Bangladesh pledges $1.5 million to SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund
Members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation intensified anti-COVID-19 steps to secure people from the pandemic. Sri Lanka evacuated a large number of Buddhist pilgrims from India in the early hours of Sunday before India stopped all flights as Kathmandu boosted health inspection on the Indo-Nepal border.
All Sri Lankan Buddhist pilgrims, who were stranded in India, have now returned to Sri Lanka,” a press release from the High Commission of Sri Lanka informed and said 1,500 Buddhist pilgrims from Sri Lanka were stuck in India but were evacuated over the last few days successfully.
Earlier India had streamlined the movement of goods and people across the border with Nepal in view of the threat of the virus. Kathmandu has boosted health screening on the border and in some places local administrations have placed restrictions. As of now cross-border movement continues,” said an official.
Bangladesh on Sunday became the latest country to support the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pledged $1.5 million to the initiative proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the Maldives came forward to support the emergency fund to fight the pandemic.
Official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday the crisis fund would be used to fight the emergency needs of the member countries as the cases of COVID-19 increase. On the emergency fund, it is already up and running. We have already received many requests from other SAARC countries for assistance in the form of masks, shoe covers, gloves, disinfectants and other items,” said Mr. Kumar during the official weekly briefing.
All departure flights leaving from Sri Lanka would continue to be operated as usual, officials at the Airport and Aviation Services Limited said. The President Media Division also said the departure terminal will continue to be operational. Also flights are allowed into the country to take the departing passengers. All passenger transit operations have been stopped for the moment. All import and export operations are to continue without interruption.
The number of COVID-19 positive cases has gone up to 81 as another patient has been diagnosed with the virus today (22), stated the Department of Government Information.
Previously, Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi stated that 3 patients were found positive with the deadly coronavirus.
However, another person has been confirmed to have contracted the virus.
The Epidemiology Unit at the Ministry of Health stated 245 persons suspected of having contracted the coronavirus are currently under medical supervision in 18 hospitals island-wide.
Currently, a total of 3,506 people are subjected to the quarantine process at 45 quarantine centers, stated the National Operation Center for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak.
Among them, 31 foreign nationals are undergoing the quarantine process.
Reportedly, 11,848 persons have been referred to be self-quarantined.
Meanwhile, 30 hospitals across the country have been set up to treat people infected or suspected of having being infected by the coronavirus.
The Government has requested the entire nation to strictly adhere to the guidelines issued with the objective of preventing further spread of COVID-19 virus and safeguarding the well-being of the people.
Prevention is the main instrument in combating this global health threat. Maintaining a social distance of at least of 1m when people are at public places such as markets, offices, bus and railway stations has been recognized as the best way to prevent the transmission of the pathogen. Also, health advises given by the experts should be followed.
During the last few days, the Government took several concrete precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus. The imposition of island-wide curfew from 6.00 pm last Friday (20) to 6.00 am Monday (23) is one of the major decisions. The ongoing curfew has been extended till 6.00 am on Tuesday (24) in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Puttalam, Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Jaffna. The curfew will be lifted in remaining districts at 6.00 am today (23) and will be re-imposed at 2.00 pm on the same day.
A large gathering of people is expected at shops and supermarkets to purchase their daily needs tomorrow where the curfew will be relaxed. Although the purchase of food and other items is essential, the Government requests the public to follow health tips issued by the relevant authorities. A distance of 1m between each other should always be kept when entering shops and when inside them. The public is being advised to cover their mouths and noses in a proper manner when coughing or sneezing. The prescribed distance should be maintained when plying in public transport. The same procedure has to be followed at fuel stations and gas stands.
The congregation of people could be minimized if only one member from each family go to the market. This will be helpful to maintain social distance as required.
Adequate stocks of food and other essential items are available. Measures have been taken to distribute them throughout the country. Hence, the Government points out that there is no need for panic buying and piling goods. Buying only the most essentials to be used during curfew hours will be helpful to limit the time spent in crowded places. The Task Force on Prevention of Coronavirus reminds people to stay at their homes and engage in domestic activities during curfew hours.
The COVID-19 rapidly spreads across the globe irrespective of racial, political, economic, cultural and economic status differences. At present, around 180 countries have been affected. Countries which were able to early identify the prevention methods and strictly following them are successful in containing the disease. China, the epicentre of the virus is the best example. Despite being a rich country, Italy is still struggling to control the virus due to a lack of adherence to the guidelines.
Following the announcement on the virus by the World Health Organization, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took several effective measures to mitigate the spread in the country. The Task Force on Prevention of Coronavirus was established on January 26th and that made Sri Lanka become the first country to have such a mechanism.
President regularly meets members of the Task Force and heads of other relevant entities and makes necessary decisions. All the passengers coming from overseas are being subjected to a mandatory quarantine. At present, there are 17 quarantine centres in the country equipped with all the required facilities. In order to prevent the entry of the virus from foreign countries, all arrival terminals at airports have been closed. Essential services are intact while these operations continue.
Taking advantage of the prevailing health situation, people with vested political interests and anti-social groups are engaged in disseminating false information through social media. Some of them have already been identified. The Government states that stern legal actions will be taken against them.
The curfew currently imposed in the districts of Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, and Jaffna in the Northern Province has been extended till 6.00 a.m. on Tuesday (24).
However, it will be re-imposed until further notice at 2.00 p.m. on the same day, the government announced.
Accordingly, the residents of these districts have been prohibited to leave their respective districts.
The travel ban will continue to be in effect until all those who visited and associated with the COVID-19 infected pastor who arrived from Switzerland recently.
The government has called on the people of the five districts to cooperate with these measures as they had been taken to safeguard people in the North from the novel coronavirus.
ISLAMABAD, Mar 22 (APP):Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi Sunday held a telephonic conversation with his Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena and exchanged views on the situation arising from COVID-19 pandemic and ways to enhance cooperation against the threat.
Reaffirming the abiding commitment to the SAARC process, he reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to host the SAARC Health Ministers’ Conference to enhance cooperation among member countries and development partners in the health sector, with particular focus on COVID-19.
He also proposed that a video conference could be organised first in view of the prevailing global health emergency.
Foreign Minister Qureshi underscored that SAARC provided an important platform for regional cooperation. There was a need to revitalise this key organization to tackle common challenges, he added.
In the context of effective efforts to combat the pandemic, he noted that Pakistan had proposed that sanctions on Iran be lifted so that humanitarian relief could be provided at this time of crisis to save precious human lives.
Foreign Minister Qureshi further noted that Prime Minister Imran Khan had proposed that developed countries might facilitate developing countries to meet the challenge through debt restructuring so that they could use limited resources to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on their economies and provide effective relief to poor people.
The two ministers agreed to work closely to promote collaborative endeavours for regional benefit.
The pioneering Indo-Aryan settlers, who came
to be known as Sinhalese later, never stopped making history from the time they
stepped ashore. The mission of making history came naturally to them. It was
their innate penchant for making history that gave birth to a new civilization
which rose to the heights of any other civilisation of its time. Their
achievements entitled them to the foremost place in the history they created
and left behind. They sowed the land with their sweat, blood and tears and the
history they made in the process belongs exclusively to them. They laboured in
the passage of time to enrich the land with their culture. It is a history that
shines to this day with the grandeur of the distinguishing Sinhala-Buddhist
culture. History belongs to those who made it and not to those who came as
invaders, or predators, or destroyers, or those who live off the fat of the
land fertilized by the self-sacrificing ancestors.
Their creative energy left behind a glorious
legacy for their descendants to inherit with pride and joy. Each step they took
to explore and transform the land into fertile fields of agriculture and
culture lifted the Sinhalese above the other migrants who arrived in time to
reap the harvests of the foundational ground prepared by the pioneering
forefathers. The Sinhalese not only made this new found land their home but
also opened it up for others to come in and make it their home as well.
History was made by bonding with the land.
The Sinhalese took to the land like duck to water. They had no alternative
either because they had taken the critical decision not to go back. They had
severed their umbilical cord with India – a momentous decision that made all
the difference to the creation of a new civilisation. They did not have one foot
in their new land and another in old India like those who came from the
Dravidian culture. The essential difference between the two major and minor
settlers who came from India is that the Sinhalese set out creatively and
energetically to construct a unique civilisation of their own, with a brand-new
identity, while the descendants of the Dravidians stagnated as mere imitators
recycling mechanically the culture they brought with them from across the Palk
Straits. They had nothing new to offer. They were quite content to bask in the
glory of the S. Indian culture.
The role of the Sinhalese has been entirely
different. They were out to make a history of their own with a new identity.
Each new step was a historical move to pave the way into the future – a future
which opened up in all its glorious splendour. They made it their mission to
expand the horizons to its limits, always mindful of the good of all”. (Mahavamsa
– IV:7). What happened in Sri Lankan history in the initial
stages was to create a unique identity resisting with all their might the alien
invasions, colonisations, migrations and even integrations with the Dravidians.
Of course, the initial challenges they faced came mainly from the Dravidians.
The clash of cultures was inevitable considering the geographical proximity to
S. India. Known records indicate that geographical neighbours
globally turn into historical enemies. It was no different with the Dravidian
neighbour. The indelible character that distinguished Sri Lankan history has
been the triumph of the Sinhala settlers over the repeated incursions of the
Dravidian intruders / invaders.
The pro-Tamil school of historians, aiming to
tailor facts, records and events to suit their separatist agenda, tend to
downgrade the monumental achievements of the Sinhala-Buddhists and exaggerate
their role to make it appear as if they were the founders and makers of Sri
Lankan history from the dawn of history”. (Vaddukoddai Resolution -May 14,
1976). If this is true the history of Sri Lanka would have been written in
Tamil and the whole of Sri Lanka would have been an extension of Jaffna.
Separatists are desperately in need of a revised history to make them look
great in the eyes of the world. The best they have achieved so far is to
compare a few potsherds found here and there with that of Jethawanaramaya, the
second largest monument of the ancient world next to Pyramids of Giza. The
33-year-old Vadukoddai War (from May 1976 to May 2009) is the last attempt to
reverse and rewrite the history of the nation by the Northern invaders. As on
the previous occasions in history they failed at the end of a futile war.
There is no doubt that the clash between
these two cultures went a long say to shape the history of the nation. It is
the resistance to the Dravidian culture in particular that gave the
unmistakeable identity to the history made by the Sinhala-Buddhists. The
overall history of the nation was defined by the struggles to save the
Sinhala-Buddhist identity from being destroyed by the alien forces. It
began with Sena and Guttika, the Dravidian horse traders, and ended with
Mahinda Rajapakse defeating Velupillai Prabhakaran. Unforgiving history
repeats itself relentlessly, maintaining a determined course as it winds its
way to its destiny.
The collective task of contemporaries living
in their inherited histories has been to renew and defend the legacies left
behind by their ancestors. Revisionists will, of course, rewrite history (as
seen in the anti-Sinhala-Buddhist Vadukoddai Declaration of War in 1976) to
suit their immediate political agendas. But over and over again historical
necessities have forced the living generations of Sinhala-Buddhists to reignite
and reinforce perpetually their faith in their past that leads them to their
future. They rely on their heroic past because the new-fangled alternatives
have failed to deliver. They find security and hope only in the legacy left
behind by their committed ancestors. Going back to the past is also a dutiful
acknowledgement of the validity and the legitimacy of the inherited vision,
values and the legacies left behind by the ancestors.
Imbibing and sharing the legacy handed down
from the past is the instinctive response of those living in the present. After
all, our ancestors, we are told, laboured to create a place mindful of the
good of all” while being lawful according to tradition”. (MV – IV:54). With
each step the pioneering Sinhalese settlers knew that they were defining and
reinforcing their way forward to their destiny in their new land of hope. The
bonding power of the history they made each day created a magnetic field to
hold them together against all odds. Their collective genius gave them a sense
of history that led them all the way to their tryst with destiny.
Their mission was to carve out new paths in
an unknown territory with their own creative energies. They arrived on the
shores with all the Indo-Aryan skills, tools and experiences to construct a new
life of their own. But the primary driving force that lifted them above the
others stemmed from the fact that they courageously broke away from their
Indian past and set out on an innovative course to create a new civilisation,
new culture, new language that had stood the test of time. Naturally, their
commitment and affinity to the land grew exponentially with their successes.
Their daring endeavours to find their way in unchartered territories guided by
their own instincts and ingenuity made them daring architects in the making of
their own history. The enlightened vision of the founding fathers is enshrined
in the legacy that speaks to the living from the depths of history.
The genius of the Sinhala people is in giving
the world a new history. The alternative was to merge with the rival Dravidian
culture and disappear into the big belly of S. India. They either had to make
this virgin territory their glorious homeland or wither away into the margins
of history like the very first settlers, the aboriginals, whom they encountered
on their arrival. They also knew that they had to do it themselves. There was
no one else to do it for them or guide them. There was no compass to show
directions. Of course, like all great civilisations that flourished in the
pages of history, they borrowed from other cultures. But their achievement was
in transforming and stamping the seal of their genius into the borrowings.
For instance, the Sinhala language was
created out of borrowings like English, French or any other great language. But
it is the native input that made it the linguistic vehicle for the dissemination
of the subtle profundities of Buddhism. The quintessential Sinhaleseness in the
language came out of the tongues and the minds of those creating a new culture
and a new civilisation. The new civilisation needed a new language to
articulate its birth, growth and inheritance. It needed new words to identify
and consecrate its experiences, environment, ideologies and adventures,
Sinhalese came out of that necessity to describe the new world they were
creating.
The legacy they left behind reveals that they
were gifted with a colossal capacity to make history on a grand scale. With
their creativity they advanced incrementally into one of the great
civilisations of the ancient world, defining on their way forward their
identity, dignity and destiny with unquestionable certainty.
No other settlers – Tamils, Muslims, Burghers
— had the commitment, the inclination, the necessity and the capacity to break
away from their past and carve out a new world which they could call their own.
The creative contribution of the Sinhala-Buddhists to a new civilisation has
not been matched by the other settlers. Only the adventurous Sinhalese took on
the overwhelming challenges of their times and transformed the land, opening up
every inch of it, for all those who want to call it their home. Their
pioneering mission was to make the land blossom with a new culture and
civilisation and to preserve both in an open society for all settlers to share
it as their homeland based on peaceful coexistence. Tolerant pluralism, embracing
diversity, was the secret of their success throughout their journey in history.
There were, of course, the inevitable aberrations which branched out briefly
into billabongs. But the general tendency was for most divergences to return
and merge with the normal flow of the mainstream culture.
The minting of a brand new civilisation,
culture and language that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the
achievements of other comparable histories is what makes the Sinhalese a cut
above the rest. Filled with hope, determination and courage they explored the
virgin land and tamed wild nature to make it an island nation with a
many-splendored culture. The founding fathers left their footprints on every
micro-mini grain of sand in the land they occupied as they inched their way
into the unknown future. By the time the Dravidians, the Portuguese, Dutch,
Muslims and the British worked their way into Sri Lanka they discovered a
flourishing, advanced civilisation and culture well established to combat the
challenges that faced them. As expected, it was invariably the
Sinhala-Buddhists that led the way to face the challenges that confronted them
from time to time, It was their leadership and sacrifices that saved the
nation. It is this role that gives the foremost place in the history made by
them.
The Sinhala settlers had no reason to look
back, either in despair or regret, because they fulfilled their role of making
a history second to none. They took to the land as if it had been a gift
promised to them by the hidden forces of history to fulfil their destiny. As
they dug deep roots into the soil their ties to the land became inseparable and
indivisible. Propelled by the fervour of pioneering forefathers the history
they made together carried them through tumultuous years. Several rivulets,
originating from diverse sources, did flow into the mainstream of history. But
it is the power and the glory of the mainstream that that defined the course of
history as it flowed down the ages
The original decision of our founding fathers to
sever the umbilical cord that tied us to India made all the difference to our
history. The decision to go it alone was a courageous one. Eventually it landed
as a chapter in Arnold Toynbee’s monumental work which records the triumphant
responses of those who succeeded in overcoming the challenges faced by the
pioneers of the past.
After abandoning our original home in India,
digging new roots in a new land was not an easy task, as any migrant would
know. But that is what our ancestors, our founding fathers, had to do. Their
pioneering task was to make history and they did it their way in grand style.
But it was not without its share of hazards. The passage to the future had to
be fought every inch of the way.
The constant threat to the Sinhala settlers came from the overwhelming
Dravidian culture. That has been the central drama in their history. The soil
was fertilized by the blood shed to resist and rescue the identity of invading
forces of the North. Sri Lanka is a nation built out of resistance to the
inimical Dravidian forces. To a great extent the history of SL is the history
of the power and the glory of the capacity of the Sinhala-Buddhists to defeat,
overthrow and survive the massive thrusts of Dravidian incursions. The shadow
of the Dravidian Big Brother loomed large over Sri Lanka throughout its
history. Despite the overwhelming geographical proximity, military power,
invasions, migrations, infiltrations, collaborations with other inimical forces
the Sinhala-Buddhist forces triumphed in defeating and/or expelling the alien
forces.
The first battle against the Sinhala people was waged by the two
brothers, Sena Guttika, The last battle was fought by the two brothers Mahinda
and Gota.
History has recorded who had won in the beginning and in the end. All
this leads to one single conclusion: the Sinhala-Buddhist history has knocked
Marxism, Leninism, Gramscicism, separatism etc., into a cocked hat. Gota’s
victory on November 19 is the latest historical event that should convince the
theoreticians that despite aberrations history will return again and again to
rescue and resuscitate the Sinhala-Buddhist roots from its enemies within and
abroad.
And as they say, history will never cease to repeat itself.
In recent days, China broke many
records, and earned absolutely everything,
$ 20 billion in the first news and bought about 30% of the shares of companies
that belong to the West in China.
President Xi Jinping has surpassed
Europeans and intelligent American Democrats.
He played a wonderful game in
front of the eyes of the entire world.
Due to the situation in Wuhan, the
Chinese currency began to decline, but the Chinese Central Bank took no action
to stop this collapse.
There were also many rumours
that China didn’t even have enough masks to fight the Corona Virus.
These rumours and Xi Jinping’s
statement that he is ready to protect Wuhan residents by blocking borders has
led to a sharp decline in share prices (44%) in Chinese technology and the
chemical industry.
Financial sharks began selling
all Chinese stocks, but no one wanted to buy them and they were completely devalued.
Xi Jinping made a great move at
this time, waiting for a whole week and smiling at the press conferences as if
nothing special had happened.
ASTUTE BUYING
And when the prices fell below
the allowed limit,
he ordered to buy ALL the shares of Europeans and Americans at the same time!
Then, the “financial
sharks” realized that they had been cheated and bankrupt.
But it was too late, because
all the shares had passed to China, which at this time not only earned
$ 2000 Billion,
but thanks to the simulation,
once again becomes the majority shareholder of companies built by Europeans and
Americans.
The shares now belong to their
companies and have become owners of the heavy industry on which the EU, America
and the entire world depend.
From now on, China will set the
price and the income of its companies will not leave the Chinese borders, but
remain at home and maintain all the Chinese gold reserves.
Therefore, the American and
European “financial sharks” proved stupid and in a few minutes the
Chinese collected most of their shares, which now produce billions of dollars
in profits!
Forests cover one third of the Earth’s land
mass, performing vital functions around the world. Around 1.6 billion
people—including more than 2,000 indigenous cultures—depend on forests for
their livelihoods, medicines, fuel, food and shelter.
The
fact that Sinharaja forest reserve is a precious gift to us from the nature is
nothing new. It is an evergreen tropical forest located in the Wet Zone of the
country, stretching across the Districts of Galle, Matara and Ratnapura with an
extent of approximately 1,185 hectares.
Considering
its importance as a catchment area, its biodiversity, socio economic importance
and the immense contribution made to the environmental system of the country,
as per the recommendations of the Department of Forest Conservation, it was
declared as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978 and
subsequently, considering its significance to the nation and its importance as
a scarce natural resource, it was proclaimed as a National Heritage in 1988. It
was also declared as a Forest Reserve.
Taking all of the aforesaid
factors into account, a special management staff has been appointed for its
proper management and safety. However, during the recent past, an incident
which led to controversy was the circulation of a news item revealing the
construction of a roadway dividing the Sinharaja forest reserve.
What
really transpired was the reconstruction of a roadway which was in existence
for over 50 years. How did it happen, what is its history? When probing the
history of Sinharaja forest reserve, it is revealed that an entrance has been
built only in 1963. This entrance is from Waddagala to Kudawa. Thereafter, the
potential of the reserve to manufacture wood was examined and according to the
information gathered from such study and through the recommendations made by
UNDP/FAO in 1968, the capacity for selective felling was recognized and wood
cutting was permitted by the Government at the time.
As Thailand and its neighbors scramble to contain the pandemic and panic, we urgently need to start building a response to the source of Covid-19, or risk having new outbreaks hit us even harder. There is good reason to believe that we know the source — global wildlife trade — and that there is a solution.
Scant attention is being paid by world leaders to the fact that Covid-19 jumped to people from wild critters on sale. Experts agree that the likely source this time was a bat, either transmitted directly to a person or through a pangolin, the world’s most heavily trafficked mammal. Whichever animal it was in Wuhan, China, that passed Covid-19 to its first victims, it was either smuggled by a trafficker or supplied by captive breeders, many of whom stock their animals from traffickers.
But this virus is not just about China, bats or pangolins. Zoonotic outbreaks have hit us before, and they will hit us again if we keep over-exploiting animals.
In Africa, HIV (initially SIV) and Ebola both jumped from endangered primates to people, most likely through bush-meat trade; domesticated camels in the Middle East passed on deadly Mers; migrating water fowl infected poultry in busy Hong Kong markets, resulting in bird flu; civets offered on Chinese menus gave us Sars. All of these viruses led to sickness, deaths, and economic disruption.
China’s 2003 response to Sars, another coronavirus, was to destroy 846,000 animals. That clearly was not the solution. With Covid-19, they have closed their wet markets and banned wildlife trade. Vietnam appears set to the same. What about Thailand?
How many Thailand residents realise that many of the pangolins, snakes and turtles trafficked into Wuhan and other Chinese markets transited the Kingdom? And that species trafficked from around the world also still end up in Chatuchak market, on secret menus in Bangkok and Pattaya, and for sale on social media?
The world’s top virus experts agree that zoonotic outbreaks like Covid-19 will get worse as wild animal trade increases and wild animal habitats shrink. We need to re-think our relationship with the wild.
Conservationists have long been trying to convince world leaders and legislatures to prioritise laws and budgets that protect wild animals in their natural habitats, and to roll back the multi-billion dollar trade in wildlife that is driving the fastest rate of species loss in history. The usual response: “Wild animals need to take a back seat to national security and humanitarian needs,” even though we have demonstrated that organised crime and insurgencies are linked to wildlife trafficking.
Perhaps one silver lining from Covid-19 is that it demonstrates that wildlife protection is integral to international security and human welfare.
Thailand has a newly improved wildlife law and is helping to draft an Asean plan to reduce wildlife trafficking across Southeast Asia. The Thailand-supported, Asean “Plan of Action” (POA) on Wildlife Trafficking is designed to protect wild animals from commercial poaching so that they are not trafficked across borders onto dodgy markets. It also features campaigns to kill the demand for rare and endangered species so that people don’t get sick and cause extinction. But like Thai law, the Asean plan still allows for legal wildlife trade, and lacks high-level attention, funding and multi-agency implementation.
Thai officials and NGO partners, including our organisation, have been chomping at the bit to tighten and implement the Thai wildlife law and Asean Plan of Action. In letters to Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Varawut Silpa-archa this week, NGOs expressed their desire to see Thailand shut down wildlife markets and legal loopholes allowing some captive breeders to sell trafficked animals.
Thailand can play a leading roll in Southeast Asia to prevent zoonotic outbreaks from recurring, but it needs to lead by example by banning wildlife trade and including wildlife protection as part of its broader response to Covid-19. Thailand’s lawmakers should further strengthen Thai wildlife law, increase resources for protection of wild animals and habitat, enact the Asean Plan of Action, and close down (not regulate) wildlife markets that remain on Thailand’s streets and websites.
It is time to recognise that secure wildlife and wild habitats are critical investments and insurance policies for human security and economic stability.
Steven R Galster is the Founder of Freeland, an international counter-trafficking organisation (www.freeland.org and www.freeland.org/coronavirus-campaign). He has provided technical support to US, Thailand, and Asean wildlife programmes since 2000.
Moscow (CNN)Russian President Vladimir Putin said this week his country managed to stop the mass spread of coronavirus– and that the situation was “under control,” thanks to early and aggressive measures to keep more people from getting the disease.Does Russia have coronavirus under control? According to information released by Russian officials, Putin’s strategy seems to have worked. The number of confirmed Russian coronavirus cases is surprisingly low, despite Russia sharing a lengthy border with China and recording its first case back in January.The numbers are picking up, but Russia — a country of 146 million people — has fewer confirmed cases than Luxembourg, with just 253 people infected. Luxembourg, by contrast, has a population of just 628,000, according to the CIA World Factbook, and by Saturday had reported 670 coronavirus cases with eight deaths.
Cuba has full capacity to supply Interferon alpha 2B and other 22 medicines to the national health system in the fight and treatment of COVID-19. It is also s working on a vaccine against that disease.
Biocubafarma Business Group is studying how some existing medications of its production line can contribute to the positive response of patients.
Such drugs include Biomodulin T, an immunostimulant with which clinical studies are already being carried out, and a vaccine to facilitate the systemic response of patients affected by COVID-19.
According to Prensa Latina, Biocubafarma executives confirmed that these drugs are available on the island’s healthcare centers and pharmacies as part of stepped-up efforts to respond to the epidemiological emergency.
Biocubafarma’s Director of Operations and Technology, Rita María García, said that the industry had prepared itself to have the raw materials, supplies and spare parts to take on and satisfy the quantities demanded by the current epidemiological crisis.
The anti-viral recombinant Interferon alpha 2B is a leading product of Cuban biotechnology.
It is produced at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) and at the mixed Cuban-Chinese plant ChangHeber, located in China, where it is administered to vulnerable health care personnel in a preventive manner and to COVID-19 patients.
Colombo, March 21 (newsin.asia) – Sri Lankan Police on Saturday announced that the island-wide curfew which was imposed over the weekend will be extended till Tuesday, after the total number of positive COVID-19 cases went up to 77.The 77 includes a senior doctor and a child. Over 200 are under observation in hospitals across the country while over 10,000 are under quarantine.In a statement, the police said that in capital Colombo, Gampaha in the outskirts and Puttalam district, in the north western province, the curfew will be lifted on Tuesday morning at 6 am and will be re-imposed again at 2 pm while in other districts, the curfew will be lifted on Monday at 6 am and re-imposed again at 2 pm.The curfew initially was to be lifted islandwide on Monday morning.The police further said that 130 people had been arrested for violating the curfew on Saturday by roaming the streets and transporting goods. They have been detained and will be produced before local courts next week.The police further announced that all the liquor shops in the island will also remain closed at all times indefinitely even when the curfew is lifted during the week.Since there are adequate stocks of food and other essential items, the government advises the public not to engage in panic buying. Facilities for transporting these items have been ensured. Also, measures are in place to supply essential food items to where they are required,” the police said.All reported cases of spreading false and scarry information about COVID-19 in Sri Lanka will be investigated by the CID and then cases will be filed in court for further action.
The Board of Directors of Citrus Waskaduwa (Waskaduwa Beach Resort PLC) took into account the current crisis faced by the Nation and the world at large.
The Board noted that the occupancies of the hotels in the Citrus Group have dropped to a bare minimum and considering the global and local travel restrictions, it would continue to drop further in the near future.
Apart from the devastating impact faced by the Tourism Sector, the Board noted the valiant efforts made by the Government, the Health Sector and the Security Forces to control this situation in the country.
Taking the above into consideration, and in keeping with the Group’s Nation mindedness ethos, the Board decided to offer its 150 roomed resort, Citrus Waskaduwa to be used as a Quarantine Center by the National Operations to Prevent Covid – 19 on a temporary basis, should the need arise. In the event that the Authorities decide to use the resort temporarily, the resort will be completely decontaminated in keeping with international standards before normal resort operations commence.
Due to the time sensitivity and the fact that the Colombo Stock Market is currently closed, the Board decided to immediately communicate the same to the National Operations Center to Prevent Covid – 19 while a market announcement will be made on Monday 23rd March, 2020.
Hemas Holdings Plc has offered its Club Hotel Dolphin in Negombo as a quarantine centre to the Government if the need arises, as part of wider public-private sector efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Speaking to Daily Mirror, Mr. Abbas Esufally, Chairman of HEMAS Leisure stated that, we feel that as a Sri Lankan company the private sector must stand up and rise to the occasion. This is a national crisis and we must come together to combat it. We spoke to Mrs. Kimarli Fernando, Chairperson of Sri Lanka Tourism and Mr. Sanath Ukwatte, President of THASL and decided that we must offer our services and assistance to the Government. Our hotel, Club Hotel Dolphin in Waikkal is at the heart of the outbreak in Puttalam and we felt that the government could make use of our property at this crucial hour,” he said.
“We conveyed our intention to both the Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva and President’s Chief Advisor, Mr. Lalith Weeratunge and they have responded positively and stated that they will take it up the moment the need for it arises. We communicated that we will continue to man the Engineering and Kitchen departments and the Army will help to run and manage the rest of the operations. We will ask our staff to volunteer to continue working at the property and assist the army. Furthermore, our HEMAS factory companies, HEMAS Pharmaceutical and Morrison’s are busy manufacturing critically required pharmaceuticals, soaps, hand sanitizers and other urgently required essential items.” he added.
Club Hotel Dolphin is a 4-star property with 154 rooms situated in Waikkal. It is owned by Serendib Hotels Plc, which is part of Hemas Holdings Plc.
The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) today said that the Association is willing to work with the membership to offer selected hotel facilities in the battle against preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the country. THASL President Sanath Ukwatte said the members of the association have been following with deep appreciation the strenuous efforts made by the Government to contain COVID-19 crisis.
“Our members are willing to house those who are subject to two weeks of quarantine at remote locations. In addition, THASL has come forward to house medical staff who are working around the clock who are unable to get home after their work shift.
The number of rooms will depend on demand but it will help to maintain wellbeing of this important staff who is performing an yeoman service to the nation at this crucial time.
THASL stands ready to support the Government’s efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting the wider community, especially our healthcare professionals at a time when they need it most,” Mr. Ukwatte said.
Another person has tested positive for Covid-19 in Sri Lanka, bringing the total number of infected persons to 77, says Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi.
Earlier this evening (21), four new positive coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in the country.
Accordingly, the Covid-19 case tally in the country now stands at 77. The majority of these patients are reportedly males.
As of yesterday (19), Sri Lanka recorded a total number of 72 Covid-19 patients. However, five new patients were reported during the course of today’s observations.
According to the report published by the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry this morning (21), 245 patients are under observation at selected hospitals on suspicion of being infected with the virus.
Police Media Division stated that 180 individuals have been arrested over violating the curfew within the time period between 6 pm yesterday (20) and 9 pm today (21).
The government yesterday (20) imposed an island-wide curfew from 6.00 pm until 6.00 am on Monday (23).
The curfew was enforced as a means to minimize public gatherings in order to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus within the country.
All individuals were advised to remain indoors during the time of the curfew and to maintain a minimum distance of each other. Authorities have warned that public congregation can lead to the further spread of the virus.
As a preventive measure, the government also banned all leisure trips, pilgrimages, and tours within the country until further notice.
A total of 130 persons who had violated curfew have been arrested during operations across 31 police divisions, says Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Ajith Rohana.
Ten motorcycles and a three-wheeler have been seized during the operations.
Some of these arrests were made in Dambulla, Bandarawela, Haputale, Tangalle, Katunayake, Walasmulla, Nallathanniya and Ampara areas.
Nine persons who had been travelling in two three-wheelers and three motorcycles were taken into custody in Dambulla.
In the meantime, 8 persons were arrested for having a party during curfew hours, while another person was arrested in Haputale for keeping his restaurant open during the night.
Two individuals who were taken into custody in Walasmulla area had been transporting sand in two tipper trucks.
A motorcyclist and the pillion rider were arrested in Nallathanniya area and three others were detained by the police while loitering in Katunayake and Ampara areas.
Meanwhile, another motorcyclist who had been driving under the influence of alcohol was nabbed in Tangalle.
The government yesterday (20) imposed an island-wide curfew from 6.00 pm until 6.00 am on Monday (23).
The curfew was enforced as a means to minimize public gatherings in order to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus within the country.
All individuals were advised to remain indoors during the time of the curfew and to maintain a minimum distance of among each other. Authorities have warned that public congregation can lead to the further spread of the virus.
As a preventive measure, the government also banned all leisure trips, pilgrimages and tours within the country until further notice.
Corona virus has today impacted
182 countries with 246,467 confirmed cases and 10,047 deaths. In fact, though China
had 80,967 confirmed cases the death toll was 3,248 and China proudly claims
zero cases in China. However, Italy with 41,035 confirmed cases has 3,405
deaths exceeding that of China. What did China do right and what is Italy doing
wrong? This is the question that engulfs most countries now dealing with the
coronavirus coupled with indiscipline and selfish attitude of citizens as seen
in the case of Sri Lanka. The peak in cases and contaminations has been as a
result of contaminated Sri Lankans arriving from Italy in secret and refusing
to be quarantined.
31 Dec 2019
China informs WHO of flu-like
cases in Wuhan province. Health authorities began tracing source of flu.
1 Jan 2020
US Centre for Disease Control
& Prevention says Wuhan seafood market is the suspected hub of the flu
3 Jan 2020
Passengers arriving from Wuhan to
Changi airport undergo temperature screening
5 Jan 2020
WHO issues travel restrictions on
travel/trade with China
6 Jan 2020
China reports 60 cases with 7 in
critical condition. Health authorities rule out bird flu, seasonal flu, SARS,
MERS.
7 Jan 2020
Virus is identified as
CORONAVIRUS – temporarily it is named 2019-nCoV
8 Jan 2020
Outside China – 1st
suspected coronavirus cases in Thailand with 4 persons showing flu-like
symptoms
9 Jan 2020
Chinese Centre for Disease
Control & Prevention declares new virus associated to SARS-CoV group.
11 Jan 2020
1st coronavirus death in Wuhan of a 61year old man who had
been admitted to hospital for fever on 27 December.
No of infected in China is 41.
13 Jan 2020
1st confirmed coronavirus case in Thailand was a Chinese woman returning to Thailand from Wuhan.
15 Jan 2020
1st confirmed
coronavirus case in Japan of a person who stayed in Wuhan.
17 Jan 2020
2nd coronavirus death
in China of a 69 year old man in Wuhan.
US begins screening of passengers
from Wuhan at San Francisco, JFK, Los Angeles airports.
20 Jan 2020
Death toll – China announces 3rd death & over 200 new
cases.
1st case detected in South Korea of a
Chines person arriving from Wuhan
A British tourist in Thailand feared to be
infected.
21 Jan 2020
Australia announces its first coronavirus case a
victim in Brisbane who tested positive after returning from Wuhan.
Chinese announces over 300 cases
US confirms 1st coronavirus case of
person in 30s admitted to Washington hospital after returning from China.
22 Jan 2020
Over 500 people infected with death toll at 17.
WHO declares international health emergency.
23 Jan 2020
China cancels New Year celebrations due on 25
Jan 2020
China declares travel ban to & from Wuhan
city. China also imposes travel ban on Huanggang & Ezhou cities. Singapore
confirms 1st case.
US companies announce plans to develop drugs
& vaccines to combat virus.
24 Jan 2020
China commences a 1000 bed hospital in Wuhan to
be completed in 6 days.
China declares 830 confirmed cases with 95 in
critical condition.
China imposes travel restrictions on Chibi,
Zhijian, Huangshi, Xiantao, Enshi, Qianjian & Xianning cities.
Malaysia, Canada, Thailand, Singapore &
Uganda airports implement different measures to screen passengers.
Starbucks, McDonalds shuts down in Hubei
province.
Thailand suspends flights from its airport to
Wuhan till 4th February.
25 Jan 2020
Death toll is 41 with 1320 confirmed cases of which 1297 from China and
23 outside China.
Canada reports case of a 50year old man
returning from Wuhan on 22 Jan
Hong Kong announces health emergency &
cancels all official visits to China. 5 cases reported in Hong Kong.
Nepal reports case of a student returning from
China.
26 Jan 2020
Death toll – China’s death rises from 56 on 25th Jan to 1975
by 26th Jan.
France prepares to evacuate citizens from Wuhan.
France reports 3 cases
Ivory Coast confirms suspected case.
Mexico reports 1st confirmed case
Shanghai reports 1st death of 88 year
old man
US announces special flight to evacuate all
American citizens from Wuhan on 28 Jan
US confirms 3rd case from California.
Hong Kong and Taiwan restricts visitors from
Hubei province.
27 Jan 2020
Death toll is 81 – confirmed cases in China is 2744 with about half
from Hubei province.
Malaysia temporarily bans Chinese visitors from Wuhan.
South Korean announce its 4th case.
Spain & Portugal announce evacuation of citizens from Wuhan.
Sri Lanka reports 1st coronavirus confirmed case of 40 year old Chinese tourist from Wuhan. http://www.asianews.it/news-en/First-local-coronavirus-case-in-Sri-Lanka-49529.html
US, Taiwan, Singapore announce 5 cases of coronavirus
28 Jan
2020
Death toll – China
confirms 107 deaths with 4515 confirmed cases and 6973 Air Canada/Finnair cancels
some flights to China
China researchers explores use of natural products & their
traditional medicines to combat coronavirus.
Japan sends flight to evacuate citizens from Wuhan
Death
toll – China confirms 132 deaths / 5974 infected / 1459 new cases
Australia confirms 2nd case (Queensland 1st
/ 2nd Victoria) confirmed cases 7
Australian researchers become 1st to recreate new
coronavirus outside China
British Airways suspends flights to & from mainland China
Finland confirms 1st case
Germany confirms 3 more cases (total 4)
India sends plane to airlift 250 citizens from Wuhan
New Zealand and Australia join to evacuate nationals from Wuhan
UAE confirms 4 members of same Chinese family infected
US evacuates nationals from Wuhan
30 Jan
2020
Death
toll 170 – 7783 infected / 7678 from China
23 countries including China affected
India & Philippines confirm 1st cases
Italy confirms 2 cases
Portugal sends plane to evacuate EU citizens from Wuhan
Russia closes 2700mile border with China
US confirms 1st case of person-to-person transmission
31 Jan
2020
Death
toll 213 /infected cases 9776 – WHO declares global emergency
China sends flights to Thailand & Malaysia to bring back
citizens to Wuhan
Mongolia & Singapore closes borders to China
New Zealand confirms 1st suspect case
Thailand confirms first Thai corona case
UK confirms 2 cases of coronavirus
1st
Feb 2020
Death
toll 259 – 46 new deaths in China / 11374 infected across 26 countries
16 member Sri Lankan airline crew volunteer to fly to Wuhan to bring 33 Sri Lankan students back to Sri Lanka https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/02/02/the-heroic-act-of-the-16-crew-members-of-sri-lankan-airlines/
Australia bars entry to non-citizens coming from China
China announces 243 coronavirus patients discharged from hospital
No deaths reported outside mainland China
Russia reports 2 cases
Spain & Sweden reports 1 case each
US denies entry to foreign nationals who have visited China in last 2 weeks
2nd
Feb 2020
Death
toll 305
1st coronavirus patient from Wuhan, a 44 year old
Chinese outside China dies in Philippines (304 in China)
H5N1 bird flu also reported and China culls chickens in
Shaoyang/Hunan Province
Over 3000 new cases in China / 19544 cases
3rd
Feb 2020
Death
toll 362 – including 1 in Philippines
1000 bed Huoshenshan hospital built within 10 days
17386 cases globally / 17238 cases in China / 2296 severe cases
Australia brings back 243 citizens
India reports new case (3 in total) all from Kerala
US confirms 2 new cases (11 in total)
4 Feb
2020
Death
toll 427 / confirmed cases 20,623, 646 infected have recovered.
Malaysia reports 1st citizen infected – 41year old
Malaysian who traveled to Singapore for a conference (2nd case a
61year old Chinese – total 10 cases)
Belgium reports 1st confirmed citizen after 9 citizens
return from Wuhan
Hong Kong reports 1st death (1st death
outside China in Philippines)
5 Feb
2020
Death
toll 492 / Japan confirms 10 cases on cruise (3 Japanese, 2 Australians, 3 Hong
Kong, 1 US, 1 Filipino crew member) Virus infected 24,527 – 3219 cases in China
serious
2 Malaysian evacuees (45 year old man and 9 year old son from Wuhan
tests positive – Malaysian cases 12 (9 Chinese – 3 Malaysian)
US confirms new case from Wisconsin who travelled to Beijing (US
total 12)
6 Feb
2020
Death
toll 565 / 73 new deaths in mainland China since 4th Feb / 28,275
total cases of which 28049 in China / 3859 sever cases. 1153 patients recovered
in China.
Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Feb. 4, 2020, shows luxury cruise ship Diamond Princess off Daikoku Pier in Yokohama near Tokyo. The previous day, an elderly passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong late January was found infected with a new coronavirus, leading health officials to quarantine all the 3,700 passengers and crew members. (Photo by Kyodo News via Getty Images)
2 new cases in Vietnam (Total 12)
India confirm 645 evacuees from Wuhan were tested negative.
Japan says 10 more passengers on cruise ship tested positive
Singapore 30 cases
UK – 3rd case
US citizen dies in Wuhan
7 Feb
2020
Death toll
638 / 31,428 infected – 31,161 from mainland China
A makeshift memorial for Li Wenliang, a doctor who issued an early warning about the coronavirus outbreak before it was officially recognized, is seen after Li died of the virus, at an entrance to the Central Hospital of Wuhan in Hubei province, China February 7, 2020. REUTERS/Stringer
Chinese doctor who tried to issue warning about the virus dies
while working in hospital
Japan reports 41 new cases on cruise ship – total now 61 inside
ship
Taiwan confirms 3 new cases with total now 16 cases
8 Feb 2020
Death toll 724 / 86 new
deaths in China / 34,881 cases of which 34546 mainland China, 6161 serious
60year old Japanese man dies in Wuhan
China opens 2nd prefabricated hospital with 1600 beds
in Wuhan.
France reports 5 new cases of British nationals including child
testing positive – they had arrived from Singapore (total 11)
Hong Kong imposes 14 day quarantine for everyone arriving from
mainland China. Visitors must quarantine themselves in hotel rooms or govt
centres/returning nationals must stay inside their homes.
UAE confirms 2 – Chinese & Filipino (total 7)
9 Feb 2020
Death toll 813
(surpassing death toll of SARS in 2002-2003 that claimed 774 lives) 811 from
mainland China & one each from Hong Kong and Philippines/600 recovered
cases – total cured cases 2649 as of 8th Feb
37,549 global cases
37,198 in mainland China / 2656 new confirmed cases / 3916 suspected cases / 87
serious / 89 deaths on 8th Feb alone.
UK reports 4th case contracted virus in France.
10 Feb 2020
Death toll 910 / 97
deaths on 9th Feb – 70 onboard Japanese cruise ship) Global cases
40,547 – 40,171 in mainland China. China reports 3281 recoveries.
Japan increases cruise ship cases to 135 with 70 confirmed on 9th
Feb
Malaysia confirms 6th case – 31 year old man who
worked in Macau, China & returned to Malaysia on 1st Feb (total
18)
UAE reports 8th case – an Indian who was in contact
with diagnosed person
UK reports 4 new cases (total 8)
US reports new case in California – from an evacuee from Wuhan
(total 13)
11 Feb 2020
Death toll 1018 – 108
new deaths in China.42,638 confirms in mainland China/global cases 43,000
Germany confirms 2 new cases – total 16
Hong Kong reports 7 cases – total 49 (2 cases in same building
but different floors / so 100 evacuated from building)
Ukraine tests 5 citizens for virus as 3 returned from China
while 2 were in contact with them
Vietnam confirms 3month baby infected by grandparent – total 15
WHO names coronavirus – Covid-19
12 Feb 2020
Death toll 1115/global
cases 45,100 – 44,653 from mainland China/recoveries increase – 1.3% on 27 Jan
to 8.2% by 10th Feb
Japan cruise ship cases increase to 174
Mobile World Congress cancelled
Singapore DBS bank evacuates 300 employees after 1 employee is
confirmed with virus – total 50 (one of the highest outside China)
UK reports 9th case
US confirms 2nd case among evacuees from Wuhan –
total 14
13 Feb 2020
Death toll – 1369 / 254
new deaths / new cases 15,200 total 60,300 globally / 14840 new cases in Hubei
province.
Hong Kong reports new case – total 51
Japan reports 1st covid-19 death – a woman in her 80s
– total 248 including 219 from cruise ship / 44 new cases
Malaysia confirms 19th case – 39year old woman
returning from Wuhan. She is related to 14th & 16th
covid-19 cases
US announces 15th case in Texas
Vietnam confirms 16th case – 50 year old man from Son
Loi which reports 8 cases (city under lockdown for 20 days)
Spain confirms 1st death
14 Feb 2020
Death toll 1383 / total
deaths from mainland China is 1380 (3 others – Philippine / Hong Kong &
Japanese)
Cambodia – cruise ship docks after being turned away by 5
countries
Facebook cancels Global Marketing Summit in San Francisco
Global infections 64,429 / 63,911 from China, Hong Kong &
Macau.
IBM cancels RSA Cybersecurity conference in San Francisco
15 Feb 2020
Death toll 1526 / 143
new deaths / Globally 67,000 of which 66,492 from China
Egypt reports 1st case – a foreigner
France reports 1st covid-19 death – 80year old
Chinese tourist who came to France from Hubei on 16 Jan (4th
international – 1st outside Asia)
India also announces plans to evacuate Indians onboard cruise
ship
Malaysia reports 2 cases – total 21
Thailand reports new case – total 34
US airlifts Americans on Japanes cruise ship
16 Feb 2020
Death toll 1669 / 142
new deaths in China / Deaths in China 1665 / Total positive cases 69,186 with
68,500 cases in China. Severe cases 11,273. Total recoveries 9600
Germany releases 100 German evacuees arriving from Wuhan from
quarantine in Frankfurt military base (none tested positive)
South Korea confirms 29th case – 82 year old with no
history of overseas travel or contact with any confirmed patients.
UAE reports 9th case – 37 year old Chinese
17 Feb 2020
Death toll 1775 / 105
new deaths in China / Global infected 71,000 including 70,548 from China.
Japanese cruise ship cases rises to 454 out of 1723 tested / 14
new US passengers test positive / Australia plans repatriation from ship
More than 200 Australian evacuees from Wuhan return home after 14
days quarantine on Christmas Island. None tested positive.
Philippines confirms 16th new case onboard ship
making 27 Filipinos’ infected.
Singapore confirms 2 new cases (1yr old male from Wuhan and 35
year old male with no recent travel history to China) – total 77
Taiwan reports 1st death – 61 year old man with
diabetes & hepatitis B
Thailand reports new case – 60 year old Chinese woman whose
family members were diagnosed earlier – total 35
18 Feb 2020
Death toll 1873 / 98
new deaths / 73,000 cases of which 72,436 from China
Hong Kong reports 2 new cases – total 62
Japanese cruise ship cases 542 out of 2404 tested
Singapore confirms 4 new cases – total 81 / 29 recoveries
South Korea confirms 31st case – 61 year old woman
South Korea to send flight to bring back 5 nationals from
Japanese ship
Taiwan announces 4 of its 20 nationals flown back tests positive
UK plans to send flight to evacuate nationals from Japanese
cruise ship
19 Feb 2020
Death toll 2004 / 1749
new cases but 1824 recovers / total 75,000 infected.
Hong Kong reports 2nd death – 70year old man
Japan announces 621 out of 3011 people tested confirmed with
virus. 79 increase from last count. Passengers who tested negative disembark
after 14 day quarantine.
South Korea reports 19 new cases – total 51/11 of new cases
contacts of 31st case.
Chinese woman confirmed
with corona recovers completely in Sri Lanka and is released from hospital
Israel confirms 2nd case of Israeli returning from
Japanese cruise ship
Italy reports 7 deaths – total 229 cases / 50,000 people in 11
towns in Lombardy and Veneto under quarantine
Japanese cruise ship – 1 death of Japanese passenger in 80s –
total cases 691 with 3 deaths
Kuwait confirms 1st case of citizen returning from
Iran – total 5
Oman confirms 1st case of 2 women returning from Iran
South Korea reported 161 new additional cases with 7 deaths –
total 833
Spain confirms 3rd case – Italian male on holiday
US confirms 53 cases – 14 in US and 39 Americans onboard cruise
ship
25 Feb 2020
Death toll 2700 /
Global cases 80,000 recoveries 27,000
26 Feb 2020
Death toll 2750 /
Globally 81,000 / recovered 30,000
Iranian Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi wipes the sweat off his face, during a press conference with the Islamic republic’s government spokesman Ali Rabiei in the capital Tehran on February 24, 2020. – Iran’s deputy health minister confirmed on February 25, that he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, amid a major outbreak in the Islamic republic. Harirchi coughed occasionally and appeared to be sweating during the press conference with Rabiei in Tehran. (Photo by MEHDI BOLOURIAN / FARS NEWS / AFP) (Photo by MEHDI BOLOURIAN/FARS NEWS/AFP via Getty Images)
Algeria reports 1st case – Italian arriving on 17 Feb
(2nd African country with confirmed case)
Austria reports first 2 cases in Tyrol province sharing border
with Italy
Bahrain confirms 6 new cases – two Bahraini & 4 Saudi who
arrived from Iran (total 8 cases)
Bahrain confirms 9 new cases – total 26
Brazil reports 1st case
Croatia confirms 3rd case – man working in Italy
Croatia reports 1st case – person who was in Milan
from 19-21 Feb
El Salvador bans visitors from Italy & South Korea /
Salvadorean citizens arriving from Italy & South Korea to face 30 day
quarantine
France reports 2nd death – 60 year old French man in
Paris / total cases 18
Georgia confirms 1st national to test positive –
returning from Iran
Greece confirms 1st case – 38 year old who visited
Italy
India to charter flight to evacuate 120 Indians from cruise ship
Iran death toll 19 – 3 new deaths / 139 confirmed cases
Iran Deputy Health Minister tests positive – 1 more death (total
16 deaths & 95 confirmed cases)
Iraq confirms 4 new positive cases (total 5 positive) –Iraqi
family who travelled to Iran
Jamaica & Cayman Islands deny entry to Meraviglia cruise
ship carrying sick crew member
Japan closes schools
Japan reports 4th death of corona victim on cruise
ship (80year old Japanese)
Japan reports 705 cases from cruise ship – authorities test 4061
people / death toll 4 from ship and Japan has 2 deaths
Kuwait confirms 3 new – returnees from Iran (total 8 cases)
Kuwait reports 6 new cases – total 12
Malaysia sends 2nd flight to evacuates 66 citizens
from Wuhan
North Macedonia reports 1st case – woman travelling
from Italy
Norway reports 1st case – person returning from China
Pakistan reports 1st 2 cases – traveling to Iran
Philippines sends 2 flights to repatriate 400 Pilippinos from
cruise ship
Romania confirms 1st case – man in contact with
Italian diagnosed with virus who was in Romania from 18-22 February
South Korea reports 84 new cases – total 977 (deaths 10)
South Korea reports additional 169 new cases & 1 death –
total 1261 confirmed and 12 deaths
Switzerland confirms 1st case in Ticino – a man who
had gone to Italy to attend event.
Thailand confirms 2 new cases of Thai nationals – total 37 cases
Thailand confirms 3 new cases (2 returning from Japan & came
in contact with 3rd) – total 40 confirmed
US forces in Korea confirm US service member tests positive
27 Feb 2020
Death toll 2800 – 2640
from China / Global 82,000 / recoveries 32,000
China announces 10,000 yuan ($1400) to those who self-report for
confirmed cases
Denmark reports 1st case – returning from holiday to
Italy
Estonia reports 1st case – travelled to Iran
Finland reports 2nd case – female who visited Italy
France confirms 38 cases – 20 new confirmed cases
Greece reports 2 new cases – travelling to Italy (total 3)
India evacuates 119 citizens and 2 Sri Lankans, 1 Nepalese, 1
South African, 1 Peruvian from cruise ship
Iran’s Vice President for Women & Family Affairs also tests
positive – 4 new deaths – total death 26 / 106 new cases – total infected 245
Iraq confirms 6th case / 1st case in
Baghdad – male returning from Iran. Iraq suspends public gatherings and bans
travel to and from 9 countries including Kuwait and Bahrain.
Italy – total cases 655 / death toll 17 / recoveries 45
Japan reports 4th death – Japanese man in his 80s who
tested positive on 22nd Feb (death after 5 days) – Japanese woman
tests positive twice late January & recovered but again positive.
Kuwait confirms 43 cases
Lebanon reports 2nd case – man who returned from Iran
Lebanon reports 3rd case – man returning from Iran
Malaysia reports 1 new case who travelled to Japan – total 23
Netherlands reports 1st case – travelling to Italy’s
Lombary region
Northern Ireland reports 1st case / UK total 16
Oman reports 6th case – man returning from Iran
San Marino reports 1st case
Saudi Arabia suspends Mecca pilgrimage
South Korea report 334 new cases – total 1766 / 1 death – total
death 13
Spain confirmed cases 15
Sweden reports 5 new cases – total 7
Swiss confirms 9 cases – last a woman staffer in day care who
travelled from Milan – kids quarantined
UK reports 2 new cases contracted in Italy & Spain – total
60 including 42 repatriated from cruise ship & 3 evacuees from Wuhan
UN lifts sanctions on medical equipment to North Korea to
prevent spread of virus
28 Feb 2020
Death toll 2850 /
Globally 83,300 of which 78,000 from China / recoveries globally 36,000
Belarus reports 1st case
Croatia reports 2 cases who had contact with initial cases –
total 5
Cruise ship – 5th passenger dies – Japanese woman in
70s who tested positive on 6 Feb and got pneumonia on 12th Feb
Cruise ship death – 6 (last death a UK man)
France confirmed 19 cases – total 57 cases – 2 deaths
Greece confirms 4th case – 36year old woman arriving
from North Italy
Hong Kong – dog tests positive from infected owner
Iran death toll 34 – confirmed cases 388
Italy confirmed cases 888 – deaths 21 (4 new deaths)
Japan reports 5th death – man in 70s who was
hospitalized on 6Feb with fever
Kuwait confirms 2 new cases in contact with Iranian citizens –
total 45
Lithuania reports 1st case – woman returning from
Italy
Malaysia reports 2 new cases – total 25 / Malaysia restricts
travel to Koreans
Netherlands reports 2nd case – but not linked to
first
New Zealand confirms 1st case – person arriving from
Iran via Bali / NZ restricts travel to Iran
Nigeria reports 1st case – Italian man arriving in
Lagos (1st in sub-saharan region)
South Korea – 315 additional cases total 2337 / death toll 13
Thailand reports additional case patient arriving from South
Korea on 24Feb – 41 cases
UAE reports 6 additional cases (4 from Iran/1 from Bahrain, 1
from China) – total 19
UK confirmed cases 20 / Wales confirmed 1st case who
arrived from North Italy
US total cases 62 (Oregon & California)
Western Australia registers 2nd case – woman on
cruise ship – total 24
WHO declares coronavirus risk Very High”
29 Feb 2020
Death toll 2900 /
Globally 85,000 / recoveries 39,000
1 Mar 2020
Death total 2970 / Global 86,500 with 79,824 from China (Mainland China reported 573 new Armenia reports 1 – arriving from Iran
Australia reports 78year old mans death who travelled in Japanese cruise ship – total death in Australia 27
Azerbaijan reports 1st case – Russian arriving from Iran
Bahrain confirms 2 cases – 1 from Saudi total 38
Bahrain reports 6 new cases (5 Bahraini and 1 Saudi arriving from Iran) – total 47
Brazil reports 2nd case – traveled to North Italy
Czech Republic reports 3 – all travelled to North Italy
cases and 35 more deaths) / recoveries 42,000
Denmark confirms 2nd case – man returning from Italy
Dominican Republic reports 1 – arriving from Italy
Ecuador reports 1st case
Ecuador reports 5 new cases – total 6 (all 5 had direct contact with 1st)
Finland reports 4 new cases – total 6
Finland total cases 3
France reports 130 cases – 9 in serious condition / France closes Louvre Museum
Georgia confirms 2nd case – 31year old woman travelling to Italy
Greece confirms 3 new (2 related to existing cases while other had visited Italy)– total 7
Iran reports 11 new – total 978 cases confirmed cases 593 / 9 new deaths (includes an MP) – death toll 54
Iraq total cases 8
Ireland records 1st case – travelled to North Italy
Israel total cases 7 – man arriving from Italy last case
Italy confirmed cases 1128 – 29 deaths
Italy total cases 1577 – deaths 34 / 83 recovered
Kuwait reports 1 case – total 46
Lebanon reports 1 confirmation – total 10
Lebanon total cases 4
Luxembourg reports 1st case – man arriving from Italy
Mexico reports 1st 2 cases
Mexico reports 5 – who had travelled to Italy
Monaco reports 1st case
Norway confirms 3 positive – total 4
Norway reports 19 – 5 hospital workers
Pakistan reports 2 cases – total 4
Qatar reports 2 additional cases repatriated from iran – total 3
Singapore records 4 additional cases – total 106/recoveries 74 – 2 discharged
South Korea new cases 201, total cases 3736, deaths 18 – closes some churches https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/26/asia/shincheonji-south-korea-hnk-intl/index.html
South Korea reports 594 additional cases & 1 death – death total 17 / total cases 3150
Thailand reports 1st death – 35 year old man who also had dengue – total cases 42
UK reports 12 new – total 36
US imposes travel restrictions to South Korea, Iran, Italy
US reports 1st death – 50s man from Seattle, Washington
US reports 2nd death in Washington man in 70s
2 Mar 2020
Death toll 3000 with
2912 from China – 42 deaths / Global 89,000 / recoveries 45,000
Algeria reports 2 cases – total 3
Andorra reports 1st case – 20year old who had visited
Italy
Australia confirms 2 new cases – 41 year old woman whose brother
returned from Iran and 31 year old doctor – total cases 33
Egypt reports 2 cases – 1st confirmed case had
recovered
EU centre for disease and prevention control raises virus risk
level to high after confirming 18 out of 27 EU states and 38 EU citizens dying
from virus
France reports 2 new deaths – total 4
Germany reports cases rise to 150 from 129 on 1st
March
Iceland reports 1st 3 cases – all 3 had travelled to
Italy
India confirms 2 new cases (1 having traveled from Italy the
other an Italian in Rajasthan) – total 5. India claims evacuees from China and
Japanese cruise ship tests negative.
Indonesia reports 1st two cases
Iran – 66 dead
Iran confirms 1501 cases and 66 deaths
Iran reports 12 deaths total death toll 66 / 523 additional
cases to total 1501
Israel reports 10 cases
Italy reports 52 dead (34 deaths by 1st March) / 1835
cases with 1254 from Lombardy region
Japan reports 15 new cases
Jordan confirms 1st case – citizen arriving from
Italy
Kuwait confirms 10 new cases – total 56
Morocco confirms 1st case – national returning from
Italy
Oman bans visitors affected by coronavirus
Pakistan reports new case returning from Iran – total 5
Portugal reports 1st two case – man who visited Italy
and another returning from Spain
Qatar 4 new cases (2 Qatari & 2 foreign domestic workers all
had gone to Iran) – total 7
Saudi Arabia confirms 1st case – citizen returning
from Iran as positive
South Korea reports 479 new cases – total 4212 with 22 deaths
Sun Princess cruise ship faces protests when attempting to dock
at Reunion Island.
Tunisia confirms 1st case – national returning from
Italy
UAE evacuates citizens from Iran
UK cases 40
US reports 4 deaths – total deaths 6 / total cases 91 of which
45 were from cruise ship and 3 from Wuhan
WHO confirms its staff member tested positive.
Wuhan closes 1 of 16 covid-19 hospital after discharging final
patients
3 Mar 2020
Death toll 3100 with 2943 from China / Global cases 90,000 with
80,000 from China / 2742 recovered
Argentina reports 1st case – man arriving from Italy
Canada confirms 3 more cases – total 33
Chile reports 1st case – 33 year old Chilean arriving
from Singapore
China 125 tests positive – 31 deaths
Czech Republic reports 2 new cases – 2 women who had contact
with virus infected persons
Germany reports total cases 196
Iran reports 11 deaths – total death toll 77 / number of cases
2336
Iran temporarily releases 54,000 prisoners to stop spread of
virus
Italy death toll 79 – total confirmed cases 2263 / 160 recovered
Malaysia reports 7 new cases – total 36
Portugal reports 2 more positive cases – total 4
Qatar reports new case – total 8
Senegal reports 1st case – French man arriving from
France on 26 February
South Korea reports 600 new cases – 6 deaths / total cases 4812
– total deaths 28
UAE reports 6 new cases (2 Italian, 2 Russian, 1 Colombian, 1
German) – total 27
Ukraine reports 1st case – man arriving from Italy
US death toll – 9 all from Washington – total cases 124
4 Mar 2020
Death toll 3198 /
Global 93,000 /recoveries 50,000
Germany cases increase to 240
India confirms cases in 2 states – total 28 (16 Italian
nationals / 1 indian driver/6 – family from Agra /3 in Kerala / 1 in
Hyderabad/1 in Delhi)
Iran death toll 92 – confirmed cases 2922
Malaysia confirms 14 new cases – total 50 / recovered 22
South Korea reports 516 new cases – total cases 5328 / 4 new
deaths – death toll 32
UAE suspends international patient care services temporarily
UK reports 34 new cases (29 had travelled abroad) – total cases
85
5 Mar 2020
Death toll 3200 /
Globally 95,000 – with 80,000 in China /recoveries 53,000
Algeria reports 9 new cases – total 17
Austria confirms 42 cases
Bahrain confirms 3 new cases
Belgium reports 27 new cases – total 50 confirmed cases
Brazil reports 8 cases
Croatia reports 10th confirmed case
Czech Republic confirms 12 cases
Czech Republic confirms 3 positive – total 8
Dubai – Indian student tests positive
Ecuador reports 10 cases
Ecuador reports 3 new cases – total 13
Estonia confirms 3rd case – person who was on same
flight as 2nd case
France confirms 423 cases – 7 deaths. A French legislator also
hospitalized
France reports 285 confirmed cases
Gibraltar reports 1st case
Greece reports case – total 9
Hungary confirms 1st 2 cases – Iranian students
Iceland confirms 10 cases – total 26
Iceland reports 8 new positive cases – total 34 positive
India reports 30 cases
Iraq reports 3rd death – 65year old from Baghdad
Ireland reports 4 cases – total 6
Italy confirms 41 death – death toll 148 / 3858 infected
Japan reconfirms 696 cases & corrects previous erroneous
count
Lebanon confirms 2 new cases
Luxembourg confirms 2nd case
Malaysia reports new cases – total 55
Netherlands confirms 44 new cases – total 82
Norway confirms 91 infected
Pakistan confirms 6th cases
Palestine confirms 7 cases
Poland reports 1st case
Portugal reports 6th case – a woman who had been in
Italy
Romania reports 6th confirmed case
San Marino reports 15 cases
Saudi Arabia confirms 2nd case – patient from Iran
Saudi Arabia confirms 3 new cases – total 5
Senegal confirms 2 cases – total 4
Slovenia reports 6 confirmed cases – 1st case
reported on 4th March
South Korea reports 3 new deaths – total deaths 35 / infected
5766
Spain reports 3rd death – 99 year old woman
Spain reports 3rd death – 99 year old woman in
nursing home in Madrid where 9 others tested positive
Sweden reports 16 new cases – total 57
Switzerland confirms more than 100 positive cases
Switzerland reports new confirmed case – total 119
Thailand reports 4 new cases – total 47
Tunisia confirms 1st case
US reports 233 cases with 12 deaths – virus spread to 14 states
6 Mar 2020
Death toll rises to 3,380 / Globally 98,380 infection cases / 55,420
recoveries
Australia – 1st school closed after student tests
positive in Sydney – total 60 / deaths 2
Belgium reports new cases – total 109
Bhutan confirms 1st case – visiting American
Bosnia confirms 1st 2 cases – a man who returned
from Italy and his child.
Cameroon reports 1st case – 58 year old French
national who arrived in Feb
China 143 new cases / 30 deaths / total 80,552 infections and
3,042 deaths
China reports 11 new cases
of people who arrived from Iran /311 passengers from Iran have been quarantined at
the provincial capital of Lanzhou
Colombo reports 1st case – 19year old female visiting
Italy
Costa Rica reports 1st case – 49 year old female from
US
Dominican Republic reports 2nd case – 70-year-old Canadian
tourist who arrived on 25 February.
Egypt reports 12 new cases on Nile cruise ship – total 15
England confirms first death – elderly man / total cases 116.
Estonia reports 8th new case – total 10
Germany reports 134 new cases – total 534
Hungary reports new case (Hungarian who returned from Italy) –
total 3 (other 2 were Iranian students)
Kuwait
suspends flights to and from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Bangladesh, Philippines,
India and Sri Lanka for seven days
Maldives confirmed 1st two cases – infected after
contact with an Italian tourist.
Malta’s first case – 12-year-old Italian girl who returned from
Trentino via Rome.
Paraguay confirmed first case
Saudi limits land crossings with the UAE, Kuwait
and Bahrain to commercial trucks in an effort to contain the virus.
South
Korea reported
174 new cases – total cases – 6,767 / deaths 44.
UK
3 new cases – total 209 / 2 deaths
UK
confirms 2nd death
US
new deaths in Washington – total deaths 19 /cases in New York increased by 13 to 89. The state
declared emergency.
8 Mar 2020
Death toll 3,600 including 3,097 in
mainland China/global infections 106,150 / 59,930 recoveries /mainland China
saw 44 new cases and 27 deaths.
Argentina 1st death ( first fatality in
Latin America)
Australia
3rd death – total 74
Bahrain
calls for self-quarantine
Bangladesh reports 1st 3
cases (two
men who traveled to Italy and one is woman related to the men)
Bulgaria
confirmed
its first four cases – two men from Pleven and two women from Gabrovo tested
positive.
Costa Fortuna ship heads to Singapore after denied entry at
ports in Malaysia and Thailand
Greece
new cases 21 – total 66
India reports 5 new (3 arriving from
Italy / 2 their relatives) total cases 39 (5 in Kerala tested positive)
Iran marks highest single-day toll
with 49 new cases – death toll to 194.
Italy deaths 366 – total cases in the country stand at 7,375.
Italy to lockdown northern parts including capital
Milan, Lombardy and 11 provinces in four other regions. lockdown applies to
nearly 16 million people – shutting down of all museums, gyms, cultural
centres, ski resorts and swimming pools in the target regions – total cases
5,883 deaths 233
Moldova report 1st case – 48-year-old woman who
returned from Italy.
Netherlands
reported
two additional deaths – total dead 3 / cases 265
South
Korea 367
new cases – total cases 7,134 / 6 new deaths – total deaths
50
Switzerland new death – total deaths 2 / 281.
US
cases near 550; Grand Princess quarantine – deaths 22
9 Mar 2020
Death toll 3,800 including around 3,100
in Mainland China / Global 110,000 in 108 countries / recoveries
61,000.
Albania confirms 1st 2
cases-
father and son who had recently travelled to Italy.
Brunei 1st case –
returned from Malaysia on 3 March.
Burkina Faso 1st two cases – a couple with a travel
history to France.
Canada
1st death in British Columbia – man in 80s / British Columbia cases
32 / total cases in Canada 77
Canada
to repatriate citizens onboard Grand Princess
China – Wuhan closes 11 makeshift hospitals
Costa Rica cases reach nine
Cyprus announced 1st two cases – a man with travel history
to northern Italy and one to the UK.
Egypt reports 1st death in Egypt – 60-year-old German
tourist – total number of cases 55.
India Cases rise to 43 /With new cases reported
in Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, the number of cases in
the country
Indonesia confirms 13 new cases (11
Indonesians & 2 foreigners) – total 19
Iran infected total 7,161 / 595 new infections and 43
deaths in the last 24 hours/ death toll – 237
Italian
PM imposes country wide lockdown
Italy death toll 463 / cases 9,172 / Recoveries 724.
Italy
prison riot 6 prisoners killed
Mongolia announced 1st case, a French national who
arrived from Moscow.
Panama 1st case – A woman who arrived from Spain
tested positive
Philippines
confirms 10 cases & 1 death – declares health emergency
Qatar cases 15 – imposes travel ban on
14 countries
(India, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, the
Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria and Thailand) Qatar suspended
flights to and from Italy.
Saudi Arabia imposes lockdown,
restricts travel – total 15 cases / suspended schools and universities/
suspended travel with nine countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and
Egypt
South Korea reports 69 new cases – total 7,382 / death
toll 51.
UAE
14 new cases total cases – 59
UK
reports 273 cases and 3 deaths
US death toll – 26 /confirmed cases 700.
Vietnam temporarily suspends visa-free
travel to eight European countries (Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the UK, Germany,
France and Spain) as 11 of the country’s 14 new cases had a travel history to
Europe. A total of 30 cases confirmed with virus.
10 Mar 2020
Death toll 4,000 with 3,100 cases in
Mainland China / Globally confirmed cases 113,000 / recoveries has 59,000.
Bolivia confirmed 1st two cases
Congo confirms 1st case a person who returned
from France.
India
evacuates 58 citizens from Iran – total cases 50 (6 new cases in Kerala (15
total)/ 3 new cases in Karnataka (4 total)
Italy death toll increases by 36% –
deaths 631/confirmed
cases increased from 9,172 to 10,149.
Jamaica’s 1st case – female with a travel history to
the UK.
Japan reported 59 new cases – total 1,278 cases,
including 696 from Diamond Princess and 14 evacuees from China.
Panama confirms 1st death – confirmed seven new
cases
Philippines announced 11 additional
cases – total cases 35.
Spain has closed schools in some parts of the country and
stopped all flights arriving from Italy – total cases 1,695 with 35 deaths
Sri Lanka – 186 people (164 Sri Lankan nationals, 20 Italian nationals and 2
South Korean nationals) were placed under quarantine in Batticaloa.
Turkey reported 1st case – male citizen who returned
from Europe.
UAE – 2 Sri Lankan origins living in United Arab Emirates reported
with coronavirus cases were identified.
US
– couple on Grand Princess sues cruise line
11 Mar 2020
Death toll 4,200 including 3,100
cases in Mainland China/confirmed cases 119,000 in 114 countries /recoveries
65,000
Australia
3 new cases who visited Europe – total cases 122; announces $1.6bn health
package
Bahrain records 77 new cases from evacuees from Iran –
total 189.
Belgium reported 1st death – 90-years-old.
Costa Rica new cases 13 – total confirmed 22
Cuba confirmed 1st three cases in tourists
Denmark reported 78 additional cases – total 340.
Egypt reported 7 new cases – total 67.
Honduras reports 1st 2
cases- two
women with travel history to Spain and Switzerland.
India 19 new cases – 8
from Kerala, 5 from Maharashtra, 4 from Karnataka, 1 from Jamma & Kashmir –
total Cases – 62 / India cancelled visas granted to Germany, France and
Spain nationals
Indonesia announced 1st
death – 53-year-old foriegn woman
Ireland confirms 1st death
– total cases
43.
Israel announced 8 additional cases- total 76.
Italy tightens lockdown – shuts bars, hairdressers and
restaurants / cases 12,462 / death toll 827.
Ivory Coast reported 1st case – 45-year-old national
who recently travelled to Italy.
Malaysia reported additional 20
cases – total 149.
Maldives 2 new cases – total cases – 8
Pakistan new case – total 20
Philippines confirmed 16 new cases – total confirmed cases 49.
Qatar reports 238 new cases – total cases to 262.
South Africa announced 6 new cases – total 13.
South Korea reports 242 new cases – total cases 7755 / 6 new
deaths – total deaths 60
Spain
cases
increased to 2,277 – 55 deaths. In capital Madrid cases risen to 1,024 from 782
Taiwan 361 evacuees return from Wuhan
UK
74 new cases – total 456 / 6 deaths
UK reports 6th death – man
in 80s / UK Health Minister Nadine Dorries tested positive undergoing self isolation at home
/ total cases 373
US restricts travel from Europe for 30 days – US total 1,322 confirmed cases /38
deaths
Vietnam
20 new cases (13
of the new patients were on a Vietnam Airlines flight from London to Hanoi on 2
March) total 35
WHO
declares virus as a pandemic
12 Mar 2020
Death toll 4,600 including 3,169 in
mainland China / Global 126,140 / 68,200 recoveries
Algeria 1st death – total 24.
Algeria suspends all
flights between Algeria and Morocco
Armenia to replace used banknotes asked people to prefer
online payments instead cash.
Australia
– US actor Tom Hanks and wife test positive in Australia
Austria reports 1st death –
69-year-old
man in Vienna – total cases 302
Azerbaijan confirms 1st
death – a
woman who was quarantined after returning from Iran. Total cases 15.
Bulgaria intends to declare emergency – total cases 7 / deaths – 1
Canadian Prime Minister’s wife tests
positive
after returning from London / number of cases in Canada reached 142, including
one death.
Costa Rica suspends all university classes and certain
schools
Egypt
reports 13 new cases with 1 death – total 80
French Polynesia’s 1st case is politician Maina Sage
who returned from Paris on 7 March.
Germany
cases increase to 2,369 from 1567 on 11th March – total deaths 5
Greece’s 1st death – a 67-year-old man who had
recently returned from Israel and Egypt.
Guyana reported 1st case – 52-year-old woman
who died after returning from the US
Hong Kong sees 4th death a 80-year old man
total cases 130 .
India cases 73 – 17
foreign nationals
India reports 1st death – 76-year-old man from
Karnataka
Iran
deaths 429 / total infections 10,075 / Iran requests IMF for $5bn emergency
funding to control virus
Ireland
cases increase to 70 from 43 on 11th March
Italy deaths cross 1,000 increased 23%. Total cases rose 21.7% from
12,462 to 15,113 / total 1,258 patients had fully recovered.
Malaysia reported 9 new cases –
total 158.
Morocco
suspends travel to Spain and Algeria
Netherlands
new cases increase 22% to 614
Norway reported its 1st death in an elderly patient –
total 620
Philippines Senate and the Manila headquarters of the Asian
Development Bank have closed
Poland’s 1st death – total cases 47
Portugal closes all schools, cafes, restaurants and some shops
Qatar announced regulatory measures to prevent the spread,
including closure of theatres, play areas and gyms.
Saudi Arabia 24 new cases (2 returning from Iraq, 1 in contact
with infected person from Iran, 21 contacted with Egyptian visited who tested
positive) – total 45
Singapore to close mosques for 5 days – total 178 cases
South Africa records 1st local transmission – a
32-year-old man who came into contact with a Chinese businessman – total cases
17
South Korea reports 114 new cases – total confirmed cases 7,869,
including 66 deaths.
Spain
deaths 84 from 47 / total cases 2968
Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia
tested
after the equalities minister Irene Montero tested positive another
cabinet minister Carolina Darias tested positive / total 3,146 cases including
86 deaths.
Sri Lankan 2nd Sri Lankan to test positive – 44 year
old who had been in contact with 1st case
St Vincent and the Grenadines confirmed 1st case –
female who had travelled to the UK.
Sweden reported 1st
death – elderly patient with an underlying sickness.
Thailand
reports 11 new cases – total 70
Trinidad & Tobago confirms 1st
case a
52-year-old male who arrived from Switzerland
Turkey’s schools closed for one week and universities for three
weeks, all sports events will take place without spectators until the end of
April.
UK
cases grew 29% in last 24hrs at 590 with 10 deaths
13 Mar 2020
Death toll 4,700/128,330 infections /
68,300 recoveries
Australian Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton tested positive.
Belarus registered 6 new cases – total 27.
Bulgaria foreign ministry banned all travel to Iran, asked people to avoid non-urgent travel to 11 countries.
Canada – Ottawa asked citizens to avoid non-essential foreign travel / total cases 200, including one death.
Chile ordered a ban on public events of more than 500 people – 43 cases
Czech Republic deny entry to foreigners and banned its nationals from travelling abroad
Egypt 13 new cases –total cases 93.
Ethiopia’s 1st case is a Japanese national
France closes all nurseries, schools and also banned public gatherings of more than 100 people.
Gabon’s 1st case – 27-year-old-man who had returned from France on 08 March.
Germany cases from 671 to 3,000 including 5 deaths.
Ghana confirmed 1st two cases – people who had recently visited Norway and Turkey.
Google employee in India/Karnataka tests positive – total 80
Guatemala confirmed 1st case – banned arrivals from some heavily affected countries, including the US and Canada.
Guinea’s 1st case – employee of the European Union delegation.
India – 2nd death – 68-year-old woman in New Delhi/ 82 cases confirmed
Indonesia confirmed 35 new cases (3 died) – total 69
Indonesia to ban face mask exports to ensure domestic supply amid the outbreak.
Iran decides to empty city streets – cases reach 11,364/514 deaths
Iraq banned entry to visitors from Germany and Qatar & 13 countries.
Italy death toll – 1,266 increase by 25% in last 24hrs – infections surged by nearly 17% to 17,660.
Jamaica 8 cases – seeking 100 Cuban nurses to help.
Kazakhstan confirmed 1st cases of nationals returning separately from Germany on 9 March and 12 March
Kenya reported 1st case – person arriving from US via London
Kosovo’s 1st 2 cases – 20-year-old Italian woman and a 77-year-old Kosovar man.
Mauritania reported 1st case
Mexico cases increased from 15 previous day to 26
Moldova would suspend all flights to European regions from Sunday. The country has six cases to date.
Netherlands increased from 614 previous day to 804/deaths 10
North Macedonia suspended public gatherings banned entry to foreign nationals – total 9 cases
Panama’s confirmed cases increased to 36, including three foreign nationals.
Romanian interim prime minister Ludovic Orban under self-quarantine after coming into contact with one of his party’s senators who tested positive. https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/romanias-interim-pm-ludovic-orban-and-cabinet-to-enter-quarantine-after-coronavirus
Saudi Arabia confirmed 17 new cases (11 Egyptians) – total 62
Saudi Arabia confirmed 24 new cases – total 86.
Singapore bans entry to people who had been to Italy, France, Spain and Germany in the past 14 days.
South Korea reported 110 new cases – total 7,979/ 177 patients released from hospitals .
Spain declared a state of emergency
Sri Lanka identifies 3 more cases – one 41 Sri Lankan male arriving from Germany other 2 are 37years and 43 years arriving from Italy
Sudan confirmed 1st death – a man who arrived from the UAE. Sudan suspended flights to eight countries.
Thailand issues new coronavirus warning after 13 cases traced to a group of friends sharing cigarettes & drinks – total cases 75
Uruguay confirmed 1st four cases – people who arrived from Milan, Italy.
US some states, such as Seattle and Ohio, have closed schools. Hospitals across the country are setting up tents to cater to the increasing inflow of patients. Hawaii, urgent care clinics are offering drive-through testing – total 1,300 cases with 39 deaths.
Venezuela reported 1st two cases, declared a state of alarm
14 Mar 2020
Death toll 5,500 / Global 145,300 /
71,600 recoveries
Australia bans public events of more than 500
people – total 197 cases / 3 three deaths
Bolivia ban entry of visitors from China, South Korea, Italy and
Spain – total 10 cases
Cambodia deny entry to visitors from Italy, Germany, Spain,
France and the US for 30 days from 17 March. Total 7 cases
Central African
Republic report 1st case
Colombia ordered closure of border with Venezuela – total cases
9
Congo Republic report 1st case
Denmark reported 1st death closed its borders for
foreign travellers for one month.
Egypt to close schools and universities for two weeks – total
cases 110 with two deaths.
Europe
now epicentre of outbreak, says WHO
Japan cases – 1,423 including 697 from the
Diamond Princess cruise ship and 14 evacuees from China / 28 deaths, including
seven from the cruise ship,
Kuwait will close all shopping malls, salons entertainment
centres excluding food supplies.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern asked everyone
entering NZ to self-isolate for 14 days. All cruise ships denied entry until 30
June.
Philippines confirmed 6th
death Sixth death a 54-year-old resident of Metro Manila. total 64 cases.
Rwanda report 1st case
Seychelles report 1st case
South Korea 107 new cases – total
8,086/204
people have recovered and discharged from hospitals.
Sri Lanka reports 5 more confirmed cases – All 5 nationals
returning from Italy (aged 42, 43, 44 males) 2 females 56 & 17years related
to a confirmed case
Sudan ordered closure of schools and universities for 30 days
& banned public gatherings and social events.
Thailand
reports 7 new cases – total 82
US declares national emergency enabling $50bn in
federal aid / 1,700 confirmed cases / 40 deaths.
Uzbekistan confirms 1st
case – a
national who returned from France.
15 Mar
2020
Death toll 5,800/ Globally 156,000
confirmed cases / 74,000 recoveries
Argentina ordered ban on entry for 30 days to non-residents who
visited a highly affected country in the last 14 days. Total 45 cases.
Australia imposes self-quarantine for
people arriving from abroad
Equatorial Guinea confirms 1st
case – 42-year-old
woman who arrived in the capital Malabo from Spain on 13 March.
Estonia will deny entry to foreign travelers – total 115 cases
France
reports 36 deaths – death toll 127/ confirmed cases 5,423.
Greece confirmed 1 death – total deaths 4, confirmed cases
increase from 103 to total 331.
Hungary’s 1st death –
75-year-old national hospitalised with severe pneumonia – total cases
32.
India – 1st recovery – 45 year man from Delhi / 102
confirmed cases 2 deaths
Iran reports 113 new deaths in 24hrs –
724 deaths / total cases 13,938.
Italy
reports 368 new deaths – death toll 1809/ total cases 24,747
Kenya deny entry to all except citizens and residents – total
cases 3. Primary and secondary schools closed. Boarding schools and
universities will also shut
Malaysia
confirms 190 new cases – total 428 majority linked to mosque gathering
Mexico reports 41 cases – bans large gatherings
and extended school holidays.
Morocco suspended all international flights to and from its
airports. Total – 28 cases, including one death and one recovery.
Netherlands
confirmed 8 new deaths – death total 20 / cases 1135
Philippines
closes Manila (12m) for domestic travelers for 1 month
Philippines
confirmed 29 new cases – total 140 / 4 new deaths – total deaths 12
Qatar new cases 64 – total cases 401/ Nearly 7,950 people
have been tested to date / Qatar will ban entry to non-nationals for two weeks
& suspend entry to passenger flights.
Serbia’s president declared a state of emergency – total 45
cases, soldiers deployed to guard hospitals and closed several public spaces.
Slovenia
1st death – elderly man – total 219 cases
Spain – Wife
of Spanish PM tests positive
Spain reports 2,000 new cases &
100 deaths – total 7,753 cases and 288
deaths
Sri Lanka 7 more new confirmed cases – total 18
UK – NHS
and private hospitals to partner to tackle the coronavirus pandemic / 1143
confirmed cases & 21 deaths
UK to isolate elderly above 70 / total
cases
1,400, / deaths 35
Ukraine’s railways company Ukrzaliznytsia bars all international
passenger trains from 17 March. Ukraine suspended international flights and
banned entry to foreign nationals until 3 April.
US
President tests negative, travel ban extended to the UK & Ireland / 2900
confirmed cases – 57 deaths
Vietnam
4 new cases – total 57 mandatory quarantine ordered & and testing of
passengers from or through China, South Korea, the UK and Schengen countries
16 Mar
2020
Death toll 6,500/Global 169,000
/ recoveries 77,000
Armenia declared state of emergency for one month until April
16. Total cases 30 cases – all
educational institutions closed
Bahrain confirms 1st death- 65-year-old national –
total 210 cases.
Cambodia
4 new cases including 4month French body & 2 arriving from Malaysia – total
cases 12
Canada imposes tougher screening measures for visitors – total
cases 320.
Chile closes borders to foreigners – total cases 155 case
China boosts quarantine for
international arrivals – imported cases – 123.
Egypt suspends flights from its airports until 31 March
Georgia denies entry to all foreigners – total cases 33
Germany advises nationals against all non-essential
international trips.
Ghana announced closure of all schools and universities, &
suspended public events.
Greece ordered 14-day quarantine for people from abroad. Greece
closes shops except supermarkets, pharmacy stores and food delivery services.
Hungary announced plans to close borders to international
passengers, suspend cultural and sports events and establishments & advised
people aged over 70 to stay at home.
India
4 new cases (Maharashtra/Karnataka & 2 in Kerala) total 114 Cases
Iran
reports 129 new deaths – total deaths 853 / 14,991 cases
Japan traces 15 clusters; total cases
1,528
including 697 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship and 14 evacuees from China.
Deaths 30
Liberia reported 1st case
Malaysia
reports 125 new cases (traced to religious gathering of 16,000 people) total
553
Morocco closes mosques, eateries, cinemas, theatres, sports,
public clubs and entertainment centres. Markets, shops with essential
goods and restaurants with delivery service are given exemption.
Netherlands
total cases increase by 278 to 1,413 – deaths 24
New Zealand bars gatherings of 500 people or more
– total cases 8
Pakistan cases rise to 122 including 76
infections among people released from 14-day quarantine at Taftan.
Philippines ordered home quarantine and suspension of work and
transport across Luzon total cases 140.
Rwanda
4 new cases – total 5 (1st case on 14th March)
Singapore
confirms 17 new cases (11 foreigners) – total cases 243
Somalia confirmed 1st case.
South Africa to revoke around 10,000 visas issued to people from
China and Iran.
South
Korea expands screening to all arrivals from Europe / confirmed 74 new cases
total cases 8236
Spain total cases 8,744 / 297 deaths.
Sweden announces $30bn crisis package to support the economy
– total 1,032 cases / 3 deaths
Taiwan
announces 8 new cases – total 67 / 14-day quarantine for all people from Europe’s
Schengen border-free travel zone, the UK and Ireland.
Tanzania confirmed 1st case
Thailand
records 33 new cases- total 147
Turkey
reports 12 new cases (2 linked to 1st case/7 arrived from Europe and
3 travelled to US) – total 18
Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, along with Lviv and Odessa cities, to
close bars, restaurants, cafes and shopping malls
US death toll – 69 / total cases 3,774.
17 Mar
2020
Death toll 7,100 in 155 countries /
Globally 182,000 /recoveries 79,000
Brazil Foreign Trade Secretary tests positive – he was part of delegation that visited Florida, US. Total cases 234 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/brazilian-who-met-trump-tests-positive-for-covid-19/articleshow/74600128.cms
Cambodia 12 new cases (11 visited Malaysian mosque) – total 24
China’s Shanghai extends quarantine to visitors from the UK, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and Austria. The city already imposed same measures for passengers from France, Spain, Germany, the US, South Korea, Italy and Iran.
Hong Kong quarantines all people entering the city for 14 days
India reports 3rd death – total cases 132
Iran new deaths 135 – death toll – 988; temporarily releases 85,000 prisoners/total cases 16,169
Ireland total cases – 223 estimated to rise to 15,000 /All schools, universities, bars and childcare facilities closed until 29 March and mass gatherings have been limited.
Malaysia confirms 1st deaths – 60-year-old pastor. Sarawak state says 193 close contacts of the deceased traced and are under home quarantine. 2nd death – a 34-year-old man who attended a mass religious gathering in February in Kuala Lumpur. Total 550 cases.
Pakistan cases in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces – total cases 189
Philippines reported 45 new cases – total 187.
South Korea reports 84 new cases – total 8320 / 81 deaths / 1401 recoveries.
Spain confirmed cases 11,178 – 491 deaths
Spain deploys more than 10000 troops in 14 cities to help in lockdown / Citizens were allowed to leave home only for work, buy food, visit a pharmacy or hospital / 9900 cases & 340 deaths
Sri Lanka reports 15 more cases taking the tally to 43, bans all incoming flights for two weeks.
Thailand reported 30 new cases – total 177, including 1 death.
US urges citizens to avoid gatherings of more than ten people /government called for closure of bars, gyms, restaurants and other venues in states with local transmission of coronavirus / 4,660 confirmed cases and 85 deaths.
18 Mar
2020
Death toll 7,900/globally 198,000 /
recoveries 81,000
Austria
announces €38bn aid package to secure jobs
A CDC Study
says initial infections on Diamond Princess came from food workers (of the 20
confirmed crew members – 15 were from food service members)
Djibouti confirmed 1st case – Spanish national who was part of a 32-member
Spanish special forces unit that came to the country on 14 March.
France reports 89 new deaths – total
264 deaths / total cases 9,134.
India
3 new cases from Pondicherry, Pune & Maharashtra – total cases 149
Indonesia recorded 55 new cases – total 227, including 19 deaths
and 11 recoveries.
Iran
147 new death – total deaths 1,135 / total cases –17,361, with 1,192 new cases in the last 24 hours.
Italy reports 475 deaths on one
day to total 2978 deaths a surge of 19% / total cases jumped by 31,506 to
35,713, up 13.35%
Kyrgyzstan recorded its first
cases – three citizens who returned from Saudi Arabia.
Malaysia closed its borders with Singapore – total cases 673.
Malaysia registered 117 new cases 17% rise in infections – total
790.
Malta to stop incoming passenger flights – total cases 38 cases
of which 32 contracted the infection abroad.
Moldova
confirms 1st death – total cases 30 / state of emergency declared
New Zealand reports new 8 imported
cases (people who had gone on international trips) total cases 20
Pakistan records 1st death (from Lahore/Punjab who
arrived from Iran) – total cases 236.
Philippines reported 15 additional
cases – total 202.
Portugal
declares 15 day state of emergency – total cases 650
Singapore
new cases 47 to total 313 / country will impose self-quarantine measures for 14 days on
everyone entering, as well as citizens and residents.
South Korea reports 93 new cases – total 8,413
Spain
total cases 13,716 / 558 deaths
Swiss cases jumped to 3,028,
including 21 deaths.
Turkey 2nd death – a 61-year-old male/93
new cases – total 191.
WHO
calls for ‘aggressive’ action in Southeast Asia
Zambia confirmed 1st two cases
19 Mar
2020
Death toll 8,800/Globally 218,000
worldwide /recoveries 84,000.
California governor says 60,000 homeless could contract COVID-19/9400 cases and 150 deaths
South Korea 152 new cases – total 8565
Sri Lanka cases rise to 59 / no fatalities reported / 4 recoveries
UK deaths increase from 71 to 103 / total cases 2640
World Bank increases response package to $14bn
Wuhan and Hubei report no new cases http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-03/19/c_138894828.htm
As of 20th March – 246,467 confirmed cases and
10,047 deaths. Italy saw 475 deaths in just one single day.
With no cure it is
imperative that the people help governments, health authorities and law
enforcement by staying at home and distancing oneself from others. It is the
only way we can presently overcome something that humans are today having no
control over.
It is times like this we
return to Buddha’s teachings – Nothing is permanent. Everything is impermanent.
Do good because that good will follow us like our shadow.
Two more persons have tested positive for Coronavirus, increasing the total number of cases in Sri Lanka to 72, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said.
As of yesterday (19), the number of Covid-19 patients in the country stood at 59. However, 13 new patients have identified within today alone.
According to reports, over 200 patients are under observation at selected hospitals on suspicion of being infected with the virus.
Meanwhile, the National Operation Centre for Prevention of Covid-19 has stated that 2,738 persons including 30 foreigners are being quarantined at 17 centres across the country.
By regular practice of Bhavana” or Buddhist meditation, one could go beyond everyday consciousness to a deeper level of consciousness or a deep state of mental calm which leads one to a state of awakening to realities of life, to self-understanding and the ultimate meaning of life. According to the teachings of the Buddha, Bhavana” is the key to understanding your true nature or discovering who you truly are. It helps one to develop one’s understanding of oneself that comes from a clear view of reality. Buddhist meditation is not a means of escaping reality. It enables one to discover who you really are. In other words, meditation helps one to unmask the causes of one’s stress, discontentment, and suffering and to dispel one’s mental confusion. Deep meditation helps one to develop emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and empathy necessary for successful relationships to face interpersonal challenges and eventually to experience true happiness.
Samatha” and Vipassana” are the two common types of Bhavana or Buddhist meditation practices or methods of mental development that help to raise human consciousness to a higher level, bringing one’s mind to a state of equilibrium. Samatha is the development of tranquility and Vipassana is the development of insight. Samatha aims only at concentration whereby the individual is constantly conscious of one object and this concentration is directed along a single channel of one-pointedness until serene mental tranquility is reached. It is noteworthy that this form of mental development does not bring about an understanding of reality, nor of its cause and effect. It brings only tranquility. One can begin with Samatha or the development of mental tranquility and after having achieved concentration, one can proceed to vipassana or the development of insight or wisdom.
Vipassana meditation practice purifies the mind to enable it to gain insight. Insight means wisdom which enables one to see that mental states and matter are impermanent or transitory, unsatisfactory or suffering, and non-self or impersonal. Vipassana is the realization of the three signs of being- anicca” (impermanence),dukkha” (suffering), and anatta” (non-self), by direct insight at a deeper level of awareness at an intuitional” plane where it is experienced as a psychological fact
SELF
AWARENESS
Complete self-awareness is possible only by those who have advanced in the development of their minds through regular meditation. Such a mind can have a clear perception of what you, in fact, is mistakenly considering as ‘yourself’. According to Buddhism, there is no permanent soul” or self”. An individual is subject to constant change, as the elements or skandhas” that constitute the individual or what we identify as me”, or self” is a combination of five constantly changing skandhas. A person may be compared to a river, which retains an identity, though the drops of water that make it up are different from one moment to the next. There is no one, no soul” or self” sitting inside me, as we think there is. Anatta” or no permanent self is at the core of the teachings of the Buddha.
In
other words, what we identify as self” is a combination of five skandhas”
or aggregates, namely:
1. rupa” or the body or the manifest form of the four elements – earth, air, fire & water; 2. vedana” or sensations or feelings; 3. sangna” or perceptions of sense objects; 4. sankaras” or mental formations; 5. vinnana” or consciousness or awareness of the other mental aggregates.
These five skandhas sum up the whole of an individual’s mental and physical existence. They are impermanent, constantly changing, transient processes that function continuously on an ongoing basis and we cling on to these processes considering them as self”. In other words, the tendency is us to consider the skandhas as ‘self’ and to cling on to the illusion of a permanent self. Identifying themselves with their transient personal characteristics such as thoughts, feelings, volitions, and consciousness with the notion of permanence, people cling on to these transient skandhas. Such attachment brings about craving, greed and associated fear, hatred, jealousy and prejudice resulting in stress and suffering. In order to find deep abiding peace and serenity, we need to learn to let go of any attachment to or habit of fixating on to a self-identity.
If we really want to get rid of suffering, completely and totally, then clinging to the illusion of a permanent self must be dropped. Letting go of one’s attachments is not an easy task. In order to be free of attachments and thereby free of suffering one must realize the non-existence of this illusion of self”. This calls for wisdom or a higher degree of mental development or a deeper level of consciousness available when you focus your mind in meditation. In other words, such a mind can be developed by those who have advanced in the development of their minds through regular meditation.
Buddhism stands unique in the history of human thought in denying the existence of a separate ‘soul’ or ‘self’. According to the teachings of the Buddha, the idea of a soul or self is an imaginary false belief which has no corresponding reality. It produces harmful thoughts of me” and mine”. The self” is not a rigid, unchanging entity but a living evolving organism. It is an ever-growing changing bundle of attributes or characteristics, forming our character and personality. All defilements like greed, hatred, and ill-will, etc., have their root in the wrong notion of a soul or self. The hindrance caused by defilements like greed, hatred, etc., is eliminated by the realization of the doctrine of ‘no soul’. The Buddha teaches that, what we call ego, self, soul, personality, etc., are merely conventional terms not referring to any real independent entity. And he teaches that there is only to be found this psycho-physical process of existence changing from moment to moment. Without understanding the ego-lessness of existence, it is not possible to gain a real understanding of the Buddha-word; and it is not possible without it, to realize that goal of emancipation and deliverance of mind proclaimed by the Buddha.
According to Buddhist teachings, what we regard as self or ego or soul are miscomprehensions arising from lack of knowledge of absolute truth about these so-called entities. In reality ‘self’ is but a very rapid continuity of birth and decay of mental states and matter. Insight has as its function, the destruction of all hidden defilements, cravings and wrong views. The insight will enlighten us to the true nature of mental states and matter or in other words that mental states and matter are not lasting, they bring about suffering. Mental fetters bind us tightly to ‘dukkha’ or suffering. These fetters are mind defilements namely, greed, hatred and delusion (loba” dosa” moha”), along with their many offshoots such as anger, malice, jealousy, stinginess, hypocrisy, obstinacy, conceit, arrogance, vanity and heedlessness.
THE
NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH
Self-purification is a prerequisite for the removal of these defilements. The work of self-purification is to be undertaken by treading the Noble Eightfold Path, with its three divisions of virtue, concentration and wisdom (‘seela’, ‘samadhi’, ‘panna’). Each of these divisions of the Eightfold Path is intended to remove the defilements at successively subtler levels. It is only when these defilements have been completely uprooted by direct insight into the true nature of phenomena through deep meditation practice, that ‘dukkha’ can be completely removed and Nibbana or the highest happiness, peace freedom and security is attained right in this very life. The Buddha points out that real happiness, peace, freedom, and security must be attained by overcoming these mental defilements. The training in ‘samadhi’ or concentration aims at eliminating the active eruption of the defilements into our thought processes. Panna or wisdom helps to eradicate defilements at the fundamental level. It is only when these defilements have been completely uprooted by wisdom or by direct insight into the true nature of phenomena, that ignorance is completely removed, and one reaches the state of highest happiness, peace, freedom, and security right in this very life.
This essay
concludes the discussion on the contrived failure of Eelam War II and III. The essay starts with the Millenium City Raid.
The Intelligence branch of the Sri Lanka army had carried out top-secret covert operations from a safe house in Millennium City Housing scheme at Aturugiriya. It is usual for armies to have safe houses. The Athurugiriya Safe House had been rented by the Directorate of Military Intelligence in December 2001.
The location of
the house was known only to one or two DMI officials. It was a closely guarded
secret. The last LRRP operation from Aturugiriya had
been prematurely concluded on December 21. It had become difficult to execute highly
classified, sensitive operations, since a Ceasefire had been planned.
In January 2002, a middle grade police officer, Kulasiri
Udugampola, a SP in the Kandy Division, obtained a Court Order to conduct a
raid on the safe house at the Millennium City at Athurugiriya. The exact address of the house was stated in
the order, critics observed, though this was a secret location.
Udugampola had spoken to the Army’s Provost Marshal,
and obtained the assistance of the Military Police. Udugampola and his team raided Millenium City safe house. Captain
Nilam and other intelligence officers found there, were arrested, abused , bundled up and driven to Military Police Headquarters in
Narahenpita and then to Kandy where Detention Orders were served on them under
the PTA.
The raid was conducted on the bogus excuse,
that there was a conspiracy
in Millenium City to
assassinate Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. There
was no evidence of such a plot. A second charge was added on to this. That
thermo-baric explosives had been brought to the Panaluwa Army Testing Range in
order to train non-military persons on the orders of the Directorate of
Military Intelligence (DMI).
The Panaluwa training was for the LRRP team. They were taught the use of thermobaric
weapons for use in assault on Tiger guerrilla positions.
The political
aspect of the matter soon emerged. Udugampola
had telephoned Interior Minister John Amaratunga, to complain of pressures on
him. Minister Amaratunga dispatched Lal Ratnayake, a former DIG, to
Athurugiriya to make sure nothing was done to suppress matters. The media was
informed and there was wide publicity
.
The Millenium City Raid had been carried out on the
urging of the LTTE. The LTTE
knew that this house was used by the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP). LLRP had
caused much damage to the LTTE. The
LLRP were highly trained men who infiltrated Tiger guerrilla controlled areas
and carried out devastating attacks.
The
Aturugiriya raid was to crush the LLRP.
After this raid, highly confidential information such as the
names and addresses of the LLRP were made public and LTTE started to eliminate
them one by one. LTTE targeted intelligence operatives and their informants,
gunning them down whenever they were exposed. Many informants were killed or
went into hiding. Active officers were threatened or killed across the country. Col Nisham Muthalif and Col Rizley Meedin were among those killed.
It was charged that Ranil Wickremesinghe was
involved in the release of the names of the 80 odd long-range Military
Intelligence group to the Parliament which resulted in the names going public.
The LTTE then hunted them down and killed every one of them. Some of them were
captured and tortured by them to get more names. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_City_incident.)
The Millenium City raid exposed a top secret,
DMI run operation. Military intelligence had made an enormous contribution to
military successes of the Sri Lanka army. But with the Raid, the entire intelligence
network established with much effort by the DMI was destroyed over night. This raid was a diabolical exposure of
army intelligence to the LTTE, so that the LTTE could benefit from it. The public called it ‘wisalatama pava deema.
The Press was used to mould opinion
against the Sri Lanka army. Kamal Gunaratne
specially mentions a particular
Sunday newspaper column, which publicized inside information. Persons within
the army were giving him the information. This columnist did not draw attention to officers who had
committed errors, but had attacked some upright officers quite viciously till
they fell, said Kamal Gunaratne.
This Sunday column greatly influenced
the public perception of the war. The
columnist had repeatedly said that the army could not win, since it could not
successfully wage war on both the eastern and northern front simultaneously. LTTE
would eventually win. Kamal Gunaratne
is probably referring to Situation Report” by Iqbal Athas in Sunday Times.
His Situation Report for August 2,
2003 was accompanied by a detailed map giving both the LTTE military
installations as well as those of the armed forces. Government wanted to know
how Sunday Times had got this information, particularly the markings made on
the map. Sunday Times said they had drawn
the map.
The best known piece
by Iqbal Athas was on the MiG fighters ordered for Eelam War IV. These second-hand
MiG-27 jet fighters from Ukraine, purchased
by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, greatly helped the state to win the
war. That is the reason for the resentment and opposition. In August 2007, Athas reported on the purchase
suggesting that the deal had been corrupt. Athas
traced the purchase to Bellimissa
Holdings”,
a company ostensibly based in the UK but not listed in the UK Company Register.
Sunday Leader
also supported the allegation. It said that Belimissa Holdings address and
individuals are fake. Even the contact numbers mentioned, are fake. Gotabhaya
Rajapaksa filed a case at the Mount Lavinia District Court against Lasantha
Wickrematunga and the
Sunday Leader. In 2015, The Sunday Leader apologized to Gotabaya
Rajapaksa for a series of articles written in the newspapers in 2006 on the
purchase of MIG 27 aircraft for the Sri Lankan Air Force. The unqualified
apology was carried in the Leader newspaper of 08. 03. 2015.
C.A.Chandraprema explained. This transaction
relates to the purchase of four second hand but fully overhauled MiG-27s and
the overhaul of three more MiG-27s and one MiG-23 UB Trainer in 2006, he said.
The total amount paid by the government of Sri Lanka for the purchase of four
additional MiG-27s and the overhaul of four other MiG aircraft in 2006 was US
Dollars 15,665,437 (USD 15.6 million.)
Four additional MiG-27s were delivered to Sri Lanka and four existing
MiG aircraft were taken from Sri Lanka to Ukraine, fully overhauled and brought
back and all these aircraft were in use until the war ended.
The MiG – 27 purchased in 2000 had a very
short life span one to two years. However, in the contract entered into on 26
July 2006 between the Air Force and UKRINMASH for the supply of four MiG-27s
and the overhaul of three MiG-27s and one MiG-23 UB trainer clearly states that
the air frames of all the aircraft will have a service life or TBO of 850
hours/8 years and the engines 550 hours/ 7 years, with the MiG-23 UB trainer
having an engine service life of 400 hours. That was why the cost was more. Four
MiG-27s bought in 2006, cost more and were purchased for USD 2,462,000 each and
the cost of transporting the four planes to SL was USD 460,000.
The
allegations in relation to the MiG transaction have kept changing over the
years, observed Chandraprema. When this first started back in 2006, the
allegations were that the four MiG-27s bought in 2006 cost more than the
MiG-27s bought in the year 2000. The other allegation was that the purchase
price was not paid to the supplier UKRINMASH but to a third party called Bellimissa
Holdings.
Actually,
Bellimissa Holdings was also a signatory to the contract .The contract had
three signatories – the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force as the buyer,
UKRINMASH as the seller and Bellimissa Holdings Ltd as the designated party
which was to receive the payment. D.A.Peregudov a Director of UKRINMASH had
written to the Defence Ministry explaining that UKRINMASH is a fully state
owned enterprise and that according to Ukrainian law, they cannot trade on
credit terms and they cannot provide credit facilities for two years as
requested by Sri Lanka. Hence a financier by the name of Bellimissa Holdings
Ltd would provide financing for the transaction.
There are international groups that keep tabs
on what kind of military hardware is being bought and sold on the international
market, said Chandraprema. They saw nothing wrong in the Sri Lanka purchase. The
US based ‘Strategy Page’ website said on 27.12.2006 that Sri Lanka has
purchased an additional four second-hand MiG-27 fighter bombers from Ukraine,
for about USD 2.5 million each. It said later, Sri Lanka bought MiG-27s largely
because they were so cheap … Sri Lanka was able to get some proven combat
aircraft at a fraction of what any alternatives (new or used) would cost.
The Ceasefire Agreement of 2002 was used to
weaken the Sri Lanka army. The army was confined to barracks and its FDLs. UNP government did not give the army enough
money to even maintain the vehicles and munitions. The government ordered the army HQ
not to issue daily situation reports through the Information Dept. The army had to stop releasing information to
the public on LTTE atrocities and CFA violations.
Vanni Sevaya radio broadcast which was
providing a very useful service to the police and security forces was closed on 31.3.2002 and SLBC directed to use the facilities
to set up a Tamil commercial service.
Vanni Sevaya, was an the SLBC run radio station set up over
a decade ago for the benefit of security forces and police deployed in the
region. Army appealed against the decision but was ignored. The excuse was that
the service was not generating any revenue. The closure of the Vanni service gave the clandestine Voice of the
Tigers a chance to engage in propaganda without hindrance.
The government, the public and even our own
soldiers thought that the LTTE was a superior fighting force, said Kamal Gunaratne. A senior minister told Kamal Gunaratne You
can’t win the war with the LTTE.” When I said that we could, he said: Colonel,
your people have been fighting with the LTTE for so long and couldn’t win a
battle so that is why we have to go for peace talks.” We
also had Service Commanders who said we could never defeat the LTTE and ended
up as 4 star Generals, said Kamal Gunaratne.
Since the Army was losing continuously in the
battlefronts, in Eelam War II and III,
the public also didn’t have much faith in the fighting strength of our
soldiers and thought the LTTE was more powerful than us. In all the operations,
except for a few operations like Balawegaya, in which we liberated Elephant
Pass and Thrivida Balaya, we ended up with disasters, said Kamal Gunaratne.
We had tremendous support from the public
whenever we started a battle with the LTTE. The public displayed banners and
posters all over the country and also conducted religious ceremonies in
temples, kovils and church to bless the armed forces and ensure its safety. However
this lasted only for a month or two after an attack. Thereafter the enthusiasm
waned and completely disappeared, though the war continued.
There was also a certain amount of enduring
public support. This was reflected in the creation of welfare committees for
the soldiers, on the battle front and well as those who were wounded. Also in
the fact that Anuruddha Ratwatte, Deputy Minister of Defence was roundly
criticized by everybody for his unsuccessful military operations.
There were other forms of support. Consultant
anesthetist Dr. B.S. Perera returned to Sri Lanka from Australia in
1994 and worked at the Military hospital from 1997 to 2000 and donated his full
remuneration to the National Defense Fund and the Kobbekaduwa Trust Fund.
Two minor employees of Sri Lanka Ports
Authority detected two frogmen carrying explosives near the Jaya container
Terminal. They alerted authorities and prevented an attack on Colombo Port in
1996..
One segment of urban society did not care
about the War. They had no emotional
connection with the Eelam war. Some could not care less if a portion of the
country fell to the LTTE as long as their lives were not disrupted. Some did not even remember that there was a
war going on. They were more concerned with sports and musical shows. They were not bothered even if the LTTE had
killed 50 soldiers. But the entire nation mourned if a cricketer had a run out
for a few runs, said Kamal Gunaratne.
(CONTINUED)
COLOMBO/RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN (REUTERS) – Sri Lanka imposed a nationwide weekend curfew on Friday (March 20) as South Asian countries escalated efforts to check the spread of coronavirus across the densely populated region of 1.9 billion people.
Officials worry that these countries could prove especially in danger due to poor health facilities and infrastructure in much of the region. The virus has already infected more than 245,000 people worldwide and killed more than 10,000.
A police curfew took effect nationwide in Sri Lanka at 6pm on Friday and will run until 6am on Monday, as the authorities on the island acted to slow transmission of the virus, which has infected 70 people there.
CURBS EXPAND
In India’s financial hub Mumbai, the authorities on Friday ordered all businesses and offices other than those providing essential services to shut down until further notice.
In a nationally televised address late on Thursday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens to stay home and avoid panic buying, and suggested a one-day nationwide curfew for Sunday to practice social distancing.
India, the world’s second-most populous country, also plans to halt all incoming international flights to help stem the number of cases, which passed 220 on Friday.
That number could rise sharply when India begins to ramp up testing on suspected carriers.
The authorities have so far tested fewer than 14,000 people for the virus, the Indian Council of Medical Research said on Friday – a tiny fraction of its 1.3 billion people.
MOSQUES CLOSED
Mosques in Sri Lanka were shut indefinitely on Friday, but others in South Asia remained open on the most sacred day of the week in Islam. Many worshippers remained defiant despite state advisories in several countries to avoid large crowds.Related Story
Outbreaks in Malaysia and South Korea both worsened after carriers of the coronavirus attended places of worship.
“Don’t be afraid of this corona. This corona can’t be stronger than our belief,” an Islamic cleric said in a loudspeaker announcement in Rawalpindi, a city adjacent to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad.
“Saying prayers at the mosque is much better an act than sitting at home like a coward,” Mr Nasir Jan, 56, a trader, told Reuters after attending mosque.
“We all have to die one day, but that doesn’t mean that we start quitting our beliefs.”
Other mosques in the region screened people for high temperatures using thermometers and urged their faithful to practice greater social distancing during Friday prayers.
Following Mr Modi’s appeal, a senior district official in the town of Ayodhya in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh, said he expected the state government to call off the Ram Navami Mela, a major Hindu religious gathering in the temple town.
Sri Lankan residents queueing up to buy vegetables at a market in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on March 20, 2020. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
“We’re expecting an official order in a couple of days and it will be in line with what our Prime Minister said yesterday in his address,” said the senior official.
The annual Ram Navami fair in Ayodhya brings millions of Hindus to the holy city. This year, authorities were expecting a surge in numbers, as the foundation-laying ceremony of the grand Ram Temple was also expected to take place.Related Story
Prime Minister K.P.Sharma Oli of Nepal, in an address to the nation, said all international flights were suspended until March 31.
Public and private offices, except those providing essential services, will be shut until April 3 as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus. Public buses running on long routes will be suspended, he said.
“Remain clean, stay away from crowds, stay at home as far as possible, be patient, don’t panic and don’t be influenced by rumours,” the Prime Minister said.
The Government today requested the public to strictly adhere to the social distancing policy of one metre at public places. In a statement, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said this should be adhered to while travelling in public transport as well.
“In order to observe the social distancing in buses and trains must carry only half of the number of passengers that they normally transport,” it said. The statement further said, “In an attempt to mitigate the spread COVID-19, the Government has taken two more stern measures today. First is the imposing an island-wide curfew with effect from 6.00 pm today (20) until 6.00 am on Monday (23).
The Government will announce the time of the re-imposition of curfew on Sunday (22).
All forms of picnics, pilgrimages and leisure tours of foreigners have been suspended with immediate effect. It has been identified that the congregation of people is escalating the spread of the pathogen. However, groups of tourists undertake leisure tours in the country. Locals to go on trips ignoring the prevailing threat.
The main objective of this step is to prevent the gatherings of such nature. Securing the daily life of the citizens is the utmost priority of the Government and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa daily studies the situation in the country and gives directives to the officials on future measures,.
The Government has dispatched adequate food and other essential items to shops including Sathosa and Co-Operative Societies outlets. The trade authorities have been advised to distribute the items without causing any hardships to the general public.
Following the notification by the World Health Organization on COVID-19, President Rajapaksa took several effective measures to combat the spread of the virus. The Task Force on Prevention of Coronavirus was established on February 26th. Sri Lanka is the first country in the world to implement such a mechanism.
The President takes decisions following regular discussions with the members of the Task Force and other relevant officials. At present, 17 quarantine centers with all required facilities have been set up at various places of the island.
All the passengers arriving from overseas are being subjected to quarantine.
Around 19 hospitals are ready to treat the infected. Established under the directives of President Rajapaksa, the National Operation Center for Prevention of COVID- 19 Outbreak, carries out its functions from No. 1090, Sri Jayewardenepura, Rajagiriya. The Center is tasked with the responsibility of implementing prevention and management measures through proper coordination between public health and other relevant services.
During the meeting with the members of the Task Force held on last Tuesday, the President requested not to use the situation for narrow political gains.
Although the challenge before the country is undoubtedly severe, the President pointed out that steps need to be taken while carefully studying every aspect and without causing any disruption to the daily life of the people.
Certain groups with vested interests are engaged in maliciously spreading false information using Social Media and word of mouth. Some of them have already been identified. Necessary legal actions will be taken against them.”
