Coronavirus fears are running fever pitch in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong where new fatalities were reported in several countries while others braced for a large wave of new infections linked to a mosque gathering in Malaysia.
Three deaths were reported in the Philippines today, a second in Indonesia, and in Hong Kong, an elderly man became the fourth to die.
Brunei reported a spike of 14 new cases. Most patients had attended a gathering of nearly 15,000 Muslim missionaries at the Masjid Jamek Seri Petaling in Selangor, Malaysia. That led Singapore to close all its mosques now through Tuesday after two citizens tested positive. One of the Singaporeans visited five mosques in the city-state after returning from Kuala Lumpur.
Vietnam recorded a spike of 25 new cases in the past 24 hours, all involving Dutch tourists linked to an education facility in Hanoi.
Major COVID-19 updates from around the world since yesterday:
- Sophie Trudeau, wife of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, tested positive for COVID-19. He has placed himself in isolation.
- The Champions League English football tournament has been postponed.
- It was revealed that the first COVID-19 case in China occurred Nov. 17, a month earlier than previously thought. It preceded the first official report of Dec. 31, Chinese authorities announced.
Updates from Coconuts’ newsrooms in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong:
Singapore
- Singapore reported nine new cases yesterday including two who attended the gathering of nearly 15,000 Muslim missionaries in Malaysia
- All mosques in Singapore have been closed until March 17 for disinfection after one of the two infected mosque-goers visited five other local places of worship after returning from Kuala Lumpur
- The Ministry of Health issued an advisory today ordering all ticketed events with more than 250 participants to be postponed or canceled. Other events were told to keep to no more than 250 participants.
Indonesia
- Indonesia reported the second COVID-19 death today in Surakarta in Central Java, two days after announcing the first involving a British woman on Bali.
- Total confirmed infections in Indonesia stands at 34 today.
Malaysia
- Malaysia is disinfecting the virus-hit mosque where several attendees from Singapore and Brunei have since tested positive for COVID-19.
- Mass coronavirus screening was also conducted at the premises, photos posted by director-general for health Noor Hisham Abdullah showed.
- Total infections stand at 158, with the latest cases including people who attended the three-day Islamic religious gathering of Muslim missionaries at Masjid Jamek Seri Petaling in Selangor.
- Hisham revealed today that case No. 136 is a Malaysian studying in South Korea and was at the said mosque.
Thailand
- Thailand reported five new cases today, bringing the total number of infections to 75.
- Two of the new infections are linked to the 11 infected drinking buddies.
- Thai boxer and actor Matthew Matthew Deane has outed himself as a COVID-19 patient.
- The Thailand government hasn’t been completely clear and transparent in its communication surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. Read our in-depth report.
Manila
- Metro Manila has been on lockdown since yesterday as part of new measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. It is expected to last until April 14.
- The Philippines reported three new deaths and three more infections. Total number of confirmed cases has risen to 52.
- Two suspected cases who escaped quarantine were tracked down and returned to confinement today.
Hong Kong
- A toddler may have become infected with COVID-19 after testing preliminary positive in Hong Kong.
- Blood tests on a Pomeranian who initially tested a “weak” positive came back negative. The dog will remain in quarantine until it tests negative again.
- Hong Kong reported its fourth death today involving an 80-year-old man.
Brunei
- Coronavirus cases jumped by 14 in Brunei today, bringing the total number of infections to 25. Nine of the new cases had attended the mosque gathering.
- The Health Ministry also revealed that 81 people from Brunei had attended the virus-hit mosque gathering in Malaysia and is tracking them down.
Vietnam
- Twenty-five Dutch tourists tested positive in Vietnam, pushing the total tally to 39.
- The tourists are linked to an outbreak at an education facility in the tourist town of Hoi An in Hanoi.
Taiwan
- Taiwan reported its 50th COVID-19 patient today involving a 50-year-old American man working there. He met an American couple on Feb. 24 who have since left Taiwan.
Related:
‘Not Martial Law’: Philippines reports 3 more deaths, Duterte puts Manila on lockdown
Filipino diplomat in UN headquarters in New York tests positive of COVID-19
Amid lockdown exodus, official tells workers from provinces to stay in Metro Manila as ‘coping mechanism’
Thailand contradicts, flip-flops, sugarcoats COVID-19 as public teeters on pandemic panic
Thai boxer-actor Matthew Deane outs himself as COVID-19 patient
80-year-old man becomes fourth person in Hong Kong to die from COVID-19
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