UN calls for “intensified” cooperation, U.S. COVID-19 cases top 240,000

The world is now in a battle against COVID-19, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 200 countries and regions.

The following are the updates on the contagious disease.

UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Thursday adopted a resolution on COVID-19, calling for “intensified” international cooperation to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resolution 74/270 states that the 193-member UNGA notes “with great concern” the threat to human health, safety and well-being caused by COVID-19, which continues to spread globally.

NEW YORK

The United States tallied over 240,000 COVID-19 cases as the global total surpassed 1 million as of Thursday night local time, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Nearly 6,000 deaths were reported across the country, with over 20 percent occurred in New York City, the data showed.

WELLINGTON

The New Zealand government will be introducing legislation to make changes to the Companies Act to help companies facing insolvency due to COVID-19 to remain viable and keep New Zealanders in jobs.

The temporary changes include giving directors of companies facing significant liquidity problems because of COVID-19 a “safe harbor” from insolvency duties under the Companies Act, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in a statement on Friday.

HOUSTON

U.S. state of Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards on Thursday announced at a press conference the extension of the stay-at-home order through the end of April due to COVID-19 concerns.

According to the order, residents should stay at home unless going out for essential tasks, including trips to the grocery store and pharmacy.

SYDNEY

Despite case rates are stabilizing in the badly hit state of New South Wales (NSW) on Friday, other states in Australia went ahead with tighter border restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19.

For the first time in history, the largest state of Western Australia (WA) closed its borders to the rest of the country, taking effect from midnight on Sunday.

PHNOM PENH

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a 20 million U.S. dollars credit for the Cambodia COVID-19 Emergency Response Project, the World Bank-Cambodia said in a press statement on Friday.