• Military
• WMD
• Intelligence

• Security Menu                     

• Systems
• Industry
• Operations
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Space

Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 58 WHO 18 March 2020
• WHO Emergencies Press Conference on coronavirus disease outbreak - 18 March 2020 WHO
• WHO Urges Nations to Enact Tougher Measures to Combat Coronavirus VOA 18 Mar 2020 -- The World Health Organization is urging governments to implement a comprehensive, aggressive approach in tackling COVID-19, to slow down the rapidly increasing number of cases and deaths from this dangerous new virus in Europe and other parts of the world.
• Swift policy action, strong leadership can save millions of jobs, 'avert the worst' amid COVID-19 pandemic UN News 18 Mar 2020 -- As daily dire forecasts on the global economy add to the anxiety surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN's labour agency (ILO) on Thursday offered a range of urgent measures, which, if governments act quickly, can be used to protect workers in the workplace, stimulate the economy and save millions of jobs.
• UN health chief announces global 'solidarity trial' to jumpstart search for COVID-19 treatment UN News 18 Mar 2020 -- Just 60 days after the genetic sequence of COVID-19 was shared by China, the first vaccine trial has begun, the UN health chief said on Wednesday, calling it "an incredible achievement" and urging the world to maintain "the same spirit of solidarity" that has helped fight Ebola.
• WHO: All Countries Should Prepare for Coronavirus Epidemic VOA 18 Mar 2020 -- The World Health Organization warns many countries are facing the escalating pandemic of COVID-19, and that all should be prepared to tackle this deadly virus before it arrives within their borders. WHO reports the number of coronavirus cases globally now tops 200,000, including more than 8,000 deaths.
• UN seeking funds for global fight against coronavirus People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- The United Nations said Tuesday that it is raising funds for the global fight against the coronavirus.
• Daily COVID-19 updates on March 18 People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- Countries around the world were rolling out more measures to combat the growing threat of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours as the novel coronavirus has killed at least 7,400 people worldwide.
• COVID-19: Countries see outbreaks growing, China's effectively halts Press TV 18 Mar 2020 -- Many countries are adopting stricter measures in response to their outbreaks of the new coronavirus, while China, where the pathogen first emerged and wreaked the most havoc, has effectively brought its epidemic under control.
• EU Monitors Say Pro-Kremlin Media Spread Coronavirus Disinformation RFE/RL 18 Mar 2020 -- Pro-Kremlin media outlets are actively spreading disinformation about coronavirus in an attempt to "undermine public trust" in Western countries, according to an internal European Union document.

United States

• Remarks by President Trump and Vice President Pence in a Briefing with Nurses on COVID-19 Response The White House 18 Mar 2020
• Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate The White House 18 Mar 2020
• Statement by the President The White House 18 Mar 2020
• Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Jonathan Hoffman and Joint Staff Surgeon Brig. Gen. Paul Friedrichs Press Briefing DoD 18 Mar 2020 -- Jonathan Rath Hoffman, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs; Joint Staff Surgeon Air Force Brigadier General Paul Friedrichs
• Hospital Ships, Other DOD Assets Prepare for Coronavirus Response DoD News 18 Mar 2020 -- Two Navy hospital ships will be part of the Defense Department's response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Pentagon's chief spokesman said.
• Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing The White House 18 Mar 2020
• US Emergency Responders Go on Highest Alert Over Coronavirus VOA 18 Mar 2020 -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been activated at the highest level nationwide, and President Donald Trump is using further authority of the office to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
• US Lawmakers Race to Prop Up Economy Slammed by Coronavirus VOA 18 Mar 2020 -- U.S. lawmakers are racing to try to offset some of the severe damage wrought on the economy by attempts to contain the coronavirus.
• US Naval Hospital Ship to Deploy to New York City VOA 18 Mar 2020 -- The U.S. Navy will dispatch a 1,000-bed hospital ship to New York Harbor to assist the country's largest city with its coronavirus response.
• Trump Says He 'Always' Took Coronavirus 'Very Seriously,' but Past Statements Contradict That VOA 18 Mar 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump contended Wednesday that he "always treated" the global coronavirus pandemic "very seriously," but his public statements until recent days contradict his claim.
• Defense Health Agency Officials Answer Questions on COVID-19 DoD News 18 Mar 2020 -- The Defense Health Agency hosted a live Facebook town hall meeting to answer questions about COVID-19.
• COVID-19 cases reported in all 50 U.S. states as total surpasses 6,300 People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- All 50 U.S. states, as well as Washington D.C., have now reported COVID-19 cases, after West Virginia reported its first case on Tuesday.
• Coronavirus deaths in US reach 110 as virus spreads to all 50 states Press TV 18 Mar 2020 -- At least 110 people have died from the new coronavirus in the United States, and the total number of known infections has surged past 6,400 as the contagions spreads to all 50 states.
• Rush Transcript: Amid Ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Announces Deployment of 1,000-Bed Hospital Ship 'USNS Comfort' to New York Harbor New York State 18 Mar 2020
• State Health & Emergency Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 18 Mar 2020

China

• Shenzhen enhances border screening in face of infection influx from Hong Kong Global Times 18 Mar 2020 -- South China's Shenzhen has enhanced border management amid increasing imported COVID-19 cases, as experts call for strengthened cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, two important gateway to China, in the face of the pandemic.
• Top epidemiologist warns of blind spots in epidemic control in Wuhan Global Times 18 Mar 2020 -- The Chinese central government has called for attention to community epidemic prevention and control work in epidemic-stricken Hubei Province and its capital Wuhan despite apparent improvements in those places, while China's top epidemiologist has warned of possible blind spots in communities as new confirmed cases keep popping up in community clinics.
• Wuhan's neighboring city Huanggang cleared of confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- Huanggang, a neighboring city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, discharged its last two COVID-19 patients Wednesday as confirmed cases were reduced to zero, local authorities said.
• Beijing reports 11 imported COVID-19 cases in half day People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- Beijing reported 11 newly confirmed cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from other countries in the first half of Wednesday, the Beijing Municipal Health Commission said.
• New confirmed COVID-19 case in Wuhan from fever clinic People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- The sole newly confirmed case of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in central China's Wuhan on Tuesday was from a fever clinic, the city's health commission said.
• 13 newly confirmed cases of coronavirus infection reported on Chinese mainland People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Wednesday it received reports of 13 newly confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 11 deaths on the Chinese mainland Tuesday.
• China's Hubei cleared of suspected COVID-19 cases People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- Central China's Hubei Province reported zero new suspected case of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for two consecutive days, the provincial health commission said Wednesday.
• 922 recovered COVID-19 patients discharged on Chinese mainland People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- A total of 922 patients of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were discharged from hospital Tuesday on the Chinese mainland, according to the National Health Commission.
• Chinese mainland reports 12 newly imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- The Chinese mainland reported 12 newly imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Tuesday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 155, according to the National Health Commission.
• China's Hubei reports just 1 newly confirmed case of COVID-19 People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- Central China's Hubei Province reported just one new confirmed case of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and 11 deaths Tuesday, the provincial health commission said Wednesday.
• China reports only one new locally transmitted coronavirus infection SPA 18 Mar 2020 -- China has reported only one new locally transmitted coronavirus infection and 11 new deaths over the past day, dpa reported.

Europe

• Italy reports over 3,500 new coronavirus cases, medical graduates might be deployed People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- The number of new coronavirus cases in Italy jumped dramatically on Tuesday, with more than 3,500 new cases, pushing the cumulative total number to over 30,000, according to new data released by the Civil Protection Department.
• Coronavirus sparks dispute in Kosovo, interior minister sacked Press TV 18 Mar 2020 -- Kosovo's prime minister has dismissed the interior minister following a dispute over whether the country should declare a state of emergency to contain the spread of coronavirus.
• Spain's coronavirus tally climbs to 13,716 cases, 558 fatalities SPA 18 Mar 2020 -- Spain's tally of coronavirus cases rose to 13,716 on Wednesday and the number of fatalities rose to 558, said Fernando Simon, the head of the country's health emergency center, Reuters reported.
• EU Mulls Joint Economic Response to Coronavirus VOA 18 Mar 2020 -- After closing their external borders to help slow the spread of coronavirus, European countries are now scrambling to reduce the economic fallout of COVID-19, even as experts say more needs to be done.

Russia

• Putin says coronavirus is 'under control' in Russia Press TV 18 Mar 2020 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says the coronavirus outbreak in his country is "under control" as the China-generated pathogen continues to take a heavy toll across the world.

India

• PM chairs review meeting on COVID-19 India PIB 18 Mar 2020 -- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the ongoing efforts to contain COVID-19.
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan reviews actions taken and further preparedness on Novel Coronavirus (COVID 19) India PIB 18 Mar 2020 -- Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare chaired a high level review meeting with senior officials of the Ministry, MS/Director of Central Government Hospitals such as Safdurjung, Dr RML Hospital and AIIMS, here today.
• India says 276 citizens have tested positive for coronavirus overseas SPA 18 Mar 2020 -- A total of 276 Indians have tested positive for coronavirus overseas to date, an Indian government minister said on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

Pakistan

• Pakistan reports 245 coronavirus cases SPA 18 Mar 2020 -- Pakistan's Covid-19 infections continued rising on Wednesday, with 50 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, officials said, according to dpa.

Iran

• Zarif calls for forging new path to emerge from COVID19 IRNA 18 Mar 2020 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a message congratulated over Nowruz, and called for forging a new path, if the nation wanted to emerge from the coronavirus.
• Official: Coronavirus death toll hits 1,135 in Iran IRNA 18 Mar 2020 -- Iran's Deputy Health Minister said on Wednesday that 5,710 people out of a total of 17,361 infected by the coronavirus have survived the deadly disease while 1,135 have unfortunately succumbed to death.
• Iran FM Spox urges all countries to fight COVID19 IRNA 18 Mar 2020 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Wednesday strongly criticized irresponsibility of the Non-Aligned Movement member states in dealing with coronavirus outbreak, saying that the outbreak is a global challenge requiring removal of all barriers and adopting collective measures.
• Iran: Coronavirus threatens entire world, needs collective action IRNA 18 Mar 2020 -- Office in charge of Iran's Interests Section in Cairo, Egypt, said in a statement on Wednesday menaces of coronavirus pandemic jeopardized the entire world requiring collective action by the International Community to fight.
• U.S. sanctions impair Iran's ability to fight COVID-19: Iranian FM People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday said U.S. "unlawful" anti-Iran sanctions have impaired its ability to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
• Rouhani: Iran outdid Western countries in virus response Press TV 18 Mar 2020 -- President Hassan Rouhani has hailed Iran's response to the new coronavirus pandemic, highlighting the marked quality of Tehran's performance compared to that of some major Western countries similarly affected by the fast-spreading disease.
• Ayatollah Khamenei pardons, commutes prisoners' sentences amid coronavirus outbreak Press TV 18 Mar 2020 -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has agreed to a request by Iran's Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raeisi to pardon or commute the sentences of a number of prisoners amid the outbreak of a new coronavirus in the country.
• US imposes fresh sanctions on Iran amid coronavirus outbreak Press TV 18 Mar 2020 -- The United States has announced a new round of sanctions against Iran as part of its so-called "maximum pressure" campaign against the Islamic Republic.

Japan

• COVID-19 infections in Japan rise to 868 People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- Japan's health ministry and local governments said Wednesday the number of COVID-19 infections rose to 868 in Japan as of 10:30 a.m. local time here.

South Korea

• S.Korea reports 93 more COVID-19 cases, 8,413 in total People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- South Korea reported 93 more cases of the COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of midnight Wednesday local time, raising the total number of infections to 8,413.
• South Korea sees slight new uptick in coronavirus cases SPA 18 Mar 2020 -- The number of new coronavirus infections in South Korea on Wednesday saw a slight uptick for the second day straight, with 93 new cases recorded since the previous day, according to Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The uptick, which brought the country's infection total to 8,413, followed a days-long downward trend in new cases. Three more infected people also died, bringing the death toll to 84, dpa reported.

Australia

• Number of Australian COVID-19 cases rise by 20 pct People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia has continued to rise by approximately 20 percent, according to the latest data from the Department of Health.
• Australia records sixth COVID-19 death, confirmed cases passing 500 People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- An 86-year-old man has become the sixth person to die in Australia after contracting COVID-19, health authorities in the state of New South Wales (NSW) reported on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia

• Ministry of Health Reports 67 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 18 Mar 2020 -- The Ministry of Health today reported 67 new cases of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Kingdom.
• Saudi Press: Saudi Arabia Intensifies Efforts To Prevent Outbreak of Novel Coronavirus SPA 18 Mar 2020 -- Saudi newspapers highlighted in their editorials today a number of issues at local, regional and international arenas.

Taiwan

• Taiwan adds 23 new COVID-19 cases, bringing total to 100 CNA 18 Mar 2020 -- A total of 23 new COVID-19 cases, 21 of which originated overseas, were confirmed in Taiwan on Wednesday, bringing the total number in the country to 100, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said.
• Taiwan to bar entry of foreign nationals to combat COVID-19 (update) CNA 18 Mar 2020 -- Taiwan will bar all foreign nationals from entering Taiwan starting Thursday, with some exceptions, as it intensifies efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday.
• Highest travel warning announced for U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand CNA 18 Mar 2020 -- Taiwan will impose its highest Level 3 travel warning on the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand starting Thursday, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday, though the effects of the move will be largely superseded by a separate policy mandating 14-day home quarantine for all arriving travelers.
• Three COVID-19 cases highlighted as 'high risk' for community spread CNA 18 Mar 2020 -- Three of the 23 new COVID-19 cases confirmed Wednesday in Taiwan have been identified by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) as being of potential high risk for further community spread of the coronavirus.
• Taiwan, U.S. announce joint efforts to fight coronavirus CNA 18 Mar 2020 -- Taiwan and the United States are stepping up efforts to contain the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak by sharing best practices and cooperating on a range of activities, according to a joint statement issued by the two sides Wednesday.
• 16,000 arrivals from Europe, other areas required to be quarantined CNA 18 Mar 2020 -- About 16,000 people arrived in Taiwan from the high-risk areas of Europe, Turkey, Dubai and Egypt from March 5-14 and are required to quarantine themselves at home for 14 days, according to government data.
• Three COVID-19 cases highlighted as 'high risk' for community spread CNA 18 Mar 2020 -- Three of the 23 new COVID-19 cases confirmed Wednesday in Taiwan have been identified by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) as being of potential high risk for further community spread of the coronavirus.

North Korea

• DPRK Takes Step to Prevent Inflow of COVID-19 through Sea KCNA 18 Mar 2020 -- Emergency anti-epidemic headquarters at all levels and relevant organs in the coastal areas of the DPRK are further tightening the order of entry into sea so as to prevent the inflow of COVID-19 through sea.

NATO

• NATO Allies take stock of response to COVID-19 outbreak NATO 18 Mar 2020 -- NATO ambassadors held a regular meeting of the North Atlantic Council on Wednesday (18 March 2020). They addressed the COVID-19 pandemic, and the measures being taken by NATO and Allies to curb its spread.

Other Countries

• In Myanmar's Yangon, Volunteers Step in Where Government Response is Minimal Radio Free Asia 18 Mar 2020 -- A volunteer group has been building makeshift hand-washing stations in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the absence of a systematic response by the government, which maintains the country has no confirmed cases of the viral disease.
• Tractors, Herbs, Vodka, Saunas? Some Leaders Offer Strange, Unhelpful Advice On Warding Off COVID-19 RFE/RL 18 Mar 2020 -- The way the leader of tightly controlled Turkmenistan sees it, there's an ancient remedy for warding off the coronavirus: burning a wild herb known as hamala.
• COVID-19: Iran Surpasses 1,000 Deaths With Highest 24-Hour Rise Yet; Hungary Eases Border Closure RFE/RL 18 Mar 2020 -- The global coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 201,000 people worldwide, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
• Duterte declares state of calamity amid rising COVID-19 cases in Philippines People's Daily 18 Mar 2020 -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a state of national calamity for six months amid the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country.
• Coronavirus cases surge in South Asia as countries try to stem epidemic Press TV 18 Mar 2020 -- The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Indian subcontinent has topped 500 amid fears that inadequate health facilities could be overwhelmed in a region home to nearly 1.9 billion people.
• Thai Travelers Who Visited Laos Likely Carried COVID-19 Across the Mekong Radio Free Asia 18 Mar 2020 -- As Vietnam and Cambodia reported increases in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, authorities in Thailand warned their Lao neighbors that a group of Thai nationals that recently visited Laos on a day trip had tested positive for the coronavirus.
• Vietnam Suspends Flights, Closes Mosque to Contain COVID-19 Radio Free Asia 18 Mar 2020 -- As coronavirus cases edged up in Southeast Asia Wednesday, Laos closed primary schools nationwide, Cambodia attempted to silence its critics, and Vietnam suspended flights from France and Malaysia.
• Central Asian Countries Use Different Strategies To Deal With Coronavirus Crisis RFE/RL 18 Mar 2020 -- A glance at a global map tracking the spread of the coronavirus just one week ago would have shown a large blank space south of Russia, north of Iran, and west of China as an area completely free of the virus.
• Zambia's health ministry confirms first two cases of COVID-19 SPA 18 Mar 2020 -- Zambia's health ministry on Wednesday confirmed its first two cases of COVID-19, Reuters reported.
• Bangladesh reports first coronavirus death SPA 18 Mar 2020 -- A patient who was suffering from COVID-19 died in Bangladesh on Wednesday, said healthcare officials, marking the first fatality from the disease in the South Asian country, according to Reuters.
• Indonesia reports 55 new coronavirus cases, biggest daily rise SPA 18 Mar 2020 -- Indonesia announced on Wednesday 55 new coronavirus cases, taking the total to 227 in the Southeast Asian nation and marking the biggest daily rise in positive cases, Reuters reported.
• UAE announces 15 new cases of COVID-19 SPA 18 Mar 2020 -- The Ministry of Health and Prevention, MoHaP, has announced 15 new cases of COVID-19, bringing to 113 the total infection tally in the United Arab Emirates.
• Three COVID-19 Patients Recover in Oman SPA 18 Mar 2020 -- The Ministry of Health (MOH) of the Sultanate of Oman announced that three patients infected with COVID-19 have recovered, raising the total number of such cases to 12 .
• Three More Recoveries from Coronavirus in Kuwait SPA 18 Mar 2020 -- Kuwaiti Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. Basel Al-Sabah has announced the full recovery of three additional patients from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of recovered cases in the country to 15.
• Crowded Slums Pose Challenge as Kenya Braces for Coronavirus VOA 18 Mar 2020 -- Kenyan authorities reported three new coronavirus cases Wednesday — a couple from Spain and a Burundian who came from the United Arab Emirates. The country now has a total of seven cases.
• Coronavirus Brings New Restrictions in North America, Malaysia, European Union VOA 18 Mar 2020 -- Wednesday brought new restrictions on movement in North America and Malaysia, as well as the start of a European Union ban on entry to foreigners, as governments seek to control the spread of the novel coronavirus.