Asia Pacific Daily News - Focus on Asia-Pacific Development, Daily News Express, Scholar Creation Center

The world is now in battle against the common threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 180 countries and regions around the world.

The following are the latest updates on the contagious illness.

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WELLINGTON -- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that the country will shut down in response to the community transmission of COVID-19 in two days.

Ardern announced the country would adopt the most severe response, level four of New Zealand's COVID-19 response system, in 48 hours.

"These decisions will place the most significant restriction on New Zealanders' movements in modern history. This is not a decision taken lightly. But this is our best chance to slow the virus and to save lives," Ardern said.

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SEOUL -- South Korea said on Monday that it will set up the so-called "walking through" virus testing facilities at the country's main gateway Incheon International Airport, west the capital Seoul, to help prevent the COVID-19 cases from being imported from abroad.

Yoon Tae-ho, an overall officer of disinfection at the Central Disaster Management headquarters, told a press briefing that about 40 "walking through" testing booths are scheduled to be installed at the Incheon airport from Wednesday.

A staff member loads medical supplies onto a flight to the Republic of Korea (ROK) at Shenyang Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, March 16, 2020. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

TOKYO -- Japan's health ministry and local governments said Monday the total number of people infected with the COVID-19 virus stood at 1,102 as of 10:30 a.m. local time here. The death toll in Japan from the pneumonia-causing virus currently stands at a total of 49 people, according to the health ministry, with the figure including those from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama, close to Tokyo.

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LOS ANGELES -- U.S. President Donald Trump has approved California's request for a presidential Major Disaster Declaration to bolster the most populous U.S. state's COVID-19 emergency response efforts, California Governor Gavin Newsom said Sunday.

The announcement came hours after Newsom sent a letter to Trump to request the action in response to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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CANBERRA -- The Australian government has called out Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel to help manage the outbreak of COVID-19.

Linda Reynolds, the minister for defence, on Monday confirmed that ADF teams will help overwhelmed health authorities with contact tracing of COVID-19 cases.

Reconnaissance, planning and support teams from the ADF have also been deployed to state coordination centers.

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BEIJING -- China's banking and insurance institutions have mobilized resources to aid more than 20 countries and regions in their fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an official said.

The Bank of China, for example, has purchased medical supplies totaling 2.25 million pieces including face masks and protective suits to send to more than 10 countries and regions, said Zhou Liang, vice chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission.

A team of Chinese medical experts arrive at Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, March 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Mao Pengfei)

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PHNOM PENH -- A team of Chinese medical experts arrived in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Monday to help the country fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The seven-member expert team were warmly greeted by Cambodian Minister of Health Mam Bunheng and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian at the Phnom Penh international airport.

Dozens of people also waved the flags of Cambodia and China to welcome them as they arrived at the capital's airport.

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WUHAN -- No new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported Sunday in Wuhan, marking the fifth day in a row of zero increase as the former hardest-hit city recovers from the epidemic.

The health commission of Hubei Province, of which Wuhan is the capital, said the central Chinese province also registered zero increase in new confirmed cases on Sunday. No new suspected cases were reported on Sunday, as well.