World

The World Bank Group is prepared to deploy up to $160 billion over the next 15 months to support COVID-19 measures that will help countries respond to the immediate health consequences of the pandemic and bolster economic recovery. The broader economic programme will aim to shorten the time to recovery, create conditions for growth, support small- and medium-sized enterprises, and help protect the poor and vulnerable. There will be a strong poverty focus in these operations, with an emphasis on policy-based financing and protecting the poorest households and the environment. … [Read more...] about First World Bank operations for COVID-19 emergency health support underway

Vientiane (VNA) – The Lao Government on April 2 issued a series of urgent measures to ease difficulties in production and business, as well as ensure social welfare amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Decision No.31/PM said that the government allows the postponement of the payment of annual road tax to June 30, and the extension of the deadline for submitting financial reports and business performance in 2019 of enterprises from March 31 to April 30. The Government exempts income tax for labourers whose income is below 5 million LAK (556 USD) from April to June, and corporate income tax payment for small enterprises with revenues from 50-400 million LAK from April to June. It allows the Bank of Laos (BoL) to reduce its basic interest and ratio of minimum saving of private bank based on situation of each period, and to instruct private banks to implement policies on loans to cope with COVID19 impact such as deferring principal payment and interest, adjusting interest, … [Read more...] about Laos rolls out urgent measures to deal with COVID-19

Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health plans to engage private hotels financially hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic in a scheme to provide isolation space for people at risk of infection. Local media on April 3 quoted Deputy Public Health Minister Satit Pitutecha as saying that the ministry is in the process of drafting criteria for hotels to provide space to people required to undergo quarantine, such as returnees from COVID-19-affected areas or patients discharged from hospital who need to self-quarantine for 14 days. Somsak Akkslip, Chief of Medical Services, said that these so-called “hospitels” are designed to reduce the number of patients at regular hospitals during the outbreak. A medical team stationed at hotels would be in charge of up to 100 patients. CCTV systems and telecommunication lines will be set up to allow for remote contact between patients and medical staff in the hotel. A thermometer and oxygen equipment will also be set up in each … [Read more...] about Thailand: Private hotels to provide COVID-19 isolation space for at-risk people

Bangkok (VNA) - The Thai government will block all travel to Thailand, including by Thais, from April 2-15 to prepare "state quarantine" facilities after more local COVID-19 patients have been linked to imported cases. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the government needs time to properly prepare for state quarantine, local media reported on April 2. “Related agencies will in the meantime prepare the places and coordinate with Thai embassies to ensure all Thais returning home will be quarantined and get proper medical checks," the Thai PM was quoted by the English-language newspaper Bangkok Post as saying.   According to Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the government's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration, Prayut told the centre that arrivals by foreigners and Thais would have to be slowed down "to stop the disease". The decision will not apply to people who earlier sought permission to travel to Thailand, he said, adding that affected Thai … [Read more...] about Thailand temporarily blocks entry

The number of confirmed Spanish cases rose from 102,136 on Wednesday to 110,238 - an 8% rise that is similar to the rate recorded in previous days. Authorities believe the virus is now peaking and say they expect to see a drop in figures in the days ahead. … [Read more...] about Coronavirus: Confirmed global cases pass one million