Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In Asia -- News Updates March 18, 2020

BBC: Coronavirus: Asian nations face virus battle amid WHO warning

Many Asian nations are facing an increasing battle to stem the spread of coronavirus, amid a World Health Organization warning that some needed to take "aggressive measures".

Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines are among nations imposing strict border controls.

Cases in the South Asian subcontinent are still below 500 but there are fears a spike could overwhelm health systems.

There are 185,000 cases globally, with 7,500 confirmed deaths.

Some nations and territories that had seen success in controlling the virus or slowing its arrival, including South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, have seen new spikes, amid fears people returning from abroad are importing the virus.

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Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In Asia -- News Updates March 18, 2020

Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong Face Second Wave of Coronavirus Cases -- WSJ
Second wave of coronavirus cases hits Asia -- Financial Times
Asia Braces for Second Wave of Coronavirus Cases as Citizens Abroad Return Home -- Slate
Grass-roots officials take lead role on the front line of Wuhan’s grid-by-grid battle against coronavirus -- SCMP
Coronavirus: Hubei city reopens for business, then closes again 30 minutes later -- SCMP
Coronavirus leaves China with mountains of medical waste -- SCMP
Coronavirus: Hong Kong reports 25 new cases, most are travellers from abroad -- Straits Times
One chart shows how South Korea got its coronavirus outbreak under control in less than a month -- Business Insider
North Korean missile activity unaffected by global COVID-19 fears: U.S. official -- NK News
NKorea's Kim admits troubled medical system amid virus fears -- ABC News/AP

href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-japan-testing/japan-testing-for-coronavirus-at-fraction-of-capacity-idUSKBN2150ZR">Japan uses just a fraction of its coronavirus testing capacity -- Reuters
Japan may yet to have reached its peak of COVID-19 infections, study shows -- Japan Times
Philippines' death rate from coronavirus one of world's highest -- UPI
Coronavirus: doctors slam India’s limited testing as fears of community spread grow -- SCMP
Pakistan confirms first two deaths from coronavirus - minister -- Reuters
Pakistan confirms first two coronavirus deaths -- AFP
Coronavirus: Is Pakistan taking COVID-19 too lightly? -- DW
Coronavirus outbreak delaying refugees' return to Afghanistan -- UPI
Taliban promises safe passage for coronavirus health workers -- Al Jazeera
Coronavirus: Singapore tells all new arrivals to self-isolate for 14 days as 47 new cases confirmed -- SCMP
Massive Bangladesh coronavirus prayer gathering sparks outcry -- AFP
India’s restrictive criteria for virus testing may mask toll -- AP
India's poor testing rate may have masked coronavirus cases -- Al Jazeera
Coronavirus pandemic: Sri Lanka schools close for five weeks -- Al Jazeera
Australia declares emergency, invokes new powers to fight coronavirus -- France 24
Coronavirus: Australia bans 'non-essential' gatherings of over 100 people -- BBC
Asia's Best Strategies Against Coronavirus: Track, Isolate, Communicate -- The Diplomat