Asian Nations Try To Shield Against Deadly Outbreak
Umer Jamshaid Published January 28, 2020 | 06:45 PM
Asian nations were ramping up defences against a deadly viral epidemic Tuesday, sealing borders, shuttering public places and clamping down on visitors from China
Manila, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2020 ) :Asian nations were ramping up defences against a deadly viral epidemic Tuesday, sealing borders, shuttering public places and clamping down on visitors from China.
Concern over the steadily expanding contagion, which has killed over 100 in China and sickened more than 4,500, is prompting an increasingly urgent push for protection.
Hong Kong, which has eight reported cases of the SARS-like disease, announced the sealing of six of its 14 border crossings to the mainland from Thursday.
The government in the semi-autonomous Chinese city of seven million had faced criticism for merely barring people from the outbreak's ground-zero, central Hubei province.
"The epidemic has spread to many Chinese provinces. Only blocking visitors from Hubei can't do much to help Hong Kong," lawmaker Helena Wong said.
Singapore, with seven confirmed cases of the virus, has announced it will ban visitors who have travelled to Hubei as well as those with passports issued in that Chinese province.
Government official Lawrence Wong said the travel restrictions were not taken lightly and will be expanded if necessary.
Officials said efforts are also underway to track down an estimated 2,000 people already in Singapore with a Hubei travel history for potenital quarantine.
Mongolia has taken a much more drastic line, closing its entire border with China to pedestrians and cars as well as ordering schools to close. It has no reported cases.
In Russia's Far-Eastern district, which shares some 4,500 kilometres (2,800 miles) of frontier with China, crossings that should have re-opened after Chinese New Year will stay closed for days or weeks.
Corralling the disease has become an effort at containing people's movements, and both Malaysia and the Philippines have taken steps to squelch the flow of Chinese visitors.
Manila has been issuing visas on arrival since 2017 to Chinese nationals, adding fuel to the boom in mainland visitors to the Philippines.
That policy is now suspended, though Chinese can still apply for a visa at a consulate or embassy in their home nation.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
Pakistan, Japan agrees to convene 'Economic Policy Dialogue'
FM Dar conveys deepest sympathy on torrential rains devastation in UAE
Spain PM Sanchez says weighing resignation after wife's graft probe
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
Long-lost Klimt portrait auctioned off for 30 mn euros
Osaka seals first win on clay since 2022 in Madrid
Earthquake jolts Karachi
Sindh minister orders operation after attack on police in Ghotki
TikTok to fight US ban law in courts
More Stories From Business
-
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
5 hours ago -
Pakistan, Japan agrees to convene 'Economic Policy Dialogue'
6 hours ago -
British-Pakistani firm unveils $35 million luxury apartments for overseas Pakistanis in Islamabad
6 hours ago -
European stocks lose momentum after global rally
6 hours ago -
New pulses varieties imperative to cater domestic food requirements: Dr Khalid Hasan
7 hours ago -
CEO KP-EZDMC meets CRBC officials
7 hours ago
-
Pakistan among nine poor countries that produces 90 percent cigarettes for world
8 hours ago -
Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan Haji Gulbar Khan calls on Minister for Privatisation
8 hours ago -
Germany nudges up growth forecast, ailing economy at 'turning point'
8 hours ago -
Revised UAF budget recommended
8 hours ago -
IDEA, TEVTA organizes Job Fair for youth
8 hours ago -
Massive financial, administrative scam unearthed at SCCI
9 hours ago