A staff member sprays disinfectant at Jekan Raya district in Palangka Raya, Indonesia, March 29, 2020. (Photo by Deny Krisbiyantoro/Xinhua)
-- WHO official says coronavirus epidemic "far from over" in Asia-Pacific region;
-- Malaysia reports 140 new cases, 2,766 in total;
-- Indian railways to modify 20,000 coaches into quarantine isolation units;
-- Death toll rises to 136 in Indonesia, 1,528 comfirmed cases in total.
HONG KONG, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The following is the latest development of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia-Pacific countries.
MANILA -- The coronavirus epidemic is "far from over" in Asia-Pacific region, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Tuesday, urging countries in the region to work together to halt the spread of COVID-19.
"This is going to be a long-term battle and we cannot let down our guard," WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Takeshi Kasai told a virtual media briefing.
A worker carries bags of relief goods that will be distributed to communities in Quezon City, the Philippines on March 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
KUALA LUMPUR -- A total of 43 people have died of COVID-19 in Malaysia as of Tuesday with 140 newly confirmed cases, bringing the total in the country to 2,766, said the Health Ministry.
City workers disinfect a community in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 28, 2020. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)
NEW DELHI -- Indian railways said it was ready to modify 20,000 coaches into quarantine isolation units to increase the quarantine facilities in the country.
A labour carries a gunny bag containing onions during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the outskirts of Agartala, India's northeast state of Tripura, March 30, 2020. (Str/Xinhua)
MALE -- Maldives has seen an overall reduction of COVID-19 cases, with more patients recovering than new ones being confirmed amid stringent precautionary measures taken by the government.
The country has 17 confirmed cases of COVID-19, out of which 13 patients have made a full recovery, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health.
A passenger sits in a coach at a bus station in Hanoi, Vietnam on March 30, 2020. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua)
HANOI -- One more COVID-19 patient in Vietnam has recovered, bringing the total cured cases in the country to 56, Vietnam News Agency reported.
Vietnam's capital city of Hanoi set up makeshift stations providing 10-minute COVID-19 tests for free.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Tuesday ordered a 15-day nationwide social distancing against COVID-19 starting from Wednesday, requiring people to stay at home, keep a distance of at least 2 meters from others and avoid gatherings of more than two people.
Vietnam's Ministry of Health confirmed one more COVID-19 case, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 204.
A vendor wearing mask is seen in front of the Independence Monument in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Mao Pengfei)
PHNOM PENH -- The Cambodian government on Tuesday decided to give tax breaks for three months to aviation companies starting from March to May to help offset losses caused by the COVID-19, according to a press statement.
A woman wearing a facial mask walks along a street in downtown Yangon, Myanmar, March 29, 2020. (Xinhua/U Aung)
YANGON -- Myanmar confirmed the first death on Tuesday among the 14 positive COVID-19 cases, according to a release of the Ministry of Health and Sports on Tuesday.
A food deliveryman rides in downtown Yangon, Myanmar, March 29, 2020. (Xinhua/U Aung)
BANGKOK -- Thailand's Ministry of Public Health on Tuesday reported 127 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 1,651.
One person has died, bringing the total number of COVID-19 deaths to 10.
Staff members check the body temperature of passengers at a screening point in Bangkok, Thailand, March 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)
JAKARTA -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Tuesday declared a public health emergency status in a bid to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
Indonesia has decided to ban all arrivals and transits of foreign citizens into the country to prevent further spread of the novel coronavirus which has killed 136 people and infected 1,528, a minister said Tuesday.
The death toll of the COVID-19 in the country is the highest in Southeast Asia.
A staff member sprays disinfectant at Jekan Raya district in Palangka Raya, Indonesia, March 29, 2020. (Photo by Deny Krisbiyantoro/Xinhua)
CANBERRA -- The Australian government has canceled deployment of U.S. Marines to the Northern Territory (NT) amid the coronavirus pandemic.
A man wearing a face mask waits for a bus at the CBD of Perth, Australia, March 30, 2020.(Xinhua/Zhou Dan)
SYDNEY -- Australian states leaders have warned the public on Tuesday to abide by new social distancing and isolation rules or face severe consequences including jail time.
Restrictions came into place in a number of states on Monday limiting the number of people in a social gathering to two and forcing people to remain in their homes unless they have a "reasonable excuse" to venture outside.
A worker disinfects on Eungbongsan in Seongdong-gu of Seoul, South Korea, March 25, 2020.(NEWSIS/Handout via Xinhua)
SEOUL -- South Korea decided Tuesday to begin this year's new school year with online classes from April 9 in a gradual manner amid lingering concerns about the COVID-19 outbreak.
South Korea reported 125 more cases of the COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of midnight Tuesday local time, raising the total number of infections to 9,786.
Of the new cases, 15 were found at airports. The country will force all entrants from overseas to be put under self-quarantine for two weeks beginning Wednesday midnight local time.
Four more deaths were confirmed, lifting the death toll to 162. The total fatality rate came in at 1.66 percent. ■
