Live COVID-19 updates: COVID-19 test kits donated by Chinese gov't good, meet WHO standards: Philippine health chief

Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-29 18:30:50|Editor: huaxia

BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The world is now in a battle against COVID-19, a disease caused by a previously unknown coronavirus that has spread to over 200 countries and regions.

The following are the updates on the contagious illness.

MANILA -- The two batches of COVID-19 test kits donated by the Chinese government to the Philippines "are very good and up to the standards as those which were donated by (the) WHO," the Philippine health chief said Sunday.

Francisco Duque, secretary of health of the Philippines, said in a message to Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian that there is nothing wrong with the two batches of 2,000 BGI-made PCR-type test kits and 100,000 Sansure-made PCR-type test kits donated by the Chinese government.

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TOKYO -- Japan's health ministry and local governments said on Sunday that the total number of COVID-19 infections in Japan has risen to 1,799.

Of the new cases, 68 were confirmed in Tokyo, the second consecutive day the capital city logged more than 60 cases.

The death toll in Japan from the pneumonia-causing virus currently stands at a total of 65 people, including 10 from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship.

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TORONTO -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's wife said on social media Sunday that she has received clearance from her doctor after having tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month.

"I am feeling so much better," said Sophie Gregoire Trudeau in a Facebook post, calling on everyone to listen and follow the health protocols and stay at home for the time being.

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JINAN -- More Chinese tourist sites reopened Sunday after over two months of suspension caused by the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The city of Qufu in east China's Shandong Province, also known as the hometown of Confucius, opened its signature tourist attractions including the Cemetery of Confucius, the Confucius Temple and the Kong family mansion.

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NEW DELHI -- The death toll due to COVID-19 in India Sunday rose to 25 as the number of confirmed cases in the country increased to 979, the federal health ministry said.

"Death toll related to novel coronavirus has reached 25," reads the information released by the ministry at 10:00 a.m. (local time).

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SINGAPORE -- Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) announced Sunday that a patient has passed away from complications due to COVID-19 infection Sunday, bringing the total deaths relating to the coronavirus in the city state to three.

The third death involves a 70 year-old male Singapore citizen who had a history of hypertension and hyperlipidaemia with no recent travel history to affected countries and regions.

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WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday he asked the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue travel advisory for the states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, scaling back from an earlier suggestion to impose quarantine on those areas.

"A quarantine will not be necessary," Trump tweeted.

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VIENTIANE -- A team of Chinese medical experts, along with medical materials, arrived in Lao capital Vientiane by a chartered plane Sunday morning to assist Laos to fight COVID-19 pandemic.

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YANGON -- Myanmar's Foreign Affairs Ministry announced temporary suspension of all types of visas for foreign nationals from all countries with effect from March 29 till April 30 as part of measures to control the risks of COVID-19 spread on Sunday.

The announcement included the suspension of the issuance of all types of visas (including social visit visa) to all foreign nationals, except diplomats accredited to Myanmar, United Nations officials resident in Myanmar and crew of ships and aircraft operating to and from Myanmar.

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NEW YORK -- Three officers of the New York Police Department (NYPD) have lost their lives due to COVID-19 or its related complications, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said on Saturday, as the White House is considering to quarantine the hardest-hit city in the country.

"We've lost three members of our family in a little over 48 hours," he said while expressing condolences to the officers' families at a press briefing.

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CAPE TOWN -- South Africa has seen a growing number of health workers infected with COVID-19, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Saturday.

As of Saturday night, the country has reported 1,187 cases, an increase of 17 in the last 24 hours, the minister said, adding 13 of the new patients are health workers.

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WELLINGTON -- A woman in her 70s was confirmed the first death case of COVID-19 in New Zealand, announced New Zealand government Sunday afternoon.

Director-General of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield from New Zealand Ministry of Health gave the update on daily press conference.

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BEIJING -- Chinese health authority said Sunday it received reports of 45 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland on Saturday, of which 44 were imported.

A new domestic case was reported in Henan Province, the National Health Commission said.

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WASHINGTON -- The United States has reported more than 2,000 COVID-19 deaths, according to the latest tally from Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE).

As of 6:40 p.m. on Saturday (2240 GMT), there were more than 121,000 confirmed cases in the United States, with 2,010 deaths, an interactive map maintained by the CSSE showed.

New York state's cases have topped 52,000, followed by states of New Jersey and California, with 11,124 and 5,065 cases respectively, according to the update.

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