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.

“This fast-tracked financing will help Cambodia confront this unprecedented global health emergency by sourcing much-needed medical supplies and facilities to diagnose and treat COVID-19, reduce the spread of infection, strengthen pandemic response capabilities, and shorten the time to recovery for both people and the economy,” Inguna Dobraja, World Bank country manager for Cambodia, said in the statement.

WASHINGTON

U.S. President Donald Trump has tested negative for COVID-19 for a second time, the White House announced on Thursday.
In a memo, White House physician Sean Conley said Trump tested again for the virus earlier in the day, “utilizing a new, rapid point-of-care test capability.”

SEOUL

South Korea’s reported cases of the COVID-19 topped 10,000 as of midnight Friday local time as 86 more cases were confirmed for the past 24 hours.

The number of infections here totaled 10,062, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The KCDC has updated the data once a day.

BUENOS AIRES

The World Bank on Thursday approved a loan worth 35 million U.S. dollars to help Argentina contain the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The World Bank and the Argentinian government said in a joint statement that the loan will be used to purchase medical supplies for early detection of infections and treatment of the disease, which can lead to pneumonia.

KIGALI

Rwandan police said Thursday that it will strictly enforce the extended COVID-19 lockdown measures as the health ministry reported a total of 84 cases after two more people tested positive for the virus.

“Unnecessary movements, sporting activities outside homes, loitering along the roads, many people driving in one vehicle to the market are all not permitted. Whoever breaches any of those will be arrested, imprisoned and fined. Measures remain the same; stay at home,” police spokesperson John Bosco Kabera said on national Rwanda television.

Source: Xinhua