Soldiers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) wearing face masks are seen at a checkpoint during the Metro Manila "community quarantine" in Valenzuela City, the Philippines on March 15, 2020. A curfew is imposed in Metro Manila, as part of the "community quarantine" from March 15 until April 14, in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19. (Photo: Xinhua)
* Malaysia on Saturday (March 15) announced 41 new cases of the COVID-19, bringing the total number in the country to 238. A total of 35 patients have been cured and discharged while five are being held in intensive care, Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a statement.
* The number of COVID-19 infections in Japan increased by 53 to reach a total of 773 on Sunday, according to data from Japan's health ministry and local governments. The death toll in Japan from the virus currently stands at 29, including seven from the cruise ship, according to the health ministry.
* The Philippines on Saturday reported an additional 13 COVID-19 cases in the country, bringing the total number of the confirmed cases to 111. The DOH reported on Saturday that the Philippines now has eight COVID-19 deaths. Most deaths have occurred in Metro Manila, home to nearly 13 million people.
* Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Saturday called on the public to unite and join the government to fight the COVID-19 outbreak, severe drought and the sagging economy.
* US President Donald Trump tested negative for the novel coronavirus, according to a memorandum released by the White House physician Sean Conley Saturday night. The United States reported 2,726 COVID-19 cases as of Saturday night with at least 54 deaths, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
* Russia has set up a coordination council to fight against the coronavirus, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced Saturday. So far, 59 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Russia.
* The number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in India on Sunday rose to 93, increasing from 84 on Saturday, India's federal health ministry officials said. India has reported two deaths pertaining to COVID-19.
* The Republic of Korea (ROK) for the first time reported a double-digit growth of 76 more cases of the COVID-19, compared to 24 hours ago as of midnight Sunday local time, raising the total number of infections to 8,162. Three more deaths were confirmed, lifting the death toll to 75. A total of 120 more patients were discharged from quarantine after making full recovery, pulling up the combined number to 834.
* The Cuban Tourism Ministry said Saturday that as the novel coronavirus rages worldwide, the country's tourism industry has seen a decrease of 12 percent so far in March, with major cancellations from Canadian and Italian tour operators.
* Chinese governments at all levels have allocated a combined CNY116.9 billion (US$16.7 billion) of funds for epidemic prevention and control as of Friday, a finance ministry official said Saturday.
* Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said on Sunday that all preventive options, including a lockdown, are on the table, as the COVID-19 cases have reached 249 in Australia.
* Bangladesh on Saturday announced to suspend flights from Europe, excluding Britain, as two more COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the country on Saturday night.
* The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Saturday that it has approved a US$3 million grant to support the Philippine government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the purchase of emergency medical supplies and the delivery of effective health care services.
* Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo said in Tokyo on Saturday that Tokyo will host the Olympics and Paralympics as scheduled. The Tokyo organizers have promised to hold the torch relay in Japan as planned. The flame will arrive in Japan on March 20 and the torch relay kicks off in Fukushima on March 26.
* Apple will close all its stores worldwide except those in China untill March 27 in response to the spread of coronavirus, said Apple CEO Tim Cook. "Apple will be temporarily closing all stores outside of Greater China until March 27 and committing $15M to help with worldwide recovery." Tim Cook tweeted on Saturday.
* Latin American has reported more than 200 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Friday, while governments announced cancellations of major events to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra announced Friday that the country has 10 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing its total to 38. Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed on Friday the first two cases in his country. Colombia's Ministry of Health and Social Protection has revealed four new cases in the country, bringing the national total to 13.
* Ecuador has 23 confirmed cases of the coronavirus as of Friday, said Vice President Otto Sonnenholzner, who is presiding over the Committee of Emergency Operations, a government body coordinating actions to halt the virus's spread. Ecuador has restricted flights from certain countries in Europe and Asia.
* Argentina reported Friday a second death caused by coronavirus infection in the country -- a 61-year-old man who entered Argentina in February after visiting Egypt, Turkey and Germany. As of Friday, Argentina's total number of cases was 31, including the two deaths.
* The Brazilian Health Ministry confirmed on March 13 that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country reached 98. Earlier in the day, President Jair Bolsonaro announced that he tested negative for COVID-19. According to TV station Globo, Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta said the president will continue to be monitored and to repeat the test in a week's time.
* Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Saturday the closure of all shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, theaters and cinemas as part of the efforts to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. So far, 193 coronavirus cases have been reported in Israel, of whom four have recovered.
* Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority announced on Saturday a SAR50-billion (US$13.3 billion) program to cushion the private sector from the impact of coronavirus, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Earlier in the day, the Saudi health ministry announced 17 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total cases in the country to 103.
* Gaza authorities on Saturday declared a new set of precautionary measures amid concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus in the coastal enclave. The Gaza Strip is so far free of the novel coronavirus, while 38 cases have been confirmed in the West Bank.
* Iraqi Health Ministry on Saturday confirmed a total of 110 COVID-19 cases across the country including the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan. A total of nine have died from the virus, while 26 have recovered, the statement said.
* Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday ordered the postponement of the parliamentary elections as part of the preventive measures against the novel coronavirus, according to the state news agency SANA. The elections were delayed to May 20 after they were initially due to be held in Syria on April 13, 2020. Syria's parliamentary elections occur every four years, with the last held in 2016.
* Morocco decided on Saturday to expand its flight ban to 21 more countries amid COVID-19 fear. Earlier in the day, Morocco announced nine new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the North African country to 18.
* The UN-backed Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Serraj on Saturday declared the state of emergency over the possible coronavirus outbreak in the country. Precautionary measures will be applied that include closing all of the country's sea, air, and land ports for three weeks starting Monday, Serraj said in a televised speech.
* The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Saturday that 301 illegal immigrants have been rescued by the Libyan Coast Guard off Libyan coast. According to IOM, more than 110,000 illegal immigrants made their way to Europe through the Mediterranean in 2019, while 1,283 died on the way.
Source: Xinhua
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