A biker passes by a electronic screen showing "Stay Home Stay Safe" in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)
-- Malaysia eases restrictions to reopen most economic activities following COVID-19 cases drop;
-- New Zealand reports three new COVID-19 cases;
-- India's COVID-19 death toll rises to 1,147 as total cases reach 35,043;
-- Pakistan's Lower House chief tests positive for COVID-19.
HONG KONG, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia-Pacific countries.
KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia will ease restrictions to allow most economic and social activities to restart following the recent decline of the COVID-19 cases in the country, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Friday.
In a televised speech, Muhyiddin said the decision had been made in light of the success in controlling the outbreak of the COVID-19 in the country. The country's economy has taken a hit from the measures which have also hurt ordinary citizens.
The government has started implementing the restrictions including closing shops and schools as well as imposing travel bans since March 18, which call on residents to stay at home.
People exercise on a beach in Wellington, New Zealand, April 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
WELLINGTON -- New Zealand reported three new confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, with the total number of confirmed and probable infections standing at 1,479 in the country, the Ministry of Health said on Friday.
There is no more death reported as the COVID-19 death toll remained at 19 in the country, McElnay said.
Photo taken on April 26, 2020, shows the Gateway of India during a nationwide lockdown due to the spread of COVID-19, in Mumbai, India. (Str/Xinhua)
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI -- India's federal health ministry Friday morning said 72 new deaths due to COVID-19, besides fresh 1,433 positive cases were reported since last evening across the country, taking the number of deaths to 1,147 and total cases to 35,043.
"The number of active cases in the country right now is 25,007," read the information.
India's western state of Maharashtra has become first state in the country to cross the 10,000 cases mark of the COVID-19 with 583 new cases reported, as per the official update late Thursday.
The total number of cases in the most industrialised state of India now stands at 10,498 with 459 deaths and 1,773 patients being discharged from hospital after complete recovery till date, the update said.
Aerial photo taken on April 18, 2020, shows Seoullo 7017, one of Seoul's landmarks, illuminated with blue light in Seoul, South Korea. (Seoul Metropolitan Government/Handout via Xinhua)
SEOUL -- South Korea reported nine more cases of the COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of 0:00 a.m. Friday local time, raising the total number of infections to 10,774.
The daily caseload hovered around 10 for 13 straight days.
One more death was confirmed, raising the death toll to 248. The total fatality rate came in at 2.30 percent.
A worker disinfects a residential area amid COVID-19 pandemic in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on April 23, 2020. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua)
ISLAMABAD -- Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly Asad Qaiser confirmed late on Thursday night that he had tested positive for the COVID-19 and quarantined himself at his house after the test result.
The speaker of the lower house of the country's parliament announced it at twitter saying, "My coronavirus test resulted positive. I have quarantined myself at my house." The custodian of the lower house requested the whole nation to take precautionary measures without revealing his health condition.
Local Urdu TV channel Geo quoted Qaiser's brother as saying that the speaker's son and a daughter have also been tested positive.
A man walks along a pedestrian footpath in Singapore on April 7, 2020. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)
SINGAPORE -- Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 528 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 16,169.
Of the newly confirmed cases, nine were cases in the community, 31 were work permit holders residing outside dormitories, and 488 were work permit holders residing in dormitories. There were no imported cases.
A 58-year-old woman died on Thursday from complications due to COVID-19 infection, bringing the total number of COVID-19 death to 15.■
