Singapore has started charging visitors for coronavirus treatment, the city-state said as it reported three new imported infections, two of which involved Indonesians. Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most populous country, reported its first virus case earlier this month and officially has just 19 infections compared to 160 in Singapore. Disease experts have questioned how many cases go undiagnosed in Indonesia. Both …

Infections climbed across Europe and Italy attempted a nationwide lockdown, but the situation in Asia showed improvements. China announced only 19 new cases, the lowest since Jan 18 according to official figures, while South Korea added 131 new infections, extending a declining trend. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the coronavirus epicentre of Wuhan for the first time since the disease …

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is requiring travellers from Covid-19 infected countries and territories to produce medical certificates prior to boarding their flights to Thailand to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said on Monday the CAAT has issued an official announcement, saying travellers from South Korea, China, Italy, Iran, Macau and Hong …

The government has come under fire after Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow admitted on Monday that his assistant had met a man who was said to be hoarding face masks, but he denied they discussed the mask trade. Capt Thamanat was responding to a report on Facebook alleging that his close aide had a hoard of 200 million …

The number of cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Philippines grew to 24 on Monday night. President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state of emergency, with the Department of Health recommending quarantine to the public in order to prevent congesting facilities. Who’s expected to endure a controlled home quarantine? —People who have a history of travel to other areas …

The State Workers ‘ Pension Fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced on Tuesday that it will cover the insurance claims of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the helicopter that crashed last week as well as the medical expenses and property damages incurred as a result of the incident. Announcement In a tweet, GSIS president and general manager Rolando …

The Department of Health requested a supplementary budget of P3 billion from the House of Representatives to combat the spread of coronavirus disease by 2019 or COVID-19 in the country. At the hearing of the House Committee on Appropriations, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said that P2.35 billion of the budget would be used to buy personal protective equipment — headgear, …

Notwithstanding comments by President Rodrigo Duterte and the Ministry of Health opposing it, Albay Representative Joey Salceda insisted on Tuesday that a lockdown should be enforced in the light of that COVID-19 cases in the nation. Salceda said that the government should not formulate public policies that rely on the current intensity of viral transmission. Salceda said he doubts that …

Public updates on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) should be made on a regular basis via text-based warnings, as the number of infected people in the Philippines soared to 24 on Monday, according to Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday. The initial step to contain a virus is to provide information on it via all available means. Improving the spread of information …

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has shelved a plan to hand out more money to low income earners in a bid to prop up a sagging economy now reeling under the added impact of the coronavirus epidemic. Gen Prayut said on Monday the proposed 2,000 baht handout will not go into the cabinet on Tuesday, but other measures were on course …