A resident wearing mask walks across the street in Tokyo, Japan, March 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)
-- Japan's COVID-19 infections rise to 1,926, government denies lockdown rumors;
-- Indonesia records 122 deaths due to COVID-19, the highest in Southeast Asia, with the total number of confirmed cases jumping to 1,414;
-- Thailand reports 136 new cases, 1,524 in total.
HONG KONG, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The following is the latest development of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia-Pacific countries.
TOKYO -- Japan's health ministry and local governments said 1,926 people had been infected with the COVID-19 virus in Japan as of 6:30 p.m. local time on Monday, although Japan's top government spokesperson "categorically denied" a lockdown of cities was imminent.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed last week over the COVID-19 pandemic, will be held from July 23 to Aug. 8 next year, Japan's local media reported on Monday.
A staff member sprays disinfectant at Jekan Raya district in Palangka Raya, Indonesia, March 29, 2020. (Photo by Deny Krisbiyantoro/Xinhua)
JAKARTA -- The Indonesian government said on Monday the death toll of COVID-19 in the country climbed to 122, the highest in Southeast Asia, with the total number of confirmed cases jumping to 1,414.
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has sent a letter to Indonesia's central government on a request to impose a regional quarantine in the city, local media reported.
Staff members check the body temperature of passengers at a screening point in Bangkok, Thailand, March 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)
BANGKOK -- Thailand's Ministry of Public Health on Monday reported 136 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total cases in the country to 1,524.
A medical staff member works at a COVID-19 testing area of a hospital in Damansara near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 30, 2020. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)
KUALA LUMPUR -- A total of 37 people have died of the COVID-19 in Malaysia as of Monday with 156 newly confirmed cases, bringing the total to 2,626, said the Health Ministry.
Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry was working to expand the number of beds and the next two weeks will be crucial to "flatten the curve" of new cases.
A swing is closed in Sydney, Australia, March 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
CANBERRA -- The Australian government has announced a six-month wage subsidy package to support the economy amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, taking the total value of economic stimulus measures beyond 200 billion Australian dollars (123.2 billion U.S. dollars).
The number of COVID-19 cases in Australia has surpassed 4,000 despite a significantly lower rate of transmission.
Social gatherings have been limited to two people in key Australian states, as the number of COVID-19 cases nationally passed 4,000 and virus-related deaths reached 18.
A monk wearing a mask walks on the street in downtown Yangon, Myanmar, March 29, 2020. (Xinhua/U Aung)
YANGON -- Two Chinese foundations, the Jack Ma Foundation and the Alibaba Foundation, have donated medical supplies including N95 masks and test kits to Myanmar.
Migrant labourers in queues wait for buses at a bus station during the lockdown in New Delhi, India, March 29, 2020.(Xinhua/Javed Dar)
NEW DELHI --The death toll due to COVID-19 in India on Monday rose to 29 as the number of confirmed cases reached 1,071, the health ministry said.
According to the ministry, 100 people have been discharged from hospitals after showing improvement.
Visitors are seen in the crowd in Asakusa in Tokyo, Japan, March 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)
TOKYO -- Japan's health ministry and local governments said 1,896 people have been infected with the COVID-19 virus as of 12:00 p.m. local time on Monday, with cases in Tokyo spiking over the weekend despite a "soft" lockdown being requested for the capital.
A woman walks on the street in Tokyo, Japan, March 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)
SEOUL -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Monday that his government decided to provide each four-person household in the bottom 70-percent income group with 1 million won (820 U.S. dollars) in its emergency disaster relief package over the COVID-19 outbreak.
South Korea reported 78 more cases of COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of midnight Monday local time, raising the total number of infections to 9,661.
Aerial photo taken on March 29, 2020 shows a parking lot in Suwon, South Korea. (NEWSIS/Handout via Xinhua)
SYDNEY -- An idyllic island off Australia's west coast, known for its adorable native inhabitants, will host passengers from a cruise ship forced to quarantine due to COVID-19 outbreak.
Australians who had been onboard the Vasco da Gama cruise liner arrived at Rottnest Island on Monday for two weeks of isolation.
Photo taken on March 21, 2020 shows the Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, which was closed due to the spread of coronavirus. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
VIENTIANE -- The Lao government said Sunday that all international checkpoints will be closed for passengers exiting and entering Laos, with goods transport still permitted.
The measures were imposed from Monday to April 19 and changes could be made in accordance with further announcement, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Monday.
The ninth COVID-19 case in Laos has been confirmed on Monday.
A team of Chinese medical experts, along with medical materials, arrived in Lao capital Vientiane by a chartered plane on March 29, 2020, to assist Laos to fight COVID-19 pandemic. (Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
WELLINGTON -- New Zealand reported 75 new confirmed and one probable case of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed and probable infections to 589 in the country.
There have been no additional deaths related to COVID-19 after the death of a woman in her 70s was reported on Sunday, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield from the Ministry of Health said at a press conference.
A medical worker conducts quick tests at a newly built mobile testing station in Auckland, New Zealand, March 23, 2020. (Photo by Li Qiaoqiao/Xinhua)
HANOI -- Vietnam's Ministry of Health on Monday morning confirmed six new cases of COVID-19 infection, all related to a Hanoi-based hospital, bringing the total in the country to 194.
The six patients are all Vietnamese workers having provided services to Bach Mai Hospital, where several staff and patients have been confirmed to be infected.
People disinfect a vehicle used to transport people home before it leaves a quarantine facility in Vietnam's northern province of Hoa Binh on March 18, 2020. (VNA/Handout via Xinhua) ■
