3,870. Twelve patients recovered on Wednesday, bringing the total to 96, it added.

Malaysia 

Malaysia will hand out 24.62 million masks, four for each household, while advising people to only use them if they have symptoms, Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said in a statement Wednesday.

The global stance on wearing masks has started to shift over the past few weeks. Neighboring Indonesia ordered citizens to wear face masks when they leave the house, while Singapore changed its advice last week to say it will stop discouraging people from wearing face masks in public. The World Health Organization maintains medical masks should be reserved for healthcare workers.

Malaysia has imposed an increasingly restrictive lockdown until April 14 to contain the pandemic. The country reported a total of 4,119 people infected with the coronavirus and 65 dead as of Wednesday, according to the health ministry.

Myanmar 

Myanmar confirmed two more death cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the number of deaths to three in total, according to a release from the Health and Sports Ministry.

Myanmar has reported 22 cases of infectious COVID-19 as of early Wednesday.  

Kyrgyzstan 

Kyrgyzstan has reported 42 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 270, its health ministry said Wednesday.

Health Minister Sabirzhan Abdikarimov told a news briefing that 13 of the new cases are medical workers.

So far, a total of 32 doctors in the country have contracted the virus.

Laos

Laos reported on Wednesday one new COVID-19 case, bringing the total number in the country to 15, according to Lao health official.