Day: March 22, 2020
Scoot temporarily suspends flights to 49 destinations amid COVID-19 outbreak
SINGAPORE: Scoot will “temporarily suspend” flights to 49 destinations as countries tighten border restrictions amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. In an announcement on its website, Scoot listed out the affected routes, with many of the flights between Singapore and China. Outside of Asia, Scoot flights to Greece and Germany are also affected. Advertisement Advertisement The suspension
Emirates to suspend all passenger flights amid COVID-19 outbreak
DUBAI: Emirates announced on Sunday (Mar 22) that it will “temporarily suspend” all its passenger operations from Wednesday in light of the COVID-19 outbreak that has forced countries to close their borders. The deadly coronavirus has caused the world to go “into quarantine”, affecting business for the airline, the chairman and CEO of the Emirates Group Sheikh Ahmed Saeed Al Maktoum said. Advertisement
COVID-19: Eight Singaporeans evacuated from Iran on flight arranged by Malaysia
SINGAPORE: Eight Singaporeans were evacuated from Tehran on a flight arranged by Malaysia, said Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Sunday (Mar 22). The Singaporeans arrived in Kuala Lumpur after boarding the flight arranged for Malaysian nationals. Advertisement Advertisement “Eight Singaporeans have safely arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from Tehran, Iran, after boarding a repatriation
France appeals to workers as COVID-19 claims first doctor
PARIS: The COVID-19 outbreak has claimed its first fatality among French medical personnel, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Sunday (Mar 22), as the country prepares for an expected surge in cases. The minister, who paid tribute to front-line medical staff during an appearance on LCI television, also said the country was counting on workers
Malaysia reports 123 new COVID-19 cases; national death toll at 10
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia on Sunday (Mar 22) reported 123 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the national total to 1,306. Health director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah also confirmed that two patients had died on Sunday, bringing the national death toll to 10. Advertisement Advertisement The ninth death was 48-year-old man with a travel history to Turkey. The doctor,
More than 4,000 dengue cases in Singapore since start of 2020 as new virus strain emerges
SINGAPORE: More than 4,000 dengue cases have been reported since the start of 2020 – about twice the number of cases seen within the same period a year ago. A key concern is the growing evidence of a sustained switch in the predominant dengue virus serotype, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a news release on
China embarks on clinical trial for COVID-19 vaccine
BEIJING: China has started the first phase of a clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine, records show, as the world’s scientists race to find a way to combat the deadly pathogen. It comes after US health officials said last week they had started a trial to evaluate a possible vaccine in Seattle. Advertisement Advertisement The Chinese effort
Thailand reports its largest daily increase in COVID-19 cases
BANGKOK: Thailand reported 188 new coronavirus infections on Sunday (Mar 22), its largest daily increase, taking the total to 599 cases, a senior health official said. The majority of the new infections are connected to a previous cluster of cases from a boxing stadium, Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a Public Health Ministry spokesman, told a news conference
Indonesia confirms 64 new coronavirus cases, 10 new deaths
JAKARTA: Indonesia reported 64 new coronavirus cases and 10 new deaths, a health ministry official told reporters on Sunday (Mar 22), bringing the total number to 514 and 48 respectively. Nine coronavirus patients have recovered, health ministry spokesman, Achmad Yurianto said, bringing the total number of recoveries to 29. Advertisement Advertisement The Jakarta Post on Sunday
Japan confirms 14 COVID-19 cases at medical centre: Report
TOKYO: Japan’s Oita prefecture confirmed two new coronavirus infections at a medical centre on Sunday (Mar 22), bringing the total at the facility to 14 and making it a suspected cluster, Kyodo newswire said. Two female nurses who work at the Oita Medical Center, one in her 20s and another in her 50s, were confirmed
Indonesia turns athletes village to emergency hospital as COVID-19 cases rise
JAKARTA: Indonesia has turned its “Athlete’s Village” built for the 2018 Asian Games into an emergency hospital with a capacity to hold more than 4,000 patients, authorities said on Sunday (Mar 22), as coronavirus cases and deaths in the country rose. Four out of 10 towers in the Athlete’s Village, located in the country’s capital
India goes under 14-hour lockdown to curb coronavirus spread
MUMBAI: Hundreds of millions of Indians stayed indoors on Sunday (Mar 22), heeding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to citizens to self-isolate as authorities battled to contain the fast-spreading epidemic. At least 324 people have so far contracted the disease and four deaths were reported in India due to coronavirus, according to official data on
Malaysian doctor who had COVID-19 dies
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia on Sunday (Mar 22) reported another death, bringing the COVID-19 death toll in the country to nine. Health director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah said the patient was a doctor with a travel history to Turkey. Advertisement Advertisement The case was suspected to be related to the history of travel abroad and not from frontliners or

Commentary: How to avoid a fight when you’re worried about COVID-19 but your other half isn’t
Commentary Commentary In the face of a frightening coronavirus pandemic, my partner and I are responding quite differently, says the Financial Times’ Pilita Clark. A couple wearing masks to prevent contracting the coronavirus hugs each other at a Han River park in Namyangju, South Korea March 7, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji 22 Mar 2020 04:08PM Bookmark