With the world’s biggest live event set to open in Dubai in October, organisers released a statement about the coronavirus threat.
The World Expo 2020 is due to run in Dubai from October to April, but the coronavirus threat looms on the horizon as events all around the world are cancelling or postponing.
As the UAE’s total expenditure on the event approaches around US $9 billion, according to figures released by the Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, organisers have made a statement on the potential impact that coronavirus might have.
“Alongside the government of the UAE, we are working hard to adapt to unfolding events surrounding the spread of COVID-19,” said an Expo 2020 Dubai spokesperson.
“The health and wellbeing of everyone living in and visiting the UAE is our top priority and will not be compromised. Like many governments around the world, the UAE authorities have taken robust preventative measures to contain the rapid spread of the virus.
“In common with other organisations, Expo 2020 Dubai is closely monitoring ongoing developments and taking sensible precautions to manage and mitigate the risk to all those involved in the Expo.
“As we continue to prepare for this event, we will be adjusting planned preparations, as changing circumstances require. We will be diligently following the latest guidance from the Dubai Health Authority, Ministry of Health and Prevention, World Health Organisation and other relevant bodies.
“Expo 2020 is not due to open until late October and we continue on track. We are working very closely with UAE authorities and the International Bureau of Expositions in Paris as the situation around the world evolves.
“We will remain attentive and alert in the coming days and weeks and are confident that the collective strength and resilience of our Expo community will enable us to navigate through these most difficult of times.”
Expo 2020 is planned to be 173 days of global music, tech, culture and creativity, with 60 live events every day and 150,000 average daily visitors.
(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Srinagar, Mar 18: At least five suspects having travel history with high fever and flu have been identified and admitted in hospital in Kashmir Valley. However, duo from Central Kashmir’s Budgam district is evading the screening after returning home from Saudi Arabia two weeks ago.
Official sources told Kashmir News Trust that two persons (name withheld) who hail from Khanpora Budgam returned from Saudi Arabia two weeks ago. They added that both are feeling unwell and have symptoms of fever.
Administration informed Block Medical Officer about the duo and directed him to locate them and get them screened. Sources, however, added that duo have gone into hiding and are not ready to visit the hospital.
Similarly, a youth from Ganderbal after showing symptoms of fever and throat infection has been admitted in the isolation ward at SKIMS Srinagar. The youth (name withheld) from Kurhama Ganderbal who had arrived in Kashmir on March 15 from Maharashtra developed symptoms of fever and throat infection.
The family approached District Hospital Ganderbal where he was examined and referred to SKIMS Soura for further evaluation, said sources.
His brother confirmed that he is undergoing treatment at SKIMS where he is quarantined.
“Authorities in Kashmir are not taking chances as for as Coronavirus infection is concerned. Every suspect having travel history is being monitored and isolated,” said an official.
Similarly, from past 3 days a woman is under observation at NTPHC Panzgam area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The woman had returned from Punjab recently.
The woman hails from Kachhama, Thregam.
” She is running with fever and heavy flu. She is under observation in an Isolation ward,” the official said.
Official sources said that a person (name withheld) from Rakh Liter Pulwama, with recent travel history to Saudi Arabia has been admitted in SKIMS Srinagar. The person is suffering from severe flu and fever.
An official from district Pulwama said that so for 11 persons have been tested for Coronaviurs and all of them have tested negative. (KNT)
Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema Jammu & Kashmir, a conglomerate of religious bodies of J&K, headed by incarcerated Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressing deep concern over the spread of coronavirus has issued a joint statement in wake of the outbreak that has killed over 7500 people and infected nearly two hundred thousand across the world,
MMU prayed to Almighty Allah to keep humanity safe from the deadly outbreak, and its spread.
In a statement MMU prayed not only for the Muslim World but the whole humanity which is combating the viral disease.
“We pray for an atmosphere of peace and health across the world,” the MMU said.
In view of the religious events in J&K, the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema has called upon the Ulema, Khateebs and management of masajids to strictly follow the following guidelines and educate people about them.
Refrain from organising events which require large gathering
Deliver brief Arabic sermon during Friday congregations and seek Almighty’s refuge from the coronavirus outbreak
People must offer Sunnah and Nawafil prayers at home, and leave the masjid shortly after Fardh (obligatory) prayers. They must continue with Tilaawat (reading of Qur’an) and Dhikr-o-Adhkaar (remembrance of Allah) at home
Every individual must turn to Allah (SWT) and keep seeking forgiveness of sins
The elderly the sick people are requested to stay home and pray there instead of coming to Masjid’s
While greeting other people handshake and hugs should be avoided.
Wash hands before entering and leaving the masajids
Limit felicitation and condolence meetings by shortening the duration period
Follow the advice of health experts in letter and spirit
The traders, shopkeepers and medical store owners must refrain from hoarding soaps and sanitisers
affluent people are requested to donate sanitisers to masajids, khanqaahs, shrines and imambaras
The concerned departments (municipal corporations) must ensure that all the religious sites and the places where religious congregations are held; are sanitised on regular basis.
Many Asian nations are facing an increasing battle to stem the spread of coronavirus, amid a World Health Organization warning that some needed to take “aggressive measures”.
Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines are among nations imposing strict border controls.
Cases in the South Asian subcontinent are still below 500 but there are fears a spike could overwhelm health systems.
There are 185,000 cases globally, with 7,500 confirmed deaths.
Some nations and territories that had seen success in controlling the virus or slowing its arrival, including South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, have seen new spikes, amid fears people returning from abroad are importing the virus.
Asian stocks have continued to fall as worries about the coronavirus pandemic eclipsed hopes that major stimulus plans would ease the impact of the outbreak.
What was the WHO warning? It was issued for the organisation’s South East Asia region, although this contains 11 nations spread widely, including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh and North Korea.
Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director of the WHO South East Asia region, said on Tuesday that “more clusters of virus transmission are being confirmed”.
Thai officials monitor arrivals at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok
“We need to immediately scale up all efforts to prevent the virus from infecting more people,” Dr Khetrapal Singh said. “We clearly need to do more, and urgently.”
The WHO said the numbers in its South East Asia region showed that “some countries are clearly heading towards community transmission of Covid-19”.
It called for continued efforts to “detect, test, treat, isolate and trace contacts”.
Dr Khetrapal Singh said “practising social distancing [could] not be emphasised enough… this alone has the potential to substantially reduce transmission”.
“We need to act now,” she said.
Many regional countries inside and outside the WHO’s definition of South East Asia have had a slow response to the outbreak, only taking drastic measures in recent weeks or days as the number of cases continue to grow.
Where are the infections increasing? Almost all nations are seeing increases, although the rates vary widely.
China still has the highest number of confirmed cases, with more than 80,000, but its new infections are almost exclusively from people arriving from abroad and are very low.
South Korea has also been praised for its attempts to control the virus and its 8,413 cases have seen it fall below Germany to sixth in the running list of cases compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
South Korea has seen a cluster of new cases
It has been ahead of other nations by testing thousands of people and had seen a downward trend in new infections.
But there are now small clusters breaking out across the country, with 93 more cases in the past 24 hours. Dozens of sick and elderly patients in a hospital in Daegu were infected.
Taiwan announced its largest single-day increase in new cases – 23 – bringing the total to 100.
The trend was mirrored in Hong Kong – 14 cases in a single day is the highest in the territory, all but one brought in from abroad.
Indonesia on Wednesday also announced its biggest daily rise, 55 more cases taking the total to 227, with 19 deaths.
Pakistan’s cases have now risen to 245, with the total of reported cases for the South Asian subcontinent reaching 482.
Hong Kong is one region fearing a spike in cases imported from abroad
Thailand reported 35 new cases on Wednesday, taking its total infections to 212, officials said. Four of the cases were linked to an entertainment venue and 13 to a boxing bout, both in Bangkok.
Malaysia has warned of a fresh spike in cases, saying there is only a “slim chance” of breaking the chain of infections.
A mass Muslim gathering last month is linked to nearly two-thirds of its infections and thousands of attendees are yet to be tested.
Myanmar and Laos have both not reported any cases – though experts have seriously doubted the credibility of this.
A spokesperson for Myanmar’s government claimed that people’s “lifestyle and diet” had protected them from the virus. But it has imposed restrictions on arrivals and the UK government is now advising against all but essential travel there.
There are also no reported cases of the virus in Timor-Leste.
What are the nations doing?
From Wednesday, Malaysia is preventing citizens from travelling overseas and visitors from entering until 31 March at least.
Many Malaysians who commute to work in Singapore had to queue to cross the border before the midnight deadline, and will have to stay there.
Streets in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur were largely empty and supermarket chains are enforcing limits on purchases of staples.
Thailand has closed schools, bars, cinemas and other entertainment centres.
The Philippines, which has 202 cases and 17 deaths, has imposed some of the toughest movement controls, effectively quarantining about half of its 107 million population.
But it reversed a decision to ban all international flights, and foreign nationals may now fly out, although arrivals will face strict quarantine protocols.
Taiwan will on Thursday ban foreigners from entering, apart from in some exceptional cases. Everyone arriving, including Taiwanese, will have to go into quarantine for 14 days.
Japanese media report that visas issued to European travellers will be invalidated and people arriving from 38 nations will have to self-quarantine.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan urged calm in a TV address, saying: “There is no need to worry. We will fight this as a nation. And God-willing, we will win this war.”
From the weekend, all air passengers arriving in Pakistan from abroad will need to show a certificate declaring them free of coronavirus.
Sri Lanka is banning all incoming flights for two weeks from Wednesday and will apply price controls on staple products.
India, which Johns Hopkins says has 142 cases, has shut nearly two dozen long distance train services.
Indonesia has unveiled an $8bn (£6.6bn) stimulus package to boost economic growth, including tax breaks, and police have ordered shops to ration purchases of staple foods amid reports of panic buying.
President Joko Widodo admitted recently that he had deliberately held back information about the spread of the virus to prevent panic.
A 57-year-old man in Japan who had threatened to “scatter” his disease after testing positive has reportedly died.
(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The district administration has sealed Desert Box restaurant located at Karan Nagar for violating closure orders.
Three more eateries – all located at Batamaloo – sealed for violating closure orders. Operation of one drugstore named Ess Emm Medicos in the area also suspended for non-adherence to requisite guidelines specific to drugstores.
Srinagar, Mar 18: National Conference patron Dr Farooq Abdullah met his incarcerated son Omar Abdullah at Hariniwas Palace in Srinagar on Wednesday.
This was the second meet of Farooq Abdullah with his son after his release. He was accompanied by his wife Molly Abdullah and daughter Sofia Abdullah.
Official sources told Kashmir News Trust The 82-year-old leader had requested the Jammu and Kashmir authority for permission to see his son for the 2nd time in seven months and the same was granted, officials said, adding that the two were together for about an hour.
Sources added that Omar met his family and interacted with them for more than an hour.
Omar Abdullah is facing detention under Public Safety Act since August 5, when Government of India annulled the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Another former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and seven other politicians including Shah Faesal, Nayeem Akhtar, Sartaj Madni, Hilal Akbar Lone, Ali Muhammad Sagar are also facing detention under Public Safety Act. (KNT)
Stark warning from state TV comes as death toll in the country nears 1,000, with at least 16,000 confirmed cases.
Iran has issued its most dire warning yet about the new coronavirus outbreak ravaging the country, suggesting “millions” could die in the Islamic Republic if people keep travelling and ignore health advisories. A state television journalist, who is also a medical doctor, gave the warning on Tuesday citing a study by Tehran’s prestigious Sharif University of Technology, which offered three scenarios regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in Iran, one of the deadliest outside China, where the illness originated.
On Tuesday, 135 new coronavirus deaths took the country’s overall toll to 988, as it curtailed celebrations for a fire festival in a bid to contain the disease.
Dr Afruz Eslami said if people begin to cooperate now, Iran will see 120,000 infections and 12,000 deaths before the outbreak is over. If they offer medium cooperation, there will be 300,000 cases and 110,000 deaths, she added.
But if people fail to follow any guidance, it could collapse Iran’s already-strained medical system, Eslami said. If the “medical facilities are not sufficient, there will be four million cases, and 3.5 million people will die,” she said.
Eslami did not elaborate what metrics the study used, but reporting it on Iran’s tightly controlled state TV represented a major change for a country whose officials had for days denied the severity of the crisis.
At least 12 Iranian politicians and officials, both sitting and former, have now died of the illness, and 13 more have been infected and are either in quarantine or being treated.
No ‘unnecessary’ travel
Iran has been scrambling to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus which so far has infected some 16,000, including 1,178 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, according to the health ministry.
It came as the public ignored repeated warnings and pleas from security forces. Iran has been urging people to stay home, but many have ignored the call.
Late on Monday night, angry crowds stormed into the courtyards of Mashhad’s Imam Reza shrine and Qom’s Fatima Masumeh shrine.
Crowds typically pray there 24 hours a day, seven days a week, touching and kissing the shrine. That has worried health officials, who for weeks ordered Iran’s Shia clergy to close them.
On Monday, the state TV had announced the shrines’ closure, sparking the demonstrations.
Police later dispersed the crowds, state media reported. Religious authorities and a prominent Qom seminary called the demonstration an “insult” to the shrine in a statement, urging the faithful to rely on “wisdom and patience” amid the closure.
Iran’s shrines draw Shias from all over the Middle East for pilgrimages, likely contributing to the spread of the virus across the region. Saudi Arabia earlier closed off Islam’s holiest sites over fear of the virus spreading.
In its latest attempt to contain the virus, Iranian police banned celebrations marking the traditional fire festival that comes before Nowruz – the Persian New Year.
However, since it announced its first two deaths in the holy city of Qom last month, Iran has yet to impose any lockdowns and the outbreak has spread to all 31 of the country’s provinces.
15 million screened State TV reported that Iran had deployed teams to screen travellers leaving major cities in 13 provinces, including the capital, Tehran.
The teams will check travellers’ temperatures and send those with fever to quarantine centres.
Apparently, in a bid to curb the spread of the virus, Iran released 85,000 prisoners on temporary leave, judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said on Tuesday. He said that the order included half of all “security-related” prisoners, without elaborating.
Among those released is Mohammad Hossein Karroubi, son of opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi, who was in jail for nearly two months.
Health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said more than 15 million Iranians have been screened for symptoms,
According to the health ministry, the trend of rising reported infections is due to the increasing number of tests being carried out.
Roughly nine out of 10 of the more than 18,000 cases of the new virus confirmed across the Middle East have come from Iran.
Countries across the Middle East have imposed sweeping travel restrictions, cancelled public events and called on non-essential businesses to close for the coming weeks.
(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Kulgam, March 18: Security forces on Wednesday afternoon busted a militant hideout in Devsar area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, official sources said.
Official sources told wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that on a credible input, security forces including 09 RR and Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel busted a militant hideout in Akhal area of Devsar.
Superintendent of Police Kulgam, Gurinderpal Singh confirmed to KNO that a militant hideout was busted in Devsar area.
“During search operations Gas Cylinder – 01, Arty Shell – 01, Blanket – 03,Plates – 06,Glass – 01,Spoon – 02,Refined Oil – 03 Pkt, Salt Packet – 01, Rice, Turmeric powder were recovered, official added—(KNO)
Srinagar, Mar 18: Director SKIMS Dr AG Ahangar Wednesday said that out of 41 samples sent for Coronavirus test from Kashmir, 40 have been found negative only one report is awaited and hopefully that will also turnout negative.
Ahangar, who was flanked with a team of doctors was addressing a press conference here at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura.
He said people don’t need to panic but at the same time take precautionary measures. “We monitored every patient with a travel history and took their samples. A total of 41 samples were taken, 40 are negative while the report of one case is awaited,” he said.
He said that SKIMS is now one of the 19 designated testing centers for carrying out the tests after it received approval from National Institute of Virology.
Dr AG Ahangar according to KNT said that novel Coronavirus can be stopped. “Cover your mouth with handkerchief or tissue while coughing or sneezing. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. We should refrain from touching our hands with eyes, nose and mouth after sneezing. It is advised to take plenty of hot or lukewarm water,” he said.
He appealed people to refrain from visiting hospitals these days. In response to a question, Dr Ahangar said that all the patients who are being quarantined at SKIMS have travel history and all of them are recovering. “We should desist from spreading rumours but believe in facts only. The fact is that there is no Coronavirus case in Kashmir,” he said.
He said that quarantine has been made mandatory for people returning from the countries affected by Coronavirus, even if they exhibit no symptoms.
He said that over 40 are still under home quarantine. Talking on the sidelines of the press conference, Ahangar said that in a place like Kashmir, when a person returns from abroad, the family members and relatives hoard the home. This needs to change in present circumstances. “We need to take precautions at any cost,” he added. (KNT)
Shopian, March 18: Amid growing scare and increase in number of positive cases for coronavirus in India, administration in Anantnag has imposed restrictions over the gathering of more than 05 persons at any public place with immediate for the period of one month.
The restrictions have been imposed under section 144 CrPc and sources said that other Deputy Commissioners of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will also issue the similar orders.
“While taking cognizance regarding prevailing health emergency of NOVEL CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19) which has affected several countries of the world wherein few cases have also been spotted in India. Accordingly an advisory was issued wherein the public was advised to refrain from venturing outside in large numbers and avoid mass gathering, crowds, congregations, functions etc.,” reads an order issued by Bashir Ahmad Dar, District Magistrate Anantnag.
The order further reads that necessary precautions with regard to prevention and control of NOVEL CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19) have already been undertaken by the District Administration in co-ordination with Police and Health authorities.
“COVID-19 has pattern of transmission of rapid rate, in case prescribed preventive protocols including avoiding mass gathering etc. are not strictly followed”.
“Now, therefore in view of the above mentioned facts, I, Bashir Ahmad Dar, KAS, District Magistrate Anantnag in exercise of the powers vested in the under section 144 of Cr.P.C do hereby impose restriction/ban over the assembly/gathering of more than 05 persons at any public place of entire Anantnag District which includes all towns and villages with immediate effect for a period of one month,” reads the order, a copy of which lies with GNS.
Any violation of this order by any person shall invite action under IPC, the order added.
Last week, the Deputy Commissioners of Budgam, Kishtwar, Kupwara, Budgam had also imposed the similar restrictions. (GNS)
