COVID-19 PANDEMIC: Day 116: WHO: “Lockdowns not enough to defeat coronavirus”
A photo from March 22, 2020, shows a deserted Turin during the coronavirus emergency lockdown in Italy.PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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Lockdowns not enough to defeat coronavirus, says leading World Health Organisation expert
LONDON (REUTERS) – Countries can’t simply lock down their societies to defeat coronavirus, the World Health Organisation’s top emergency expert said on Sunday (March 22), adding that public health measures are needed to avoid a resurgence of the virus later on.
“What we really need to focus on is finding those who are sick, those who have the virus, and isolate them, find their contacts and isolate them,” Dr Mike Ryan said in an interview on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show.
“The danger right now with the lockdowns… If we don’t put in place the strong public health measures now, when those movement restrictions and lockdowns are lifted, the danger is the disease will jump back up.”
Much of Europe and the United States have followed China and other Asian countries and introduced drastic restrictions to fight the new coronavirus, with most workers told to work from home and schools, bars, pubs and restaurants being closed.
READ MORE: https://aseanews.net/2020/03/23/covid-19-pandemic-who-lockdowns-not-enough-to-defeat-corona-virus/
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COVID-19 PANDEMIC:
NOW EPICENTER: EUROPE
MILAN, Italy
ROME- Italy coronavirus deaths surge by 627 in a day, alarmed regions impose more restrictions
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EPICENTER: ASIA
WUHAN, HUBEI PROV., CHINA
BEIJING- China’s virus strategy: a model for the world?
BEIJING: The head of the World Health Organization believes China’s battle with the coronavirus offers a beacon of hope, but others question whether Beijing’s strategy can be followed by other countries — particularly Western democracies.
China has reported only one new local infection over the past four days, a seemingly remarkable turnaround given the chaos that surrounded the initial outbreak in the city of Wuhan.
While some experts caution against accepting Beijing’s figures at face value, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus insisted China’s success “provides hope for the rest of the world”.
But China is a particular case — a centrally-controlled, top-down, one-party authoritarian state that allows no dissent and can mobilise vast resources on a single issue.
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ASEAN
BRUNEI- Five new COVID-19 cases, total now 88
Five new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded, bringing the total to 88 confirmed cases in the country yesterday. One of the two patients in a critical condition at the National Isolation Centre is recovering and no longer requires the assistance of a ventilator. The latest details were revealed by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji
VIENTIANE, Laos- Stimulus package adopted to minimise virus economic impact
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Investment Sonexay Siphandone was entrusted to chair the new committee.
Though there are no confirmed coronavirus cases in Laos, the widespread outbreak in other countries around the world has resulted in significant impacts on the Lao economy./ By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
KANGAR, Malaysia- Pathologist first doctor in Malaysia to die from Covid-19
The 48-year-old is the ninth victim of the virus in Malaysia and the first specialist to have died from the severe respiratory complications due to Covid-19.
The doctor has a history of travel to Turkey where it was believed he may have contracted the virus despite that the European nation was not listed as one of the major infected nations presently.
It was pointed out that he did not contract it as a frontliner./ IAN MCINTYRE
READ MORE: https://www.thesundaily.my/local/pathologist-first-doctor-in-malaysia-to-die-from-covid-19-KX2167378
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MANILA- Philippines’ confirmed cases of COVID-19 near 400
MANILA, Philippines — With the addition of 16 detections as of midday on Monday, the Philippines’ latest count of novel coronavirus infections reached 396.
The Department of Health official
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SINGAPORE: 23 new coronavirus cases in Singapore including 18 imported; 4 recovered
SINGAPORE – Twenty-three new coronavirus cases were announced on Sunday night (March 22) by the Ministry of Health (MOH), bringing the total number in Singapore to 455.
Of these cases, 18 were imported cases that had travelled to Europe, North America, South America and Asean.
Almost all of these new imported cases are returning residents and long-term pass holders, with only one short-term visitor.
Of the five locally transmitted cases announced Sunday, three are linked to previous cases. One of them, Case 443, is linked to the Boulder+ climbing gym cluster which now has six cases linked to it in total.
Two are currently not linked to previous cases.
To date, there are more than 260,000 Covid-19 cases across 185 countries, and around 11,200 deaths.
The MOH said that in Singapore, almost 80 per cent of new Covid-19 cases over the past three days were imported, most of them Singapore residents and long-term pass holders returning home from abroad.
These imported cases had travel histories to 22 different countries.
There were 432 cases of coronavirus patients in Singapore as of Saturday evening. A total of 140 cases have fully recovered. Of the 290 patients still in hospital, most are stable or improving, but 14 are in critical care.
On the limited entry for work pass holders and their dependants, the Manpower Ministry will allow this only for those in essential services.
On what constitutes essential services, Mr Wong said the Ministry of Manpower will continue to approve applications for the workers to come back according to existing rules, with inputs from relevant government agencies when needed.
READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/coronavirus-23-new-cases-in-singapore-including-18-imported-4-recovered
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BANGKOK, Thailand- 188 new virus cases, total nearly 600
Royal Thai Army soldiers sanitise in the city on Saturday due to the coronavirus disease outbreak in Bangkok. (Reuters photo)
Thailand reported 188 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, its largest daily increase, taking the total to 599 cases, a senior Public Health Ministry official said.
The majority of the new infections are connected to a previous cluster of cases from Lumpini boxing stadium, ministry spokesman Taweesin Wisanuyothin told a news conference, adding one patient had recovered.
“Most of the new cases were found in Bangkok and were among young people who continue to have social activities, which can lead to more infections,” Dr Taweesin said urging the public to stay home.
There has been one death in Thailand.
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RELATED STORY
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BANGKOK, Thailand- City exodus begins
188 new infections brings total to 599
Travellers wait to board their buses at the crowded Mor Chit bus terminal in Bangkok on Sunday. The exodus is believed to be triggered by the closures of 26 business types in Bangkok and five other provinces for three weeks to tackle the spread of Covid-19. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)
Almost 200 new infections were reported on Sunday, the highest one-day jump to date with the government hinting at more stringent measures on the way as the number of accumulated infections is predicted to surpass 1,000 in the next seven days.
In the wake of the announcement of a Bangkok “soft lockdown”, scores flocked to bus stations to leave the city and the country.
The number of Covid-19 cases rose to 599 with most of the new cases concentrated in Bangkok, said Public Health Ministry spokesman Thaveesilp Wisanuyothin. Dr Thaveesilp reported an increase of 188 new confirmed cases.
Speaking at the daily news briefing on Sunday, Dr Thaveesilp said, of the rise in Covid-19 cases in Thailand, two groups were identified.
Of the first group of 65 cases, 21 were linked to the kickboxing cluster scattered in Bangkok, Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Chon Buri, Phatthalung, Phra and Samut Prakan provinces; five related to entertainment venues; two associated with the religious activity in Malaysia, and 37 who were close contacts scattered in Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Sukhothai, Songkhla, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani.
The second group comprised 15 new cases; six Thai returnees and two foreign students from abroad, and seven working in crowded venues selling lotteries or goods at boxing stadiums.
The remaining cases were being investigated.
When asked if there would be additional measures to tackle the spread of the virus, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said briefly: “We’re working on it.” / WRITER: APINYA WIPATAYOTIN & WASSANA NANUAM
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READ MORE: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1884190/city-exodus-begins
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HANOI- Vietnam records largest increase in new coronavirus infections
A medical worker sprays sanitizer at a collective quarantine area. Photo Dương Giang/Viet Nam News/Asia News Network
HANOI — The Ministry of Health on Sunday night announced seven more SARS-CoV-2 infections, adding to the 12 announced earlier the same day.
Sunday’s 19 new infections are the largest single-day rise in the country and bring the total to 113.
The seven announced in the evening, all Vietnamese nationals, were in Hà Nội.
The 107th patient was a 25-year-old woman and is the daughter of the 86th patient, who was one of two nurses at Bạch Mai Hospital who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on Friday.
The other six patients were all quarantined upon arrival in Việt Nam.
The 108th patient was a 19-year-old man studying in the UK. He returned to Việt Nam on Wednesday on Vietnam Airlines flight VN054 on seat 3K.
The 109th patient was a 42-year-old male university lecturer in the UK. He returned to Việt Nam on March 15 on Thai Airways flight TG560 on seat 37E, after transiting through Bangkok.
The 110th patient was a 19-year-old student in the US. He returned to Việt Nam on March 19 on Japan Airlines flight JL571 on seat 1A, after transiting through Japan. He contacted a person who was confirmed infected in the US.
The 111th patient was a 25-year-old female student in France. She returned to Việt Nam on March 18 on Vietnam Airlines flight VN018 on seat 36D.
The 112th patient was a 30-year-old student in France. She contacted people with symptoms of coughing and fever at a Vietnamese phở shop, where she worked as a part-time job in France.
The 133rd patient was an 18-year-old woman and is a student in the UK.
READ MORE: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1246956/vietnam-records-largest-increase-in-new-coronavirus-infections
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ASIA-PACIFIC, AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND
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SYDNEY- Australia edges toward lockdown as infections surge past 1,000
SYDNEY (BLOOMBERG) – Australia is edging toward lockdown with authorities preparing to shutter non-essential services and close state borders after the number of coronavirus cases in the nation surged past 1,000.
New South Wales and Victoria, the two most-populous states, said that while supermarkets, petrol stations, pharmacies and freight and logistics will remain open, non-essential activity will be stopped over the coming 48 hours. Victorian schools will close from Tuesday (March 22).
A National Cabinet meeting of federal and state leaders has been brought forward to Sunday night to discuss more “draconian measures” such as local lockdowns in virus hotspots, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
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Behind Australia’s pleas to take the threat seriously lies the fear the country could plunge into a crisis similar to Italy, where coronavirus deaths surpass those even in China. Total infections in Australia reached 1,098, the federal health department said Sunday. That’s a jump of 224 from the previous day. Seven people have died.
READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australian-states-to-consider-draconian-measures-to-enforce-social-distancing
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