Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Attorney General Barr Issues Guidance to Protect Facilities from Unmanned Aircraft and Unmanned Aircraft Systems US Dept. of Justice 13 Apr 2020 -- "Today, Attorney General William P. Barr issued Guidance to Department of Justice components regarding counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) actions authorized under the Preventing Emerging Threats Act of 2018 (the Act)."

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 84 WHO 13 Apr 2020
• WHO Emergencies Press Conference on coronavirus disease outbreak - 13 April 2020 WHO 13 Apr 2020
• COVID-19: Global caseload exceeds 1.84mn; deaths in Europe on downward trend Press TV 13 Apr 2020 -- At least 1,844,410 people are diagnosed with COVID-19 across the globe, and 114,090 others have so far died of the disease, according to the latest data collected by Johns Hopkins University.
• WHO Introduces Multinational Collaboration Team for Developing COVID-19 Vaccine Sputnik 13 Apr 2020 -- A group of experts from various countries have come together under the auspices of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to speed up the development of vaccines against the novel coronavirus which causes COVID-19, the WHO said in a statement.
• Public statement for collaboration on COVID-19 vaccine development WHO 13 Apr 2020
• Signs of Stabilisation Do Not Mean Pandemic is Over - WHO's Official Sputnik 13 Apr 2020 -- First signs of stabilisation do not mean the coronavirus pandemic is over, now is the time to be vigilant, Michael J. Ryan, Executive Director of the World Health Organisation's Health Emergencies Programme, said Monday.
• Testing, tracing, and when to lift restrictions: WHO's latest advice UN News 13 Apr 2020 -- The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), outlined his agency's latest advice to countries on Monday in a statement, stressing that a mix of social distancing, testing, contact tracing and isolation, will be crucial to further curb the spread of the new coronavirus already devastating much of the globe.

United States

• US Nowhere Near Ready for Business as Usual, Former CDC Head Says VOA 13 Apr 2020 -- Our new normal will not be life as we knew it before the coronavirus traveled around the world.
• DOD Works to Eliminate Foreign Coronavirus Disinformation DoD News 13 Apr 2020 -- Under the rubric of "not wasting a good crisis," Russia, China and others are using the coronavirus pandemic to spread disinformation to further their goals, Pentagon officials said.
• Navy Sailor Assigned to USS Theodore Roosevelt Dies of COVID-Related Complications NNS 13 Apr 2020 -- The Sailor assigned to the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) who was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam April 9 (local date) died of COVID-related complications April 13.
• First Active Duty US Service Member Dies from COVID-19 VOA 13 Apr 2020 -- A sailor assigned to the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier died Monday of complications related to the coronavirus, the first active duty military service member to die from the virus.
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 13 Apr 2020
• DoD Contract for 60 N95 Critical Care Decontamination Units: $415M Contract, Each Unit Can Decontaminate 80K N95 Masks Per Day DoD 13 Apr 2020 -- The Department of Defense's Defense Logistics Agency, on behalf of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), has awarded a $415 million contract for 60 Battelle Memorial Institute Critical Care Decontamination Systems (CCDS), that can decontaminate up to 80,000 used N95 respirators per system per day, enabling mask reuse up to 20 times.
• Defense Department CIO and Joint Staff CIO Brief Reporters on DOD Communication Efforts Regarding COVID-19 DoD 13 Apr 2020 -- Dana Deasy, Defense Department CIO, and Air Force Lt. Gen. Bradford Shwedo, Joint Staff CIO
• DOD Learns Lessons for Future From Coronavirus Fight DoD News 13 Apr 2020 -- The Defense Department is "all in" for the fight against COVID-19 and to learn from the experience so the department is better prepared when another pandemic strikes, the Joint Staff's director of joint force development said.
• DOD Transports Vital COVID-19 Medical Supplies to Points of Need DoD News 13 Apr 2020 -- Transportation is a key part of the Defense Department's contributions to the whole-of-government effort in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• NY Governor Declares 'Worst Is Over,' as COVID Deaths Surpass 10,000 VOA 13 Apr 2020 -- New York's governor declared Monday that the "worst is over" in his state, even as coronavirus deaths surpassed the 10,000 mark there.
• COVID: Trump Says Reopening US Is His Decision VOA 13 Apr 2020 -- President Donald Trump said Monday that he, not state governors, would soon decide whether to reopen the United States to commerce as health experts voiced optimism that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic in the country may soon be over.
• US Deploys Over 41,000 Medical Forces to COVID-19 Hotspots, 2,567 Infected - Pentagon Sputnik 13 Apr 2020 -- Medical and other novel coronavirus (COVID-19)-related deployments by the US military to the state of New York and other areas with severe outbreaks thus far topped 41,000, with 2,567 testing positive and two fatalities, the Defence Department (DoD) said in a press release on Monday.
• Fauci confirms reports Trump rebuffed social distancing advice Press TV 13 Apr 2020 -- US public health adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci has confirmed reports that President Donald Trump rebuffed his social distancing advice.
• Cuomo Says New York, Five Neighboring States to Coordinate Economy Reopening Sputnik 13 Apr 2020 -- The governors of the US states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Rhode Island will coordinate their economic reopening plans after the shutdown caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a press briefing on Monday.
• Trump's response to coronavirus pandemic ruining US reputation: Guardian Press TV 13 Apr 2020 -- US President Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has been sharply condemned by US experts as severely inadequate, is ruining America's reputation as a competent country, according to British media.
• Trump claims he has ultimate authority to reopen US economy Press TV 13 Apr 2020 -- US President Donald Trump has said he has the ultimate authority to loosen restrictions on states and reopen the economy as the coronavirus pandemic eases.
• New model predicts peak of U.S. active COVID-19 cases in late April People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- A new data-driven mathematical model of the novel coronavirus pandemic predicts that the United States will peak in the number of "active" COVID-19 cases around April 20, which marks a critical milestone on the demand for medical resources, said a University of Washington study published on Saturday.
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo, Governor Murphy, Governor Lamont, Governor Wolf, Governor Carney, Governor Raimondo Announce Multi-State Council to Get People Back to Work and Restore the Economy New York State 13 Apr 2020
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 13 Apr 2020
• Weekly Update: DHS Response to COVID-19 DHS 13 Apr 2020
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Holds a Briefing on New York's COVID-19 Response New York State 13 Apr 2020
• COVID-19 cases in U.S. top 550,000: Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States topped 550,000 on Sunday afternoon, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
• Washington D.C. mayor says coronavirus peak in U.S. capital likely in June People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington D.C., said on Sunday coronavirus cases in the U.S. capital will likely peak in June.

China

• China's assistant foreign minister assures African envoys of equal treatment of foreigners amid pandemic Global Times 13 Apr 2020 -- China's Assistant Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong met with ambassadors or representatives from more than 20 African countries in China Monday, according to a statement on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
• Chinese FM spokesperson's remarks on Guangdong's anti-epidemic measures concerning African citizens in China People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Sunday made remarks on Guangdong's anti-epidemic measures concerning African citizens in China. The remarks were as follows.
• China says not discriminating against 'African brothers' amid outbreak Press TV 13 Apr 2020 -- China has rejected accusations that it is discriminating against Africans amid the COVID-19 epidemic in the country.
• African Nations Summon Chinese Ambassadors Over Racism in Guangzhou Radio Free Asia 13 Apr 2020 -- The governments of several African nations have summoned Chinese ambassadors or issued other forms of diplomatic protest following multiple reports of racism against black people in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, home to a trading district colloquially known as "little Africa."
• African Nations Issue Protests Over Racism in China's Guangzhou in COVID-19 Fight Radio Free Asia 13 Apr 2020 -- African envoys in the Chinese capital Beijing have written a protest letter and governments of several African nations have summoned Chinese ambassadors following reports of forced coronavirus testing and quarantines, evictions from apartments and hotels, and other acts they said constituted racism against black people in the southern city of Guangzhou.
• With Coronavirus Lockdown Over, Wuhan Residents Wrangle With Being Stigmatized VOA 13 Apr 2020 -- The lifting of the lockdown in Wuhan, China, the original epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, has allowed most healthy residents to travel outside of the city limits since April 8.
• China's new coronavirus cases climb to six-week high SPA 13 Apr 2020 -- China reported the highest number of new coronavirus cases in nearly six weeks on Monday, as the country tries to prevent a second wave of Covid-19 infections, dpa reported.
• China sends donations to Pacific countries to support COVID-19 prevention and tropical cyclone relief Global Times 13 Apr 2020 -- China has sent donations to Pacific countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as the island countries are also suffering from tropical cyclones.
• 15-20% of those quarantined in Suifenhe may be infected: official Global Times 13 Apr 2020 -- Medical resources are strained and the local capacity to deal with the onslaught of imported COVID-19 cases has reached its limits in the Chinese city of Suifenhe, bordering Russia, as national health authorities have sent experts to help, and donations of medical equipment from across the country have arrived.
• Only 2 test positive in nucleic acid test out of 40k for COVID-19 since April: Beijing official Global Times 13 Apr 2020 -- Beijing has tested more than 40,000 people for the novel coronavirus since April 1, with two turning out to be positive, the capital's health official said on Monday at a press conference, noting that imported cases still present the biggest risk to the capital.
• Hong Kong to require travelers from US, Europe to have virus tests upon arrival Global Times 13 Apr 2020 -- Hong Kong will require air travelers from the United States and Europe to have coronavirus tests upon their arrival, and aims at expanding the arrangement in the near future to cover all those arriving from foreign places, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government's secretary for food and health said on Sunday.
• Most of imported COVID-19 cases diagnosed during medical observation: Chinese official People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- About 70 percent of China's COVID-19 cases from overseas were diagnosed and reported when they were under quarantine and medical observation after entering the country, a health official said on Monday.
• Chinese sends experts to support border city's COVID-19 control People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- China's National Health Commission (NHC) has dispatched an expert team to the city of Suifenhe, at the China-Russia border in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, to support its prevention and control of imported COVID-19 cases, a health official said Monday.
• Chinese city postpones school opening amid rise of imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, has announced further postponing opening of junior high schools as it is coping with increasing imported COVID-19 cases.
• China tightens controls over asymptomatic COVID-19 cases People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- China on April 8 issued a circular calling for intensified detection and prompt responses to people infected with the novel coronavirus but who show no symptoms.
• China suspends resumption of major sports events, mass gatherings in schools People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- China's Ministry of Education has issued a guideline, suspending the resumption of major sports events and mass gatherings on campus amid the epidemic, to ensure the safety and health of teachers and students.
• Northeast China province reports 56 confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province reported 56 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Sunday, local health authority said Monday.
• Shanghai reports 11 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- Shanghai reported 11 imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Sunday, the municipal health commission said Monday.
• China's Hubei reports no increase in COVID-19 cases People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- No new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported in central China's Hubei Province Sunday, local health authority said Monday.
• Chinese mainland reports 108 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Monday that it received reports of 108 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Sunday, of which 98 were imported.
• Chinese mainland reports 98 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- The Chinese mainland reported 98 new imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Sunday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 1,378, the National Health Commission said Monday.
• 88 COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals on Chinese mainland People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- A total of 88 patients of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were discharged from hospitals Sunday on the Chinese mainland, according to the National Health Commission.
• Wuhan in all-out efforts to cure elderly COVID-19 patients People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- China's Wuhan will strengthen medical treatment for severely ill and elderly COVID-19 patients, the latest signal from the city hard hit by the novel coronavirus but now in a steady recovery.
• Medical team sent to NE China's border city to combat imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- A team of 15 medical experts on Sunday departed from Beijing for the city of Suifenhe, at the China-Russia border in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, to aid the city's fight against imported COVID-19 cases, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• China's border city strengthens measures as imported COVID-19 cases increase People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- The city of Suifenhe, at the China-Russia border in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, has beefed up prevention against epidemic spread as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases from overseas continued to rise.
• China's economy expected to recover from COVID-19 while risks lingering - economists People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- China's recovery from the worst of novel coronavirus outbreak will have positive spillovers for the Asian region as it is the largest trading partner of most economies in Asia, an economist said.

Europe

• Walking the Tightrope: Some European Countries Start Lifting Coronavirus Restrictions VOA 13 Apr 2020 -- Some European countries, including Denmark, Austria and the Czech Republic, are starting to lift the tight restrictions they imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
• Spain Allowing Some Workers to Return to Jobs VOA 13 Apr 2020 -- Governments around the world are weighing when and how quickly to allow people back to work without endangering their populations to the coronavirus.
• France's coronavirus deaths reach 14,393, ICU cases continue to decrease People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- As of Sunday, the number of people who have died from the coronavirus in France totalled 14,393, representing a one-day increase of 561, down from Saturday's 643, while serious cases decreased for the fourth straight day.
• Europe Coronavirus Updates: UK PM discharged from hospital, ICU cases in France continue to fall People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- Italy registers 156,363 infections, death toll at 19,899;
• Growing fears of hidden death toll at care homes Press TV 13 Apr 2020 -- Reports that thirteen residents of a County Durham care home have died after displaying symptoms consistent with coronavirus infection have raised fears of a hidden outbreak in the UK's expansive care home network.
• UK could be worst-hit country in Europe as COVID-19 death toll passes 10,000 Press TV 13 Apr 2020 -- The United Kingdom is likely to be among the European countries worst affected by the coronavirus, one of the government's senior scientific advisers, Sir Jeremy Farrar, has said as the COVID-19 death toll passes the 10,000 mark.
• Coronavirus Death Toll in England Rises by More Than 600 in 24 Hours - NHS Sputnik 13 Apr 2020 -- For the second day in a row, England registers more than 600 deaths from coronavirus pandemic, according to the National Health Service.
• Greece Ready to Protect Border if Turkey Lets Migrants With COVID-19 Reach Islands Sputnik 13 Apr 2020 -- Athens is ready to protect its sovereignty and borders if Turkey decides to send migrants infected with the virus to Greece's islands, government spokesman Stelios Petsas said on Monday.
• Belgium Reports Spike in Coronavirus-Related Fatalities, Death Toll Rises to 3,903 Sputnik 13 Apr 2020 -- The number of coronavirus-related deaths in Belgium jumped by 303 in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 3,903, the public health agency said Monday.
• Spain's COVID-19 Death Toll Rises From 16,972 to 17,489 on Monday Sputnik 13 Apr 2020 -- Spain has confirmed 169,496 COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the outbreak, including 3,477 cases registered over the past 24 hours.
• UK's COVID-19 Response Measures Include Using Confidential Patient Data - Reports Sputnik 13 Apr 2020 -- Tech firms are using large volumes of confidential patient information in order to provide UK authorities with real-time COVID-19 situation reports as part of London's measures to cope with the coronavirus outbreak, according to documents seen by The Guardian.

Russia

• Meeting on sanitary and epidemiologic situation in Russia President of Russia 13 Apr 2020 -- Vladimir Putin held a meeting, via videoconference, on the sanitary and epidemiologic situation in Russia.
• Putin Says Russia Has So Far Managed to Handle Coronavirus Proactively Sputnik 13 Apr 2020 -- Around 18,000 COVID-19 cases have been registered in Russia so far with only 148 fatalities - one of the lowest coronavirus mortality rates in the world.

India

• Updates on COVID-19 India PIB 13 Apr 2020
• Muslims attacked, 'nearly lynched' amid coronavirus rumors in India: Report Press TV 13 Apr 2020 -- The coronavirus outbreak has sparked a spree of anti-Muslim attacks across India, with the health ministry of the Hindu nationalist government of Narendra Modi claiming that Muslims are spreading the virus.
• COVID-19: India's Congress Party Calls for a Bold Economic Stimulus Package Worth 5-6% of GDP Sputnik 13 Apr 2020 -- Marooned by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indian industries are awaiting a stimulus package from the government, which had already announced $22 billion in relief for marginalised sections of society on 26 March.

Pakistan

• COVID-19 Lockdowns Leaving Pakistan's Faithful Dejected VOA 13 Apr 2020 -- This was the first time in 35 years that Venus and her husband could not attend the Easter Sunday prayers in the Roman Catholic Church in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

Iran

• Virus infections declining in most Iranian provinces: Ministry Press TV 13 Apr 2020 -- Iran says new cases of coronavirus infections and deaths from the viral outbreak have been declining across most of the country's 31 provinces.
• Iran launching largest plant for face masks in West Asia Press TV 13 Apr 2020 -- Iran is launching the largest face mask plant in West Asia as authorities aim to exponentially increase production capacity for the protective gear in the time of a new coronavirus pandemic that has affected thousands of people in the country.
• Easing lockdown will follow expertise guidelines, says gov't spox IRNA 13 Apr 2020 -- The Government spokesman Ali Rabiei said on Monday that any decision to ease lockdown and reopen activities will follow the expertise guidelines.
• Official: 45,983 COVID19-infected patients survive in Iran IRNA 13 Apr 2020 -- Head of Iran's Health Ministry Public Relations Office Kianoush Jahanpour said on Monday that 45,983 people out of a total of 73,303 infected with the coronavirus have recovered whereas 4,585 have unfortunately lost their lives.

Saudi Arabia

• COVID-19 Follow-up Committee Holds Meeting SPA 13 Apr 2020 -- Under the chairmanship of Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, the COVID-19 Follow-up Committee held its 54th meeting today.
• UN warns Saudi deportation of Ethiopian migrants to fuel coronavirus spread Press TV 13 Apr 2020 -- The United Nations says Saudi Arabia's recent deportation of thousands of Ethiopian migrants will risk the spread of the new coronavirus, urging Riyadh to suspend the practice for the time being.

Taiwan

• Taiwan's WHO Ambitions Get Boost from Coronavirus Success VOA 13 Apr 2020 -- Taiwan's long-running campaign for a role in the World Health Organization is getting fresh backing in response to its successful handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has included assistance to other suffering nations.
• COVID-19 Cases Near Zero in Taiwan, But Restrictions Remain VOA 13 Apr 2020 -- Taiwan is reporting just one to six new COVID-19 cases per day. Schools, offices and restaurants are operating all but normally. But the island's government is expected to wait until the global pandemic improves before easing restrictions that have helped contain the spread of the virus but hurt a big swathe of the economy.
• Taiwan confirms 5 new COVID-19 cases, all infected abroad CNA 13 Apr 2020 -- Five new cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were confirmed in Taiwan on Monday, all of which contracted the disease overseas, according to the latest update on the outbreak from the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Public health experts call for expanded testing of COVID-19 antibody CNA 13 Apr 2020 -- Taiwan public health experts called Monday for expanded testing to identify people with antibodies for the COVID-19 coronavirus so that they can safely go to work where they are needed.
• Taiwan's ban on mask exports to be extended until end of June CNA 13 Apr 2020 -- Taiwan will extend its ban on exports of surgical masks and continue its requisition of factories that produce surgical masks until the end of June, from the original deadline of April 30, the health minister announced Monday.
• 153 Taiwanese from Wuhan released from quarantine CNA 13 Apr 2020 -- A total of 153 Taiwan nationals evacuated from Hubei Province, the coronavirus epicenter in China, in late March completed their 14-day quarantine Monday morning.
• Rapid diagnostic test for COVID-19 to go into production in July CNA 13 Apr 2020 -- A rapid diagnostic test for COVID-19 developed by Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is scheduled to go into production in July, a Taiwanese official said Monday.

North Korea

• North Korea Says it Will Boost Anti-Virus Efforts VOA 13 Apr 2020 -- North Korea says it will intensify its efforts to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Vietnam

• Is Vietnam Taking a Leaf Out of China's 'Face Mask Diplomacy' Playbook? Radio Free Asia 13 Apr 2020 -- In March 2020, after President Xi Jinping toured Wuhan City to inspect progress in containing the coronavirus, Beijing unleashed a global propaganda campaign to tout China's success, in response to foreign criticism that China had been slow in responding to and was not transparent enough in reporting the lethality of COVID-19.
• Vietnam's total coronavirus cases climb to 265, no deaths SPA 13 Apr 2020 -- Vietnam's health ministry reported five more confirmed coronavirus cases on Monday, taking the country's tally to 265, with no deaths.

Other Countries

• IMF Executive Board Approves Immediate Debt Relief for 25 Countries IMF 13 Apr 2020 -- Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) issued the following statement:
• Turkish Interior Minister Promises to Fix Mistakes After Resignation Rejected Sputnik 13 Apr 2020 -- Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Monday that he was ready to continue serving his country and fix the past mistakes he made when imposing a curfew amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Live COVID-19 updates: Finance minister says Britain's GDP may fall by 25-30 pct in Q2 People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- The world is now in a battle against COVID-19, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 200 countries and regions.
• ASEAN nations join hands together to combat COVID-19 People's Daily 13 Apr 2020 -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have stood shoulder by shoulder with one another as well as with China to curb the spread of COVID-19, showing their strong determination and political commitment to battle the global pandemic.
• Detained children at 'grave risk' of contracting COVID-19 – UNICEF chief UN News 13 Apr 2020 -- Hundreds of thousands of children in detention around the world are at "grave risk" of contracting COVID-19, the head of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday, calling for their urgent release.
• Coronavirus fear adds to already poor economy in Gaza, committee warns Press TV 13 Apr 2020 -- It is bitterly hard times for the Palestinians, particularly in the Gaza Strip, where the people are struggling for their livelihood under the inhuman Israeli siege, which is now coupled with the spread of the new coronavirus pandemic.
• Myanmar Trucks, Fruit Snagged at China Border Crossing Under COVID-19 Restrictions Radio Free Asia 13 Apr 2020 -- Chinese border authorities are not letting cargo trucks from Myanmar pass through a key entry point into China from northern Myanmar's Kachin state under a new cross-border cargo policy to control the spread of the coronavirus, drivers and a state government official said Monday.
• Vietnam, Laos Arrest Facebookers on COVID-19-Related Charges Radio Free Asia 13 Apr 2020 -- Authorities in Vietnam and Laos have arrested several Facebook users on charges related to the coronavirus, with Hanoi punishing posts that challenge official reporting on the pandemic and Vientiane acting against a lockdown violation streamed live.
• COVID-19: Russia Reports New Record Daily Increase Of Cases; Iran's Death Toll Surpasses 4,500 RFE/RL 13 Apr 2020 -- The global death toll from the coronavirus is more than 114,000 with 1.86 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
• Kuwait Reports 66 New Coronavirus Cases, Two Deaths SPA 13 Apr 2020 -- The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health has reported 66 confirmed cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) during the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of registered cases in Kuwait to 1300.
• Morocco Reports 85 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 13 Apr 2020 -- Moroccan Ministry of Health has reported 85 new cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total tally of infections to 1746, while the number of death toll reached 120 after reporting 2 more cases.
• Oman Reports 128 New Coronavirus Cases SPA 13 Apr 2020 -- The Omani Ministry of Health reported 128 new cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), during the past 24 hours.
• Government of Tiny eSwatini Refutes Reports of King's Illness VOA 13 Apr 2020 -- The government of eSwatini is refuting media reports that the nation's King Mswati III –- the last absolute monarch in Africa – is "critically ill" with COVID-19.
• Cameroon Begins Large-scale Chloroquine Production VOA 13 Apr 2020 -- Cameroon has required the wearing of face masks by all of its citizens and begun large scale production of Chloroquine to treat COVID-19. The country says its hospitals are already overwhelmed, with more than 850 confirmed cases within 6 weeks, yet it expects confirmed COVID cases to rise into the several thousands.
• Somalia Imposes Nighttime Curfew VOA 13 Apr 2020 -- Somalia has recorded a second death from coronavirus and has reacted by imposing a nighttime curfew in the capital city, Mogadishu.