Over 500 COVID-19 cases in S-E Asia, India in top 3: WHO

At least 575 cases have been confirmed so far in the southeast Asia region. Eight of the 11 countries of the region have confirmed cases of COVID-19. Among the WHO member countries, Thailand has at least 177 coronavirus confirmed cases and one death.

New Delhi:The total number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in the Southeast Asian Region crossed the 500-mark on Wednesday and the disease there has claimed nine lives so far.

In data shared by the southeast Asia region office of the WHO it showed that at least 575 cases have been confirmed so far. Eight of the 11 countries of the WHO Southeast Asia Region have confirmed cases of COVID-19. In the S-E Asia region, the WHO member country Thailand has at least 177 coronavirus confirmed cases and one death.

Indonesia confirmed most number of deaths from COVID-19 -- five. The country also confirmed at least 172 cases, the second-highest in the region.

Followed by India with 151 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3 deaths so far. Sri Lanka has at least 43 cases, no death has been reported from there as of now.

Maldives has 13 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection while Bangladesh has 8.

Nepal and Bhutan have 1 case each, according to the WHO data. These two countries have not reported any death due to the COVID-19 infection as on Wednesday.

The World Health Organisation directed the Southeast Asia region member countries to take aggressive actions to combat COVID-19.

The world health body has observed that more clusters of virus transmission have been confirmed.

"This is an indication of an alert and effective surveillance, it also puts the spotlight on the need for more aggressive and whole of society efforts to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

"We need to do more and urgently," said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region.

The WHO observed as the number of confirmed cases increased, some of the countries were heading towards community transmission of COVID-19. Therefore Emergency mechanism would then need to be further scaled up. A network of health facilities and hospitals for triage and surge would need to be activated to avoid overcrowding.

While continued efforts to detect, test, treat, isolate and trace contacts are of critical importance, practicing hand hygiene, covering one's cough and sneeze and practicing social distancing was of utmost importance in this critical time, advised the WHO.

(With inputs from IANS)