Daily COVID-19 pandemic roundup: March 14
Miami Desk, Mar 14 (efe-epa).- Here’s a roundup of stories around the world related to the novel coronavirus pandemic:
MEXICO: All Mexican educational institutions, from primary schools to universities, will be closed from March 20 to April 20 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, health department deputy secretary Hugo Lopez-Gatell said. The measure, which came as the number of confirmed cases in the Aztec nation reached 26, will affect 33 million students.
ECUADOR: Vice President Otto Sonnenholzer said that Ecuador will bar foreigners from entering the country via land, sea or air effective midnight Sunday. The nation has registered two coronavirus deaths, while 29 other people have tested positive. The government has barred large public gatherings, including Holy Week processions.
PANAMA: Panama has suspended passenger flights from Europe and Asia for at least the next 30 days to prevent further contagion, President Laurentino Cortizo said. The Central American country, where one person has died of the illness, has closed schools, canceled sporting events and outlawed large public gatherings.
CUBA: Bucking the global trend, the Cuban government said that the island would remain open to tourists. The head of marketing in the tourism ministry, Barbara Cruz, said that Cuba was “ready to stop and control” coronavirus and able to offer “every service” to visitors. The island has four detected infections with the coronavirus.
BRAZIL: Flamengo, the reigning champion of Brazilian and Latin American profession soccer, played a match behind closed doors at Rio de Janeiro’s legendary Maracana stadium. The soccer federation decided to keep fans out after authorities in Rio state – which has 22 coronavirus cases – ordered schools closed and public events suspended for 15 days.
TURKEY: The government has given public employees over the age of 60 years, who are breastfeeding or are disabled, 12 days administrative leave starting from Monday after two cases were reported in the country.
AFGHANISTAN: Authorities have closed all universities, schools and other educational centers for more than a month, as the number of confirmed cases in the country jumped to 11.
AUSTRIA: The government announced it will allocate four billion euros to sustain the economy in the face of the pandemic and has ditched a plan to bring the country’s deficit to zero this year.
UNITED KINGDOM: Deaths from the disease have doubled in the last 24 hours in the country to a total of 21 as the government prepared to increase measures against the outbreak.
SYRIA: President Bashar al-Assad has ordered parliamentary elections scheduled for 13 April to be postponed until 20 May as a preventive measure as no cases have been reported in the country.
YEMEN: Houthi rebels announced a two-week suspension of all passenger flights to Sana’a airport, which is used only by the United Nations and humanitarian agencies. Yemen has not recorded any cases so far.
AFRICA: Health authorities in Namibia, Rwanda and Swaziland confirmed their first cases, bringing the number of affected African countries to 22.
CHINA: New cases rose slightly to 11 compared to the eight registered the previous day, according to a statement by the country’s health commission.
SOUTH KOREA: The country reported 107 cases, a drop in new infections for the third consecutive day, although authorities remain on high alert over new possible outbreaks.
CAMBODIA: The government announced it would ban travelers who have visited Spain, Italy, Germany, France and the United States from entering the country for the next 30 days.
NEW ZEALAND: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said all travelers to the country would have to remain in mandatory isolation for 14 days. EFE rb/dr
