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COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 63 WHO 23 March 2020
• WHO Emergencies Press Conference on coronavirus disease outbreak - 23 March 2020 WHO
• COVID-19: UN chief calls for global ceasefire to focus on 'the true fight of our lives' UN News 23 Mar 2020 -- In an appeal issued on Monday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged warring parties across the world to lay down their weapons in support of the bigger battle against COVID-19: the common enemy that is now threatening all of humankind.
• UN Chief Calls for Global Ceasefire in Face of Pandemic VOA 23 Mar 2020 -- U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Monday for a global cease-fire as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic.

United States

• USNS Mercy to Care for Non-COVID-19 Patients in Los Angeles DoD News 23 Mar 2020 -- In a matter of days, the Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy will sail from San Diego and dock in the port of Los Angeles to help lift the burden from local medical treatment facilities that need to focus their resources on patients affected by the coronavirus pandemic, a Navy official said today.
• USNS Mercy Departs San Diego NNS 23 Mar 2020 -- The hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) departed Naval Station San Diego today, and is now underway to Los Angeles in support of the nation's COVID-19 response efforts.
• Mercy Heads to Los Angeles VOA 23 Mar 2020 -- The USNS Mercy hospital ship has left its San Diego port for Los Angeles on Monday to help support the city's response to an overwhelming number of coronavirus cases.
• NY National Guard supports hospitals with tents for treatment Army News 23 Mar 2020 -- The New York National Guard helped hospitals across the state establish dedicated space for an expected influx of patients showing symptoms of COVID-19.
• Remarks by Secretary Esper in a Press Briefing on COVID-19 Response DoD 23 Mar 2020 -- Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper
• DOD Aims to Fill Medical Gaps With Military While States, Cities Ramp Up DoD News 23 Mar 2020 -- The Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy will go to Los Angeles to help relieve pressure on hospitals there so they can focus more on COVID-19 patients, Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said.
• Readout from the Vice President's Video Teleconference with Governors on the Partnership to Prepare, Mitigate and Respond to COVID-19 The White House 23 Mar 2020
• Remarks by Vice President Pence in a Press Gaggle The White House 23 Mar 2020
• Remarks by Vice President Pence Before a Video Teleconference with Governors on Partnership to Prepare, Mitigate, and Respond to COVID-19 The White House 23 Mar 2020
• Trump Pledges to Cover Cost of National Guard Activation VOA 23 Mar 2020 -- President Donald Trump is directing the federal government to cover the costs of coronavirus relief efforts carried out by National Guard troops that are activated under the control of state governors.
• Briefing With Senior State Department Officials On COVID-19: Updates on Health Impact and Assistance for American Citizens Abroad US Dept. of State 23 Mar 2020
• Maryland Guard helping with Strategic National Stockpile push US Air Force 23 Mar 2020 -- Recently activated Maryland Air National Guard members are working at a Strategic National Stockpile in Maryland, preparing and loading medical supplies and equipment to help the state respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Trump Signals Scaling Back Social Distancing VOA 23 Mar 2020 -- Worried about the severe economic damage to the country's economy for an extended shutdown, U.S. President Donald Trump is signaling his desire to end social distancing that is in place to try to stem the upward trajectory of the coronavirus outbreak.
• Trump approves Major Disaster Declaration for California over COVID-19 People's Daily 23 Mar 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has approved California's request for a presidential Major Disaster Declaration to bolster the most populous U.S. state's COVID-19 emergency response efforts, California Governor Gavin Newsom said Sunday.
• U.S. confirmed COVID-19 cases top 30,000: Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 23 Mar 2020 -- The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 30,000 as of 2:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Saturday (1830 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
• Trump removed US health expert job in China before coronavirus outbreak: Report Press TV 23 Mar 2020 -- The administration of US President Donald Trump eliminated a key American public health position in Beijing tasked with detecting disease outbreaks in China several months before the coronavirus pandemic began, a report says.
• Rush Transcript: Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Announces Initial Delivery of Equipment and Supplies for Javits Center Temporary Hospital New York State 23 Mar 2020
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 23 Mar 2020

China

• China Raises COVID-19 Concerns As It Reopens Tibetan Tourist Sites Radio Free Asia 23 Mar 2020 -- Chinese authorities in the Kardze (in Chinese, Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province are reopening tourist sites, causing local Tibetans to worry about a second wave of COVID-19 coming into the region amid the ongoing pandemic with a decision activist say is premature.
• Loopholes may lead to China's 2nd wave of viral outbreaks Global Times 23 Mar 2020 -- Loopholes in screening processes at customs and inadequate quarantine measures upon entry into Chinese cities as well as a high proportion of asymptomatic cases are making a second wave of novel coronavirus outbreak highly likely, even inevitable, as the global pandemic continues to worsen.
• Beijing reports 15 imported COVID-19 cases in 12 hrs Global Times 23 Mar 2020 -- Beijing reported 15 newly confirmed cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from other countries from 0:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Monday, according to the municipal health commission.
• No evidence so far indicating relapsing COVID-19 patients are infectious: Hubei health authority Global Times 23 Mar 2020 -- Health officials from hard-hit Hubei Province have said that people who retest positive from coronavirus after they have been cured and discharged from hospital will not be recorded as confirmed cases, and that the authorities haven't seen people-to-people transmission from those patients.
• Chinese customs toughen measures to prevent imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 23 Mar 2020 -- China has taken targeted measures to curb the mounting risk posed by imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said Monday.
• Beijing reports 15 imported COVID-19 cases in 12 hrs People's Daily 23 Mar 2020 -- Beijing reported 15 newly confirmed cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from other countries from 0:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Monday, according to the municipal health commission.
• Shanghai lowers coronavirus response level People's Daily 23 Mar 2020 -- Shanghai announced downgrading of its emergency response to the novel coronavirus outbreak from level I to level II starting Tuesday.
• China's Wuhan reports zero increase in COVID-19 cases People's Daily 23 Mar 2020 -- No new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported Sunday in Wuhan, marking the fifth day in a row of zero report as the former hardest-hit city recovers from the epidemic.
• Downtown Wuhan remains high-risk area for coronavirus People's Daily 23 Mar 2020 -- The downtown of Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, remains a high-risk area for coronavirus, showed an evaluation by the provincial government on Sunday.
• Chinese mainland reports 39 newly imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 23 Mar 2020 -- The Chinese mainland reported 39 newly imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Sunday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 353, according to the National Health Commission Monday.
• Chinese mainland reports zero increase in indigenous COVID-19 cases People's Daily 23 Mar 2020 -- No new domestically transmitted cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported on the Chinese mainland on Sunday, the Chinese health authority said Monday.
• China sees drop in new coronavirus cases; all of them imported SPA 23 Mar 2020 -- China on Monday reported a drop in its daily tally of new coronavirus cases, reversing four straight days of increases, as the capital, Beijing, ramped up measures to contain the number of infections arriving from abroad, Reuters reported.
• HK extends travel ban to all non-locals amid pandemic Global Times 23 Mar 2020 -- Hong Kong will ban all non-local residents from entering the city through flights and suspend transit services at the airport starting Wednesday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced on Monday, a move which analysts believe is the "strictest-ever" measure to deal with the mounting pressure of COVID-19 in the city as an international hub with a prosperous service sector.
• Hong Kong to ban entry of tourists from overseas to prevent imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 23 Mar 2020 -- China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will ban the entry of all non-Hong Kong residents arriving from overseas by flights starting from Wednesday to prevent imported COVID-19 cases, HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced on Monday.
• Hong Kong reports 44 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 317 in total People's Daily 23 Mar 2020 -- Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reported on Sunday afternoon 44 additional COVID-19 cases confirmed during the past 24 hours, taking the total number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong to 317.
• Hong Kong Closes Airport to International Tourists, Transit Passengers Radio Free Asia 23 Mar 2020 -- Authorities in Hong Kong said on Monday they would close the city's airport arrivals to non-residents amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the city, where new infections had previously been slowed by containment measures.

Europe

• PM address to the nation on coronavirus: 23 March 2020 Gov.UK 23 Mar 2020 -- Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation on coronavirus.
• British army intervenes to forestall collapse of NHS Press TV 23 Mar 2020 -- After days of speculation the British army has finally been deployed to help combat the deadly COVID-19 disease, albeit in a limited capacity, at least for the time being.
• PM Johnson Tells Britons to 'Stay at Home', Announces Strict COVID-19 Measures Sputnik 23 Mar 2020 -- There are 6,724 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the UK, with 335 fatalities and 140 people recovered. All public places including gyms, restaurants, retail stores, pubs, libraries, parks and playgrounds are closed and all social events halted. People at high risk are receiving an NHS text urging them to stay home for at least 12 weeks.
• Merkel in self-quarantine after doctor she met tests positive for coronavirus People's Daily 23 Mar 2020 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has put herself in quarantine after a doctor she met Friday tested positive for coronavirus, government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Sunday.
• Greece announces nationwide lockdown as 32,000 new cases reported worldwide People's Daily 23 Mar 2020 -- As the number of COVID-19 infections continues to rise worldwide, Greece announced a nationwide lockdown on Sunday as part of measures to contain the further spread of the contagious disease.
• France confirms 16,018 coronavirus cases, 35 pct aged under 65 People's Daily 23 Mar 2020 -- France has confirmed 16,018 coronavirus infection cases, 35 percent of whom are aged under 65, Director General of Health Jerome Salomon announced on Sunday.
• Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hungary jump to 103 People's Daily 23 Mar 2020 -- The number of patients diagnosed with the COVID-19 in Hungary has risen to 103 on Saturday, according to a statement on the government's official website dedicated to information on the coronavirus.
• COVID-19: Cases In Romania, Russia Jump; Montenegro Records Its First Death RFE/RL 23 Mar 2020 -- The global death toll from the coronavirus has topped 15,000 with more than 350,000 infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
• Switzerland Reports 1046 New Coronavirus Cases SPA 23 Mar 2020 -- The Swiss health authorities reported today 1046 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total cases in Switzerland and Liechtenstein to 8,060.
• Conte Says Italy's Coronavirus Epidemic Yet to Peak Sputnik 23 Mar 2020 -- The coronavirus outbreak in Italy has not peaked yet, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said Monday, telling the nation to brace for some more trying times.

Russia

• Russia Reports 71 New Coronavirus Cases SPA 23 Mar 2020 -- Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced that 71 new cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) were registered in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 438.

India

• Prime Minister to continue his interactions with various stakeholders in India's fight against COVID-19 India PIB 23 Mar 2020 -- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi shall continue his interactions with various stakeholders in India's fight against COVID-19.
• India Locks Down 75 Districts To Contain COVID-19 VOA 23 Mar 2020 -- India said Sunday it is locking down 75 districts across the country in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.
• Covid-19: PM Modi Asks Industries Not To Cut Jobs, Despite Negative Business Impact Sputnik 23 Mar 2020 -- Last week, during his national address in view of the coronavirus disease Covid-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced setting up a Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman-headed task force to assess impact of the pandemic on the country's economy.

Iran

• US Fingers Iran for Exporting COVID-19 VOA 23 Mar 2020 -- Fears Iran would serve as a launching pad for the coronavirus pandemic, potentially wreaking havoc on the Middle East, are coming true, according to U.S. officials, who point to a growing volume of evidence.
• Iran doubts US' claims over COVID19 IRNA 23 Mar 2020 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry in a twitter message reacted to the remarks of the US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortegas and said the US administration could answer the questions posed by "Global Research" if they think accusations against US are fabricated theories by Iran.
• Khamenei's Lies About the Wuhan Virus Put Lives at Risk US Dept. of State 23 Mar 2020 -- "Supreme Leader Khamenei's fabrications regarding the Wuhan Virus are dangerous and they put Iranians and people around the world at greater risk. Facts matter. Here are a few the Iranian regime would like to keep from the world:"
• Official: Coronavirus death toll hits 1,812 in Iran IRNA 23 Mar 2020 -- Head of Iran's Health Ministry Public Relations Office Kianoush Jahanpour said on Monday that 8,376 people out of a total of 23,049 infected by the coronavirus have survived the deadly disease while 1,812 have unfortunately succumbed to death.
• Zarif: US impeding global fight against COVID-19 IRNA 23 Mar 2020 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a message praised the global campaign for lifting sanctions, saying the US is impeding the international fight against coronavirus.
• FM Zarif: US impeding global fight against coronavirus Press TV 23 Mar 2020 -- Iran's foreign minister has slammed the US for not heeding a global call on Washington to lift sanctions against Tehran so that the country can fight the coronavirus outbreak.
• Pompeo Accuses Iran of Importing Coronavirus to 'At Least 5 Countries' Sputnik 23 Mar 2020 -- The government of Iran has transmitted the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to at least five countries, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Monday.

South Korea

• South Korea's Coronavirus Plan Is Working, Can the World Copy It? VOA 23 Mar 2020 -- It was Thursday morning, and my phone buzzed with a text message from South Korea's emergency alert system, as it has hundreds of times during the coronavirus outbreak.

Japan

• Japan to Quarantine Visitors from US for Up to 14 days VOA 23 Mar 2020 -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Monday that his country will require a 14-day quarantine to all visitors from the United States amid an escalating number of coronavirus infections around the globe.

Saudi Arabia

• Saudi Arabia imposes curfew, UAE halts passenger flights as coronavirus grips Middle East Press TV 23 Mar 2020 -- Saudi Arabia is set to impose a nationwide curfew starting on Monday to fight the deadly coronavirus that hit more people in the kingdom and across the Middle East, while the United Arab Emirates will suspend all passenger flights.
• Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques issues curfew order to limit spread of Novel Coronavirus from seven in the evening until six in the morning for 21 days starting in the evening of Monday 23 March SPA 23 Mar 2020 -- Based on the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's great care for the health and safety of citizens and expatriates to limit the spread of the Novel Coronavirus, he issued the following order:

Taiwan

• Taiwan COVID-19 cases rise to 195 with 26 new infections (update) CNA 23 Mar 2020 -- Taiwan confirmed 26 new cases of COVID-19 coronavirus Monday, bringing its total number to 195, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said.
• Taiwan gearing up to produce 13 million masks per day CNA 23 Mar 2020 -- Taiwan will be able to reach its target of making 13 million surgical masks per day from early April to meet rising demand for the item amid the fight to curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, a government official said Monday.
• Time not yet ripe for Taiwan to export masks to allies: MOFA CNA 23 Mar 2020 -- Taiwan has not yet reached the point that it can export surgical masks to diplomatic allies in need amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) declared Monday, dismissing online misinformation that it gave away masks to an ally as a diplomatic favor.

Other Countries

• Water access critical to beating back COVID-19 spread in slum areas UN News 23 Mar 2020 -- As regular hand washing is a key tool in combating COVID-19, the UN and its partners are taking steps to ensure people living in informal settlements have access to running water at this critical time, according to the agency working to achieve more sustainable cities.
• CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 pandemic may come and go for up to 2 years: Chinese expert CNA 23 Mar 2020 -- A Chinese medical expert has predicted that the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that has spread rapidly around the world will not disappear anytime soon and could last off and on for one or two years.
• Myanmar Confirms First Two Coronavirus Infections as Migrant Workers Pose New Challenge Radio Free Asia 23 Mar 2020 -- Myanmar on Monday announced its first two confirmed cases of the disease caused by novel coronavirus (COVID-19) after weeks of officials downplaying the risk to the country and as neighboring nations saw their infection counts skyrocket and braced for returning migrant workers.
• Coronavirus Cases Rise to 89 in Tunisia SPA 23 Mar 2020 -- Tunisia has reported 14 new cases of Coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in Tunisia to 89.
• Indonesia coronavirus cases rise to 579 SPA 23 Mar 2020 -- Indonesia reported 65 new positive cases of coronavirus disease on Monday, bringing the total number of cases in Southeast Asia's largest economy to 579, Reuters quoted Health Ministry official Achmad Yurianto as saying.
• Omani Health Ministry Reports 11 New Cases of Coronavirus SPA 23 Mar 2020 -- The Omani Ministry of Health today reported 11 new cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the number of infections in the country to 66.
• Bahrain Reports 11 More Recoveries from Coronavirus SPA 23 Mar 2020 -- Bahraini Ministry of Health has announced that 11 individuals have recovered from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Kingdom of Bahrain, bringing the total number of confirmed recoveries to 160.
• Kuwait Reports One New Case of Novel Coronavirus SPA 23 Mar 2020 -- The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health has reported one confirmed case of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) during the past 24 hours.
• Thailand Reports 122 New Coronavirus Cases SPA 23 Mar 2020 -- Thailand reported 122 novel coronavirus infections, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 721.
• New Zealand PM Ardern Says Country Should Prepare for Self-Isolation Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Sputnik 23 Mar 2020 -- New Zealand and its neighboring country Australia have banned entry for all foreigners in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus in the Oceanic nations, as the global COVID-19 toll continues to soar.
• Singapore Bucks Virus Trend as Schools Reopen VOA 23 Mar 2020 -- Students in Singapore returned to school on Monday, bucking a global trend of coronavirus-driven closures and signaling that the quick crisis response may be letting the nation and the economy return to normal earlier than others.
• Syria Acknowledges One Coronavirus Case VOA 23 Mar 2020 -- After weeks of reporting that the country was free of the coronavirus, the Syrian government is saying that it has experienced its first case. Other unconfirmed reports, however, put the figure much higher.
• Authorities Order Two-Week Shutdown in Southern Pakistan VOA 23 Mar 2020 -- Pakistani authorities patrolled the streets of Karachi, Monday to enforce a two-week complete lockdown ordered in southern Pakistan as the number of positive coronavirus tests jumped to at least 799 across the country.
• Turkey Threatens to Seize Face Mask Producing Factories VOA 23 Mar 2020 -- Turkish officials are threatening to seize factories where face masks are produced if the companies running them do not agree to sell their products to the government.
• Athletic Housing in Indonesia Turned into Emergency Coronavirus Hospital VOA 23 Mar 2020 -- The Indonesian government's Special Task Force for Covid-19 said that four high rise buildings at the Kemayoran athletic village in Jakarta have been refurbished and are ready for use for coronavirus patients.