PAKISTAN
First death from local virus transmission in Pakistan: Dawn
March 25, 2020
With the first death caused by local transmission of novel coronavirus in Pakistan on Tuesday, countrywide tally of fatalities has risen to seven and the Balochistan government has imposed a lockdown across the province for 15 days. The federal government has decided to accept donations and designated the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to use donated funds to combat the disease. Click here to read....
AFGHANISTAN
Miller Reaffirms RS Support to Afghan Forces: Tolo
March 25, 2020
The Resolute Support (RS) Commander Gen. Scott Miller on Tuesday held a video conference with senior Afghan National and Defense Security Forces (ANDSF) in which he reaffirmed the Resolute Support’s commitment and support for Afghan security forces, and discussed Taliban violence levels and COVID-19 prevention, the mission said in a statement. Click here to read....
BANGLADESH
Prices falling as people leave capital amid coronavirus: Dhaka Tribune
March 25, 2020
Traders said prices were on the decline following fines and warnings by magistrates against overcharging essential items. Prices of essential food items in the capital's kitchen markets have started going down, with people flocking out of the city and the government stepping up monitoring amid spread of coronavirus. Essential commodities such as rice, onion, garlic and ginger were found on Tuesday selling at lower prices than what they were a couple of days ago. Click here to read....
MYANMAR
World Bank, ADB to assist in Myanmar’s efforts to deal with COVID-19’s effects: Myanmar Times
March 25, 2020
U Thaung Tun, Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations (MIFER) and Chair of Working Committee to Address the Possible Impacts of COVID-19 on the Country’s Economy had separately met with Gevorg Sargsyan, Country Director of the World Bank Group and Newin Sinsiri, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director, March 23, Nay Pyi Taw, the Ministry released. Click here to read....
NEPAL
Empty streets and palpable fear as Nepal goes into lockdown: The Kathmandu Post
March 25, 2020
In Kathmandu Valley, the first day of the weeklong nation-wide lockdown was bright and sunny, with birds chirping in the balmy spring weather. The streets, however, were eerily empty, with no traffic and no pedestrians. The only vehicles were the occasional ambulance, water tankers and security vehicles. Click here to read....
Sri Lanka
PM to meet Opposition party leaders today: Daily Mirror
March 25, 2020
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for a meeting with leaders of the opposition parties at Temple Trees today. The meeting will take place at 10.00 am today. Earlier, the opposition had sought such a meeting to discuss the current health crisis triggered by the spread of COVID – 19. Click here to read....
BHUTAN
Police to monitor those in home quarantine: Kuenselonline
March 25, 2020
Except for seriously ill patients returning from treatment, the government will place all those arriving in the country in quarantine centres. The health minister issued a public notification yesterday which comes into effect immediately. Mothers returning after childbirth overseas would also be exempted. Health Minister Dechen Wangmo said that despite repeated pleas from the government, a few on home quarantine have violated the strict agreed conditions of home quarantine. Click here to read....
CHINA
Thousands of covert coronavirus cases go under the radar in Wuhan, Chinese-led researchers say: South China Morning Post
March 25, 2020
Roughly 60 per cent of people who contracted the coronavirus in the central Chinese city of Wuhan were asymptomatic or very mild cases not reported to the authorities, according to a study led by a group of Chinese doctors. The estimate was based on about 26,000 laboratory-confirmed cases recorded in the city, the first epicentre of the coronavirus, between December and February, and was published on the medRxiv preprint platform early this month. Click here to read....
Xi to attend virtual G20 summit on coronavirus: China Daily
March 25, 2020
President Xi Jinping will attend in Beijing on Thursday an extraordinary virtual G20 leaders' summit on coping with the novel coronavirus, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying announced on Wednesday. Click here to read....
