NEW DELHI (AFP): The World Health Organization called for 'aggressive' action in South-east Asia to combat the fast-spreading coronavirus, warning on Tuesday (March 17) that some countries were heading towards community transmission of the deadly disease.
Malaysia has the highest number of infections in South-east Asia with 673 cases, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally. - Bernama
Infections have soared across the region in recent weeks, forcing several countries to introduce drastic measures ranging from closing their borders to foreign arrivals and imposing nighttime curfews to closing schools and cancelling sports events. "We need to immediately scale up all efforts to prevent the virus from infecting more people," said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO's regional director.
Many of the country's infections have been linked to a global Islamic event held last month and attended by almost 20,000 people.Singh said simple measures such as washing hands and social distancing were 'critical' in the fight against the virus and could"substantially reduce transmission".
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