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COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 70 WHO 30 March 2020
• WHO Emergencies Press Conference on coronavirus disease outbreak - 30 March 2020 WHO 30 March 2020
• Coronavirus necessitates global increase in protective equipment, medical supplies: UN health chief UN News 30 Mar 2020 -- The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for stepped-up production of medical equipment and supplies as health facilities and health workers in many countries struggle with increasing and urgent demands brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• WHO: Don't Wear Face Masks VOA 30 Mar 2020 -- Don't wear face masks to fend off the coronavirus, the World Health Organization says.
• Global updates: Over 722,000 now infected with coronavirus, nearly 34,000 dead Press TV 30 Mar 2020 -- The new coronavirus has now killed 33,997 people and infected 722,435 others worldwide, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Italy continues to be a prime hotspot for the viral infection. The pandemic has already brought the entire world to a standstill, with governments and people putting up fights to save more lives and reduce the costs of the malady.
• COVID-19 pandemic kills over 30,000 people worldwide: WHO People's Daily 30 Mar 2020 -- The global death toll from COVID-19 has climbed to 30,105 as of 18:00 CET (1600 GMT) Sunday, according to the situation dashboard by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• UN urges $2.5-trillion in pandemic aid to developing nations Press TV 30 Mar 2020 -- The United Nations has called for a $2.5-trillion aid package to help developing countries face the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
• $2.5 trillion COVID-19 rescue package needed for world's emerging economies UN News 30 Mar 2020 -- The economic fallout from COVID-19 is likely to get "much worse" before it gets better for some six billion people living in developing economies, the UN said on Monday, in an appeal for a $2.5 trillion rescue package to boost their resilience to further hardship.

United States

• Remarks by President Trump and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in a Press Briefing The White House 30 Mar 2020
• President Donald J. Trump Approves Rhode Island Disaster Declaration The White House 30 Mar 2020
• President Donald J. Trump Approves Pennsylvania Disaster Declaration The White House 30 Mar 2020
• Corps of Engineers Teams Evaluate Sites as Possible Alternate Care Facilities DoD News 30 Mar 2020 -- At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers teams are evaluating facilities for possible conversion into alternate care facilities as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 143,532 Coronavirus Cases and 2,572 Deaths Reported in US SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- The United States recorded today the highest number of the Coronavirus cases around the world, while the number of cases until 10:00 am local time in Washington were 143,532 while the number of deaths were 2,572 and the number of recoveries were 4,865.
• US Health Department Allows Hospitals to Use Chloroquine to Treat COVID-19 Cases SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- The US Department of Health announced in a statement today: "the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine drugs are to be used as the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) treatment at the hospitals only."
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 30 Mar 2020 -- In an effort to minimize the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 and to prioritize the health and safety of Department of the Air Force personnel, the following modifications have been made:
• President Donald J. Trump Approves Alabama Disaster Declaration The White House 30 Mar 2020
• President Donald J. Trump Approves Kansas Disaster Declaration The White House 30 Mar 2020
• Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing The White House 30 Mar 2020
• Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate The White House 30 Mar 2020
• Text of a Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities The White House 30 Mar 2020
• U.S. steps up COVID-19 therapy development People's Daily 30 Mar 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that the country is stepping up the development of treatments for COVID-19 patients, including experimenting with the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine and blood-related therapies.
• Trump extends social distancing guidelines as COVID-19 cases top 140,000 People's Daily 30 Mar 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday extended the national social distancing guidelines through April amid warnings that the death toll from COVID-19 in the country might exceed 100,000.
• COVID-19 cases in U.S. top 140,000: Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 30 Mar 2020 -- The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States has topped 140,000, according to the latest tally from Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE).
• Trump extends national social distancing guidelines to April 30 People's Daily 30 Mar 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that the national social distancing guidelines aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus will be extended to April 30.
• Trump: US coronavirus death toll could be 100,000 or more Press TV 30 Mar 2020 -- US President Donald Trump says his country would be doing "a very good job" if it can hold the number of coronavirus deaths at or below 100,000.
• Pentagon Has Over 1,000 Cases of COVID-19 Among Service Members, Civilians Sputnik 30 Mar 2020 -- The number of confirmed novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases among US service members and related civilian population has exceeded 1,000, according to a US Department of Defen?e (DOD) fact sheet released on Monday.
• Hope Sails into New York Harbor Amid COVID Crisis VOA 30 Mar 2020 -- The U.S. Navy hospital ship Comfort sailed into New York Harbor early Monday, bringing hope and relief to the city of 8.6 million, which has become the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States.
• Field Hospital to Treat COVID-19 Patients Under Construction in New York's Central Park Sputnik 30 Mar 2020 -- The Christian humanitarian organisation Samaritan's Purse is currently constructing a field hospital in New York City's Central Park to treat patients that have tested positive for COVID-19, a Sputnik correspondent at the scene reported.
• Briefing With Dr. William Walters, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Operations, Bureau of Medical Services, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ian Brownlee, Bureau of Consular Affairs On Updates On Health Impact and Assistance For American Citizens Abroad US Dept. of State 30 Mar 2020
• President signs executive order calling up Air Force Reserve medics, other specialties US Air Force 30 Mar 2020 -- On March 27, the president signed an executive order authorizing mobilization of the Reserve Component in response to COVID-19 operations.
• Trump: 'Horrible Scourge' of Coronavirus Will Cause New Spike of US Deaths VOA 30 Mar 2020 -- U.S President Donald Trump on Monday called the coronavirus "a horrible scourge" that is going to lead to a sharp increase in deaths in the U.S. in the coming days and weeks.
• In Turnaround, Trump Extends Coronavirus Social-distance Guidelines to April 30 VOA 30 Mar 2020 -- U.S President Donald Trump has extended social distancing and other coronavirus-fighting guidelines through April 30, saying what has been done so far is saving lives.
• Pentagon Orders EUCOM Not to Report Military Coronavirus Cases Over Security Concerns Sputnik 30 Mar 2020 -- The US Pentagon on Sunday ordered that the US European Command (EUCOM) headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, stop reporting the number of COVID-19 coronavirus infections within its military community, citing security concerns.
• Comfort Arrives in New York NNS 30 Mar 2020 -- The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived in New York March 30, 2020 in support of the nation's COVID-19 response efforts.
• Rush Transcript: Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Announces Statewide Public-private Hospital Plan to Fight COVID-19 New York State 30 Mar 2020
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 30 Mar 2020

Europe

• Italy Reports 812 New Deaths to Coronavirus SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- The Italian Civil Protection Agency clarified today that the number of new deaths due to the spread of Coronavirus increased 812, bringing the total number to 11,591.
• Coronavirus response: additional Czech medical aid arrives in Italy NATO 30 Mar 2020 -- A truck from the Czech Republic carrying medical equipment to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic – including 10,000 pieces of protective suits and samples of newly developed hi-tech respirators printable on 3D printers - has arrived today (Monday 30 March 2020) to Milan, for further distribution of the supplies by the Italian authorities.
• Italy registers 97,689 coronavirus cases, death toll at 10,779 People's Daily 30 Mar 2020 -- The coronavirus pandemic has claimed 10,779 lives in locked-down Italy by Sunday with the cumulative total infections reaching 97,689, according to new data released by the Civil Protection Department.
• Raab announces rescue plan for stranded Britons Press TV 30 Mar 2020 -- After weeks of dithering and confusion the British government has belatedly announced a rescue plan to repatriate potentially hundreds of thousands of stranded Britons from around the world.
• UK Announces 180 Deaths of COVID-19 SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- The health authorities in UK announced today 180 deaths of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
• Foreign Secretary's statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 30 March 2020 UK FCO 30 Mar 2020 -- Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab gave the 30 March 2020 daily press briefing on the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• UK's Northern Ireland to Release Some Inmates Amid COVID-19 Pandemic - Justice Minister Sputnik 30 Mar 2020 -- The authorities of the United Kingdom's Northern Ireland are planning to temporarily release some prisoners earlier than their sentence is completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the region's justice minister, Naomi Long, said on Monday.
• Death Toll From COVID-19 in Spain Rises by 812 to 7,340 Over Past Day Sputnik 30 Mar 2020 -- The death toll from the coronavirus infection in Spain has risen by 812 over the past day, reaching 7,340, the country's Health Ministry said on Monday.
• UK Cabinet Minister Gove Blames China for Failing to Give 'Clear' Info About Spread of COVID-19 Sputnik 30 Mar 2020 -- On Sunday, spokesperson for Chinese National Health Commission Mi Feng said that with the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country currently standing at less than 3,000, "the spread of the epidemic in China is generally stopped".
• Italian Health Minister Says Quarantine Measures Set to Expire on Friday Will Be Extended Sputnik 30 Mar 2020 -- Italy's Health Minister Roberto Speranza has said that nationwide quarantine measures imposed three weeks ago to curb the spread of COVID-19 will be extended as the country needs more time to combat the outbreak.
• Spain Surpasses China's Coronavirus Case Count VOA 30 Mar 2020 -- Spain reported Monday 812 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, while more than 6,000 new confirmed cases made it the third country, along with the United States and Italy, to surpass China's total.
• Spain Tries Tracking Coronavirus, Sparking Privacy Concerns VOA 30 Mar 2020 -- In Madrid only a few weeks ago, thousands of demonstrators took part in a women's march, defiant or unaware of calls for social distancing to stop what then appeared to be the distant threat of coronavirus. Now, Spain is one of the biggest battlegrounds in the global war against the pandemic.

China

• Chinese CDC experts, frontline doctors cite COVID-19 data as reliable, complete Global Times 30 Mar 2020 -- Chinese medical experts and frontline doctors said that China's COVID-19 data is reliable, complete and detailed, and that the number of locally transmitted infections which has been near zero for weeks is not simply proved by the data, but also by the zero increase of hospitalizations, in a rebuttal to accusations from Western media and politicians that China's data is "untrusted and misrepresented."
• Army of PRC Twitter Bots Peddles Disinformation About Virus Origins Radio Free Asia 30 Mar 2020 -- China has set up multiple fake bot accounts on Twitter using Radio Free Asia's logo and descriptions to tweet fake news in recent months, including allegations that the coronavirus came from the U.S., a recent investigative report has found.
• Concerns linger for virus-plagued businesses in China Global Times 30 Mar 2020 -- Nationwide efforts to restart the coronavirus-battered Chinese economy seem to have proceeded by fits and starts amid an explosion in confirmed cases in Europe and the US, with authorities and industry insiders voicing concerns over the plight of life services providers, exporters as well as small and micro businesses.
• Should China stand by idly as other countries fight COVID-19?: FM spokesperson Global Times 30 Mar 2020 -- When asked if China intends to manipulate other countries' public opinions by providing assistance to those hit by COVID-19, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying asked, do those asking the question hope China stands by idly while remaining indifferent in the face of the pandemic?
• Isolated quality issues regarding Chinese medical aids should not be politicized, goodwill matters: FM Global Times 30 Mar 2020 -- Isolated issues related to Chinese made medical supplies and materials sent to other countries to help in the battle against COVID-19 should not be interpreted in a politicized fashion, and China's goodwill to assist other nations is sincere, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Monday.
• China keeps engine roaring to ensure global medical supplies amid pandemic Global Times 30 Mar 2020 -- As demand for life-saving medical supplies continues to skyrocket globally, China, as a major world supplier, is sparing no efforts to ensure steady supplies, with factories running 24 hours a day to make everything from masks to test kits and ventilators, airlines and shipping firms scrambling to expand transport channels and officials stepping up efforts to help boost the supply chain.
• China to send medical expert team to the Philippines to help local coronavirus fight: envoy Global Times 30 Mar 2020 -- The Chinese government will send a medical expert team to the Philippines to help battle COVID-19 at request, according to Chinese Ambassador to the Southeast Asian country, Huang Xilian, on Monday.
• Face mask QC issue should not be politicized: Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands Global Times 30 Mar 2020 -- Chinese analysts warned that some wouldn't take the opportunity to denounce China and its honest intentions in sending anti-epidemic supplies over quality control issues amid reports that the Netherlands had recalled defective face masks sent from China.
• Gansu confirms new imported COVID-19 cases Global Times 30 Mar 2020 -- Heath commission authorities in Northwest China's Gansu Province confirmed on Sunday two novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, one from the UK via Shanghai, and another from Hubei Province in the same 24-hour period.
• Beijing's SARS treatment hospital sees first COVID-19 patient discharged People's Daily 30 Mar 2020 -- Xiaotangshan Hospital, which was previously used to quarantine SARS patients in Beijing, saw its first patient of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) discharged after recovery on Monday.
• China's Wuhan reports zero increase in COVID-19 cases People's Daily 30 Mar 2020 -- No new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported Sunday in Wuhan, the hardest-hit city in central China's Hubei Province.
• Chinese mainland reports 31 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 30 Mar 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Monday it received reports of 31 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland on Sunday, of which 30 were imported.
• 322 COVID-19 patients discharged from hospital on Chinese mainland People's Daily 30 Mar 2020 -- A total of 322 patients of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were discharged from the hospital Sunday on the Chinese mainland, according to the National Health Commission.
• Imported cases raise increasing concerns People's Daily 30 Mar 2020 -- Health officials and experts are calling for people to remain vigilant against the novel coronavirus and are tightening controls on inbound arrivals and asymptomatic cases as the country still faces the risk of imported infections and the threat of asymptomatic carriers.
• Concerns Grow Over Wuhan Doctor Amid Call For Return to Work Radio Free Asia 30 Mar 2020 -- Whistleblowing Wuhan doctor Ai Fen is currently incommunicado, believed detained after giving media interviews about her initial concerns over the coronavirus, according to an Australian media report.

Russia

• Forced Into Quarantine, Muscovites Question The State's Shifting Coronavirus Response RFE/RL 30 Mar 2020 -- After President Vladimir Putin announced a nine-day paid holiday on March 25, hundreds of Muscovites flew south to Sochi and other resort towns on Russia's Black Sea coast to while away the unexpected vacation in warmer climes.
• Putin Says Russia Managed to Prevent Significant Growth of COVID-19 Cases Over Past Weeks Sputnik 30 Mar 2020 -- Coronavirus in Russia
• Moscow Mayor Agreed Upon Anti-Coronavirus Measures With President - Kremlin Sputnik 30 Mar 2020 -- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin agreed upon the anti-coronavirus measures in the capital with President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.
• Moscow Mayor Says Systems to Help Control Movement Amid COVID-19 Expected by Week's End Sputnik 30 Mar 2020 -- Moscow's authorities will be able to better control residents' movements during the COVID-19 pandemic with information systems that are expected to be put in place by the end of the week, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Monday.
• Russia Embraces Quarantine Tactics Amid Coronavirus Surge VOA 30 Mar 2020 -- Russia tightened controls aimed at combating the spread of the coronavirus on Monday, with Moscow introducing temporary quarantine measures, and the Kremlin moving to extend the lockdown nationwide.

India

• COVID-19 Update: Availability of PPE kits, N95 masks and ventilators India PIB 30 Mar 2020 -- The prevention, containment and management of COVID-19 in the country are being monitored at the highest level and various actions have been initiated in collaboration with the States.
• PM interacts with social welfare organizations India PIB 30 Mar 2020 -- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today interacted with representatives of organizations working towards social welfare, via video conference.
• COVID-19: Mass Migration of Workers is a Potential Time Bomb in India, Top Chest Surgeon Says Sputnik 30 Mar 2020 -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has apologised to the people of the country for imposing a 21-day lockdown which has led to the mass exodus of thousands of migrant labourers. Workers across the country have marched to their hometowns as the world's biggest lockdown has left them jobless due to the closure of factories.
• COVID19 cases top 1,000 in India SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- The overall number of COVID19 cases in India crossed the 1,000 mark on Monday, dpa reported.

Iran

• Iran should fight coronavirus, sanctions: Gov't spox IRNA 30 Mar 2020 -- Spokesman of the Iranian Government Ali Rabiei said on Monday through a video press conference that Iran needs to break sanctions and coronavirus at the same time.
• Official: 13,911 Iranians survive COVID-19 IRNA 30 Mar 2020 -- Head of Iran's Health Ministry Public Relations Department Kianoush Jahanpour said on Monday that 13,911 people out of a total of 41,495 infected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) have survived the virus.
• Iran's Defense Ministry unveils rapid test kits for novel coronavirus Press TV 30 Mar 2020 -- A biomedicine company affiliated with the Iranian Defense Ministry has unveiled homemade rapid tests kits for new coronavirus as the country moves to contain an outbreak that has affected tens of thousands of people.
• Iran: Virus revealed 'ugliest face of US government addicted to sanctions' Press TV 30 Mar 2020 -- Iran says the coronavirus pandemic underscores the need to end "madness in politics and irresponsible unilateralism" of the US government which is sabotaging the country's fight against the disease through sanctions.

Taiwan

• Taiwan 'Capable and Willing' to Cooperate on Coronavirus, Despite WHO Slight Radio Free Asia 30 Mar 2020 -- Taiwan is "capable and willing" to cooperate with every country to combat the spread of the coronavirus, President Tsai Ing-wen said Monday, following a kerfuffle over the weekend in which a World Health Organization (WHO) official appeared to dodge a question about granting the democratic island membership.
• WHO sticks to position, says Taiwan membership up to member states CNA 30 Mar 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday remained firm on the subject of Taiwan's exclusion, reiterating that its membership is up to member states and not a decision made by the WHO itself.
• Taiwan records two more COVID-19 deaths, eight new cases CNA 30 Mar 2020 -- Taiwan confirmed eight new infections of COVID-19 coronavirus and another two deaths, which brought its total number of confirmed cases to 306 and its death toll to five, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• More masks, easier access coming in April under rationing program CNA 30 Mar 2020 -- Taiwan's mask rationing system will see significant changes in mid-April that will give local residents easier access to more surgical face masks under the country's mask rationing system, the Central Epidemic Control Center (CECC) said Monday.
• 214 Taiwanese back in Taiwan after long ordeal in Hubei province CNA 30 Mar 2020 -- A second special flight carrying 214 Taiwan nationals who had been stranded in Hubei province in China because of the new coronavirus outbreak touched down late Monday at Taoyuan International Airport.
• 153 Taiwanese return from Hubei, placed in quarantine CNA 30 Mar 2020 -- A total of 153 Taiwanese nationals who had been stuck in China's Hubei Province due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic returned to Taiwan late Sunday on a special flight and are now in quarantine, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Expanded testing, social distancing will flatten COVID-19 curve: experts CNA 30 Mar 2020 -- Taiwan needs to increase testing and implement social distancing regulations to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, public health experts said Monday at a weekly press conference.
• Taiwan records third COVID-19 death CNA 30 Mar 2020 -- Taiwan's death toll from the COVID-19 coronavirus rose to three Sunday with the passing of a patient in his 40s, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported late that night.
• Taiwan to resume forehead thermometer exports CNA 30 Mar 2020 -- Taiwan will resume exports of infrared forehead thermometers in April, ending a one-month ban after an increase in production capacity, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said Monday.
• Taiwan, Australia to exchange raw materials to fight COVID-19 CNA 30 Mar 2020 -- Taiwan and Australia have agreed to exchange raw materials in the near future to help each other fight the new coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOFA) announced Monday.

Syria

• 'Immediate nationwide ceasefire' needed for all-out effort to counter COVID-19 in Syria UN News 30 Mar 2020 -- Syria is at "high risk" of being unable to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN Special Envoy for the country said on Monday, reiterating calls for a "complete, immediate nationwide ceasefire" to enable an all-out-effort to counter the march of the new coronavirus.
• Sanctions on Syria Should be Waived Amid COVID-19 Pandemic - UN Humanitarian Chief Sputnik 30 Mar 2020 -- United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock on Monday called for lifting the sanctions against Syria that could undermine the country's capacity to suppress the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Other Countries

• Myanmar's IDP Camps Put 350,000 in Path of Coronavirus: Rights Group Radio Free Asia 30 Mar 2020 -- Myanmar's camps housing hundreds of thousands of civilians internally displaced by armed conflict in the country's ethnic regions are looming hot spots for the spread of the coronavirus, an international rights organization said Monday.
• COVID-19 Cases Rise Across Southeast Asia as Governments Step Up Damage Control Radio Free Asia 30 Mar 2020 -- Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar took more preventative measures in response to the COVID-19 crisis Monday as each of the four Southeast Asian countries reported small increases in confirmed cases that threatened to tax overstretched health care systems.
• Iraq Reports 83 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- Iraq has reported 83 confirmed new cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the number of infections to 630.
• Pakistan: 21 Deaths and 1,625 Infections of COVID-19 SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan for Health Dr. Zafar Mirza has announced that the death rate of the novel Corona virus (COVID-19) in Pakistan has risen to 21, with the number of those infected reaching 1625 cases.
• Asia-Pacific countries on high alert for COVID-19 as more confirmed cases, deaths reported People's Daily 30 Mar 2020 -- Asia-Pacific countries kept reporting more COVID-19 infections and deaths on Sunday, as Indonesia saw the highest death toll in Southeast Asia, while Australia imposed stricter measures to contain the pandemic.
• UN helps Pacific prepare for COVID-19 pandemic, warns that children are 'hidden victims' UN News 30 Mar 2020 -- United Nations agencies are working together to provide vital support to Pacific Island countries as they rally to combat COVID-19 outbreaks across the region.
• COVID-19: Russia Closes Borders; Serbia Plans $5.5 Billion Aid Package RFE/RL 30 Mar 2020 -- The global death toll has surpassed 34,000 with over 725,000 infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
• Interview: U.S. Lung-Disease Expert On Coronavirus Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention RFE/RL 30 Mar 2020 -- Ognjen Gajic, a lung expert and critical care specialist at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in the northern U.S. state of Minnesota, was interviewed by Ajla Obradovic, a correspondent with RFE/RL's Balkan Service, about the coronavirus and the disease's symptoms and treatment.
• Fourth batch of medical supplies from China arrives in Pakistan Global Times 30 Mar 2020 -- The fourth batch of medical supplies provided by the Chinese government from China's Wuhan arrived at Pakistan's Noor Khan Air Base near Islamabad on Sunday.
• UAE Reports 41 New Cases of Novel Coronavirus and Recovery of 3 Cases SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- The United Arab Emirates reported here today 41 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) belonging to various nationalities, in addition to two deaths due to complications from the infection of the virus belonging to a 48-year-old Arab national who was suffering from heart diseases, blood pressure and diabetes. The second death of a 42-year-old Asian was also suffering from heart disease, bringing the total number of deaths to 5.
• Sudan Reports Second Death from Coronavirus SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- Sudanese Ministry of Health reported today the second death of a Sudanese national infected with the new Coronavirus, bringing the number of deaths from the Coronavirus to two deaths, and five confirmed cases.
• Nigeria Reports 97 New Cases of Coronavirus, One Death SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- Nigeria announced 97 new confirmed cases of Coronavirus and one death.
• Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques orders free treatment from Coronavirus for all citizens, residents, and violators of residency regulation in all health facilities SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- The Minister of Health, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan AlRabiah, has announced the issuance of the order of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to provide free treatment to all citizens, residents, and violators of the residency regulation in all government and private health facilities relating to all matters for treatment of the Coronavirus.
• KSrelief signs an agreement with WHO to support it in combating novel Coronavirus SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- In implementation of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to provide financial support amounting to $ 10 million U.S. dollar to the World Health Organization (WHO) to combat the novel Coronavirus "COVID19" in response to the Organization's urgent appeal to all countries to intensify efforts to take global action to combat the spread of Coronavirus, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) signed at its headquarters here today an agreement with the Organization to support it in combating the Coronavirus.
• Oman: 15 More COVID-19 confirmed cases SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- Omani Ministry of Health (MOH) has announced the registration of (15) new positive cases with Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Sultanate of Oman.
• Morocco Reports 37 New Cases of Novel Coronavirus, One Death SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- The Moroccan Ministry of Health reported 37 new cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and one death.
• Thailand: 136 New Coronavirus Cases SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- Thailand reported today 136 novel coronavirus (Covid-19) infections.
• Kuwait announces recovery of additional five COVID-19 patients SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- Kuwaiti Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. Basel Al-Sabah on Monday announced the recovery of five additional people from the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, raising the country's total number of recoveries to 72.
• Mexico Reports 145 New Cases of Novel Coronavirus, 4 Deaths SPA 30 Mar 2020 -- The Mexican Ministry of Health has reported 145 confirmed cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and four deaths during the past 24 hours.
• Japan Plans to Widen Coronavirus-Related Entry Ban to US, China, S. Korea, Europe – Reports Sputnik 30 Mar 2020 -- The Japanese government is planning to widen its coronavirus-related entry ban to include the US, the whole of China and South Korea, and most of Europe, the country's Kyodo News agency reported on Monday, citing unnamed government sources.
• Release inmates in Yemen to avert nationwide COVID-19 outbreak, experts urge UN News 30 Mar 2020 -- An international panel of human rights experts called today for the immediate release of political prisoners and detainees in war-ravaged Yemen to help avert a nationwide outbreak of COVID-19.
• Nigeria Shuts Down Lagos and Abuja to Control Coronavirus Spread VOA 30 Mar 2020 -- Nigeria's two main cities – Abuja and Lagos – are preparing to go on lockdown to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The arrival of coronavirus testing kits donated by a Chinese billionaire is expected to give officials a more accurate reading of coronavirus infections in Africa's most populous nation. But there are also concerns on how the public could react to a jump in infection numbers and a lockdown.
• Coronavirus Lockdowns Extended as Governments Hope for Progress VOA 30 Mar 2020 -- The U.S. state of New York has passed the somber milestone of 1,000 coronavirus deaths, while governments across the world instituted or extended new lockdowns to try to blunt the effects of the outbreak.
• Zimbabwe Begins Lockdown to Fight COVID19 VOA 30 Mar 2020 -- Zimbabwe on Monday began a 21-day lockdown to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Health care advocates and the business community are generally supportive, but have aired concerns they say the government needs to address.
• In Cameroon, Violating COVID-19 Restrictions Can Get You Arrested VOA 30 Mar 2020 -- Police in Cameroon have begun arresting people who defy measures put in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus, which has so far has infected 139 people in the central African state. Police are sealing shops that exceed maximum numbers for customers, impounding vehicles that carry too many passengers, and this week arrested more than 50 prostitutes for sneaking into hotels used to isolate suspected cases.
• If Coronavirus Hits Libyan Detention Centers It Would be a 'Massacre' VOA 30 Mar 2020 -- While much of the world is under orders to practice social distancing to slow the spread of coronavirus, there are certain places where such distance is impossible.