BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- 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 updates on the contagious illness.
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ATHENS -- Greece bans all flights from Britain and travelers by all means of transport from Turkey from Monday until April 15, the government announced, as part of measures to address the COVID-19 epidemic.
The temporary restrictions are imposed for preventive reasons for the protection of public health, alternate government spokesperson Aristotelia Peloni explained during a press briefing.
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BRUSSELS -- China Construction Bank Europe on Monday donated 1,500 medical overalls to Luxembourg to help the country contain the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
These supplies will be distributed to local hospitals by the Luxembourg Ministry of Health.
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BANGKOK -- Thailand's Ministry of Defence on Monday announced that it is preparing 2,000 beds to cater to patients infected with COVID-19.
"Our military units have prepared 2,000 beds to assist the Ministry of Public Health in providing care to those infected with COVID-19," said Lt-General Kongcheep Tantrawanit, the Defence Ministry spokesman. "However, military hospitals in Bangkok and surrounding provinces are also prepared to receive patients."
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ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Khusro Bakhtiar on Monday urged people not to sink into panic buying frenzy and avoid storing food and other essential items in large quantities, insisting "we have ample stocks of basic food items."
An adequate amount of basic items like wheat and flour is available, said the minister in a press conference, adding that the country was self-sufficient in poultry, livestock and dairy items.
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LUSAKA -- China's Huajian Group has donated medical supplies to help Zambia in the fight against COVID-19, a government official said Monday.
The medical supplies worth 38,000 U.S. dollars are expected to be delivered to Zambia on April 4 and the consignment includes medical masks, protective gear, thermometer guns and gloves.
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THIMPHU -- Bhutan has closed all its international borders from Monday amid growing fear of COVID-19, Prime Minister Lotay Tshering said in a press release.
No movement of vehicles and people across the borders will be allowed, no Bhutanese people will be allowed to travel out of the country and all incoming people will be quarantined, according to a press release.
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SANAA -- The World Health Organization airlifted COVID-19 testing kits and personal protective items for health workers to the war-ravaged Yemen, the UN aid agency said Monday on Twitter.
The shipment included lab screening tests and trauma medicine provided to the health authorities in the government-controlled southern port city of Aden and the Houthi-held capital Sanaa, it said, adding that the shipment aid was airlifted by Saudi Arabia.
