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CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT & HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE WWW.CFE-DMHA.ORG
COVID-19 FHA Decision Support Tool UPDATED 17 JUNE 2020
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List of Countries and U.S. Territories in USINDOPACOM AOR
Notes: Text updated since last version highlighted in yellow For quick access to each section place cursor over section and press Ctrl + Click This COVID-19 FHA DST is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, until 19 JUN 2020. Table of Contents
AMERICAN SAMOA (U.S.) ...... 3 AUSTRALIA ...... 5 BANGLADESH ...... 8 BHUTAN ...... 14 BRUNEI ...... 17 CAMBODIA ...... 19 CHINA ...... 22 COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS (U.S.) ...... 25 FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA ...... 28 FIJI ...... 30 FRENCH POLYNESIA (Fr.) ...... 34 GUAM (U.S.) ...... 37 INDIA ...... 40 INDONESIA ...... 45 JAPAN ...... 52 KIRIBATI ...... 56 LAOS ...... 58 MALAYSIA ...... 61 MALDIVES ...... 65 MONGOLIA ...... 68 MYANMAR / BURMA ...... 70 NAURU ...... 77 NEPAL ...... 79 NEW CALEDONIA (Fr.) ...... 84 NEW ZEALAND ...... 86 NORTH KOREA / DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA ...... 89 PALAU ...... 92
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PAPUA NEW GUINEA ...... 95 PHILIPPINES ...... 99 REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS ...... 104 SAMOA ...... 106 SINGAPORE ...... 109 SOLOMON ISLANDS ...... 112 SOUTH KOREA ...... 114 SRI LANKA ...... 117 TAIWAN / REPUBLIC OF CHINA ...... 120 THAILAND ...... 123 TIMOR-LESTE ...... 126 TONGA ...... 129 TUVALU ...... 131 VANUATU ...... 133 VIETNAM...... 137 General Planning Considerations ...... 140
Product Summary: One of CFE-DM's contributions to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) information sharing efforts is providing this Decision Support Tool (DST) to enhance the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s (USINDOPACOM) planning capabilities for potential Foreign Humanitarian Assistance (FHA) in a COVID-19 environment. The process of developing the DST can be described as a successive layering of data until a snapshot of the current state of a country is presented for planning considerations in a complex environment. Each country has a few pages presenting information on COVID-19 cases and the affected nation’s response and planning, integrated with humanitarian community response and recent disaster response and risk affecting the country. The DST now covers 42 countries and territories in the USINDOPACOM AOR, including all US territories and two French territories. It was updated daily through 22 May, after which revisions were published three times per week.
Contact Information: For further information and for how to be added to the distribution list, please contact Dr. Alberto "Mo" Morales, Branch Chief, Applied Research and Information Sharing (ARIS) Branch, Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM), at: [email protected]
Requests for Information: In response to this unprecedented global crisis, CFE-DM is actively engaged in supporting operational response planning and providing relevant and timely information to our civilian and military partners. Please use the form available at the CFE-DM website (https://www.cfe-dmha.org/) to send requests for information to the CFE-DM Director at: [email protected] CFE-DM will respond to requests for information within 18 hours.
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AMERICAN SAMOA (U.S.) Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Planning Considerations Affected State Measures/Access Information Resources Case Trend As of 17 June 2020, Recovering from recent measles Governer Lolo Moliga on 1 JUN declared a American Samoa COVID: 1 American Samoa has outbreak; ended March 9. continued public health emergency due to https://www.americansamoa.gov/covid- COVID-19, with continued activation of the 19-advisories Public health emergency declared in no confirmed COVID- Emergency Operations Center to mid-November for measles, sparking a Department of Health (DOH): 19 cases. coordinate response efforts.3 vaccination campaign. https://www.facebook.com/asdoh.hotline/
Travel Restrictions: Closure of schools, public gatherings American Samoa government: All Hawaiian Airline and Samoa Air flights and entry restrictions put in place for https://www.americansamoa.gov/?page=h are suspended. Travelers from affected the measles outbreak may assist in omeland foreign countries will be quarantined mitigating spread of COVID-19. automatically and travelers from affected Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan: U.S. states will be subject to screening and https://www.american Cyclones common December-March. https://www.wsspc.org/wp- possible quarantine. All travelers entering content/uploads/2016/07/AmericanSamoa samoa.gov/covid-19- International airport at Pago Pago. will be tested and negative tests will permit _mitigationplan15-20.pdf advisories ; 4 The population is roughly 49,437 (July entry. https://coronavirus.jhu.ed WHO American Samoa: 2020 est.)2 u/map.html USG approved a major disaster declaration https://www.who.int/americansamoa for American Samoa, allowing the territory to receive federal funds.5
Disaster risk: American Samoa is vulnerable to natural hazards such as cyclones, earthquakes, tsunami, flooding, drought, and wildfires.6
National organization response In March, American Samoa's governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga established a 21-member COVID-19 government taskforce.7 An Emergency Operations Center has also been activated to coordinate response.8 On 1 JUN, the governor declared a continued public health emergency due to COVID-19, continuing activation of the Emergency Operations Center to coordinate response efforts. 9 According to the American Samoa Government (ASG) the COVID-19 risk level in the territory is: “CODE BLUE Minimal social disruption with an emphasis on social distancing, hygiene, and cough etiquette.”10 A three- tier threat level matrix has been designed, with “Blue level” being the lowest risk level, “Yellow level” indicating medium risk, and “red level” indicating high risk. American Samoa’s COVID-19 Response and Action Plan can be found here: https://6fe16cc8-c42f-411f- 9950-4abb1763c703.filesusr.com/ugd/4bfff9_8201b0412f8d4e9ea6f32116ee883b29.pdf The Department of Health (DOH) has the responsibility to isolate, monitor and care for infected patients.11 The DOH is authorized to quarantine and isolate individuals for 14 days without notice per the Governor’s emergency declaration.12
1 https://6fe16cc8-c42f-411f-9950-4abb1763c703.filesusr.com/ugd/4bfff9_1199b0a229ea45d2b25d4eda6c869d50.pdf 2 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/aq.html 3 https://6fe16cc8-c42f-411f-9950-4abb1763c703.filesusr.com/ugd/4bfff9_e26613debe26436fa0f0a391c272340f.pdf 4 https://6fe16cc8-c42f-411f-9950-4abb1763c703.filesusr.com/ugd/4bfff9_54e0ecfd113444029f54b7ebbcc92972.pdf 5 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-approves-american-samoa-disaster-declaration-2/ 6 https://www.eastwestcenter.org/system/tdf/private/pacificrisa-americansamoa.pdf?file=1&type=node&id=34978 7 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/411472/american-samoa-establishes-covid-19-govt-taskforce 8 https://6fe16cc8-c42f-411f-9950-4abb1763c703.filesusr.com/ugd/4bfff9_c87185122f6241ae8dfb0263d1d66656.pdf 9 https://6fe16cc8-c42f-411f-9950-4abb1763c703.filesusr.com/ugd/4bfff9_e26613debe26436fa0f0a391c272340f.pdf 10 https://6fe16cc8-c42f-411f-9950-4abb1763c703.filesusr.com/ugd/4bfff9_18609abb0377405580285eea4f864991.pdf 11 https://6fe16cc8-c42f-411f-9950-4abb1763c703.filesusr.com/ugd/4bfff9_8201b0412f8d4e9ea6f32116ee883b29.pdf 12 https://6fe16cc8-c42f-411f-9950-4abb1763c703.filesusr.com/ugd/4bfff9_c87185122f6241ae8dfb0263d1d66656.pdf
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In early April, a Coast Guard C-130 brought the first federal government shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile, first brought by U.S. Air Force plane to Hickam Air Field, before making its way to the territory. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coordinated this first shipment, which included respirators. A second shipment is expected to be sent.1314 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the territory’s primary partner for disease prevention.15 A CDC team was sent to assist for the recent measles outbreak. FEMA announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to supplement local recovery efforts in the affected areas beginning on Jan. 20, 2020 and continuing.16 FEMA has granted an award of $1,200,749.98 in federal funding to the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) for a replacement project resulting from the destruction of the Satala Operations Building from the 2009 tsunami. ASPA is the public utility providing electricity, water, wastewater and solid waste service and has responsibility for American Samoa's public utility infrastructure17 The US government has provided $US1.6 million in funding for emergency repairs for the ferry MV Manu'atele, which was damaged by a storm in January. The ferry provides one of the main links between the capital and the Manu'a islands for transporting goods and people. The ferry will be repaired in Hawai'i.18
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) Through the COVID-19 Pacific Joint Incident Management Team (JIMT), WHO is coordinating with partners to assist readiness in the Pacific. WHO completed the “COVID-19 Pacific Health Sector Support Plan – Phase 2,” which details the shift in preparedness measures in the Pacific.19
Country-specific planning considerations Quarantine Centers: ASG discussing possible use of hotels, as well as gymnasiums at Tafuna High and Tafuna Elementary as facilities that could accommodate 50- 80 people if needed.20
Health: Health conditions are described as generally good. The leading causes of death include heart diseases, cancers, and diseases of the respiratory system. Life expectancy is in the low 70s for men and low 80s for women, somewhat higher than regional averages.21 The weekend of 25-26 April, 1100 test kits and 1000 swabs arrived, increasing the capacity to test locally for COVID-19. There were just under 200 kits remaining from a previous shipment. As of 26 April, 23 local tests had been conducted by the Department of Health, all with negative results. The department is only testing those showing with Covid-19 symptoms.22
Hospitals: American Samoa’s total healthcare service delivery infrastructure includes one acute care hospital (Lyndon Baines Johnson Tropical Medical Center) with only 132 beds (inclusive of the 8 COVID-19 dedicated beds) and four district health clinics with an already exceeded operating capacity and does not have the physical capacity to appropriately respond to pandemics. They have been given the ability to conduct tests on island with the new testing machine, the total number of test kits on hand is insufficient.23
Security: No significant security incidents to report. Return to TOC
13 https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/emergency-preparedness/coast-guard-air-force-fema-ensure-delivery-of-medical-supplies-to-american-samoa/ 14 https://www.samoanews.com/local-news/airlift-person-protective-equipment-ppe-arrives-american-samoa 15 https://reliefweb.int/report/american-samoa/interior-provides-490000-help-prevent-measles-outbreak-and-support-vaccination 16 https://www.kitv.com/story/42021839/fema-american-samoa-to-receive-federal-assistance-amid-growing-pandemic 17 https://reliefweb.int/report/american-samoa/amata-welcomes-12-million-fema-tsunami-grant-aspa 18 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/414911/us-govt-redirects-funding-to-repair-ferry-in-american-samoa 19 https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/wpro---documents/dps/outbreaks-and-emergencies/covid-19/covid-19-joint-external-situation-report- 12.pdf?sfvrsn=ac350bc1_2 20 https://www.samoanews.com/local-news/covid-19-task-force-unclear-use-ths-gym-quarantine 21 https://www.britannica.com/place/American-Samoa 22 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/415227/american-samoa-not-planning-random-covid-19-testing-yet 23 https://6fe16cc8-c42f-411f-9950-4abb1763c703.filesusr.com/ugd/4bfff9_54e0ecfd113444029f54b7ebbcc92972.pdf
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AUSTRALIA Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Considerations Affected State Information Measures/ Access Resources Australia’s borders largely On 12 JUN, the Australian Australia COVID-19 Total Case Trend remain closed. National Cabinet Department of The ban on overseas travel agreed to further Home Affairs 7,500 from Australia remains, with ease COVID-19- Guidance: 7,450 few exceptions. Since 25 related restrictions https://covid19.home March 2020, all Australian in the coming affairs.gov.au/ 7,400 citizens and permanent weeks. This would 7,350 Australian residents have been move Australia Department of 7,300 prohibited from travelling closer to Stage 3, 7,250 Health: out of Australia unless the least restrictive https://www.health.g 7,200 granted an exemption. of its 3-step COVID- ov.au 7,150 Travel to Australia is only 19 framework.27 Flight and 7,100 permitted for Australian The National citizens, residents and Cabinet next meets Movement 7,050 immediate family members. 26 JUN.28 Restrictions: 7,000 Mandatory 14-day https://www.health.g quarantine at city of arrival Schools are back in ov.au/news/health- alerts/novel- for all entering travelers. session across all coronavirus-2019- Different Australian state eight states and 102 Deaths – 7,388 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN territories.29 ncov-health- and territory restrictions may alert/coronavirus- 24 https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html ; also apply. covid-19-advice-for- https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 On 27 FEB 2020, To transit through travellers Australia, you must hold a Prime Minister Scott 3-step Framework for valid VISA or be from an Morrison announced the a COVIDSafe Australia, eligible country to travel orig. published 8 MAY, without a VISA.25 Transiting activation of the ‘Australian Health updated 15 JUN 2020: through without quarantine https://www.health.g Sector Emergency permitted for travelers ov.au/resources/publi remaining in airport with Response Plan for cations/3-step- layovers under 8 hours.26 Novel Coronavirus framework-for-a- (COVID-19)’ covidsafe-australia
Disaster Risk The INFORM Global Risk Index’s overall ranking for Australia is 140 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk) for disasters and humanitarian crises.30 Australia has experienced a number of large scale and devastating natural disasters, including bushfires, flooding, storms, and other hazards.31 Additionally, INFORM has a new COVID-19 Risk Index, which identifies “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19
24 https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-travellers 25 https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/ 26 https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-travellers 27 https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2020-06-12/australia-to-ease-coronavirus-restrictions-in-july-enter-stage-3-of-reopening 28 https://www.pm.gov.au/media/update-coronavirus-measures-12june20 29 https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jun/15/covid-19-restrictions-australia-coronavirus-lockdown-rules-update-how-far-can-travel- border-social-distancing-nsw-victoria-queensland-qld-wa-sa-act-how-many-people-over-house 30 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 31 http://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/hazards
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that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Australia is in the “low” COVID risk class, based on its COVID risk of 2.1 on a scale of 1-10 (10 indicating highest risk).32
National organization response for disaster: The Department of Home Affairs is the branch of the Australian Government responsible for, among other things, emergency management including crisis management and disaster recovery.33 Emergency Management Australia (EMA) is responsible for delivering programs, policies, and services that strengthen Australia's national security and emergency management capability. EMA is a division of the department of Home Affairs, and they are directed by the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience.34 EMA coordinates physical and financial support during a disaster and coordinates Australian Government disaster assistance to states and territories and coordinates state and territory emergency response capabilities to disasters overseas if requested by DFAT. Managing emergencies across Australia is largely the responsibility of state and territory governments, and local governments also play a significant role. State and territory governments have arrangements with each other to share resources when necessary. During major disasters, a state or territory government may seek federal assistance. However, it is uncommon for a disaster to be so large that it is beyond the capacity of a state or territory government to deal with effectively.35
The Australian Government’s response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was to develop a response plan. This response is being guided by the Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19 Plan) (www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/australian-health-sector-emergency- response-plan-for-novel-coronavirus-covid-19.) The COVID-19 Plan is designed to support and help coordinate government health agencies. State and territory governments have primary responsibility for health matters. State and territory governments work together with the Australian Government during major health events. The key committee used to coordinate this and make key decisions is the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC). AHPPC is made up of the Chief Health Officers of each state and territory, the Australian Government’s Chief Medical Officer and representatives from other key departments. It meets daily to assess risk, recommend public health actions, and provide national leadership to inform the response.36 Australia has two official government apps to stay up to date with official information and advice about the COVID-19) situation. They are the Coronavirus Australia app and the Australian Government WhatsApp channel for COVID- 19. Australian Government Department of Health website: https://www.health.gov.au/
Restrictions for each Australian state and territory can be found at the following links: Australian Capital Territory (ACT): https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/protecting-yourself-and-others/groups-and- gatherings#Information-for-businesses New South Wales (NSW): https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules Northern Territory: https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/roadmap-new-normal#/stage_3_friday_5_june_noon_onwards Queensland: https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/government-actions/roadmap-to-easing-queenslands-restrictions South Australia: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/recovery Tasmania: https://coronavirus.tas.gov.au/families-community/roadmap-to-recovery Victoria: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorias-restriction-levels-covid-19 Western Australia: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/covid-19- coronavirus-wa-roadmap
32 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 33 https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are 34 https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/our-portfolios/emergency-management/emergency-response-plans 35 https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/media/2153/nationalstrategyfordisasterresilience.pdf 36 https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/australian-health-sector-emergency-response-plan-for-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-short-form
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The 3-step framework for a COVIDSafe Australia, first published 8 MAY, was updated 15 JUN, at: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/3-step-framework-for-a-covidsafe-australia In the original plan, Stage 3 allowed gatherings of up to 100 people, for all Australians to return to work, all interstate travel, and the opening of food courts, saunas and other businesses. On 12 JUN, the National Cabinet agreed to remove the 100-person limit on non-essential indoor gatherings and replace it with allowing one person per 4 square meters (43 sq. feet) and maintaining a distance of 5 feet whenever and wherever possible. Nightclubs, music festivals, and other “high risk venues" will not be included in Step 3 of the reopening plan. All Australian states are in Stage 2 or 3 of the reopening plan. The decision of when to implement Stage 3 reopening steps will be made at the state and territorial level.37
On 14 JUN, officials said Australia’s two largest and most populous states, New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, will further ease COVID-19 restrictions, marking a transition toward Step 3, the least restricted phase. NSW plans on 1 JUL to lift the 50-person indoor limit for venues such as churches and restaurants, but venues must follow the one-person-per-4-square-meter rule. Victoria State plans on 22 JUN to raise the limit for indoor businesses from 20 to 50 patrons.38
Australia’s digital contact tracing app, also called COVIDSafe, was released in April. But as of 16 JUN it still has significant flaws with working on Apple iPhone devices, which limit its contact-tracing effectiveness.39
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The Australian Red Cross is responding by supporting pandemic preparedness, emergency operations and emergency health services. This includes daily wellbeing calls, providing psychological first aid, information and services to vulnerable people across the country in quarantine and self-isolation. The Red Cross launched COVID CONNECT, a nationwide telephone outreach service. They also have migration support programs, meal services, and provide health and safety messages for COVID-19.40
Country-specific planning considerations Health Facilities: The health system was expanded to meet potential increased demand to include opening new respiratory clinics, expanding emergency departments, and increasing the availability of general hospital beds in public and private hospitals. Australia has a capacity of 7,000 ICU beds41 and has 3.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people;42 2.5 beds per 1,000 are in the public hospitals and 1.4 beds per 1,000 are available in private hospitals. There are 693 public hospitals and 657 private hospitals.43 Security: In New South Wales, a nurse was assaulted after boarding a train while wearing scrubs, for suspicion of spreading COVID-19. Medical workers are being encouraged not to wear medical outfits in public as a result of increasing hostility. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has begun assisting state and territory governments with personnel, supporting the NT Police with border control operations, contact tracing efforts and quarantine, producing surgical masks, and planning/logistics support.44Australia has seen a significant increase in COVID-19 themed cyberattacks amid the pandemic and released a new threat report.45 Return to TOC
37 https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2020-06-12/australia-to-ease-coronavirus-restrictions-in-july-enter-stage-3-of-reopening 38 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-australia-idUSKBN23L05D 39 https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/06/covidsafe-still-has-crucial-iphone-issues-nearly-2-months-later/ 40 https://www.redcross.org.au/stories/covid-19/our-response-to-coronavirus-covid-19 41 https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/impact-of-covid-19-in-australia-ensuring-the-health-system-can-respond 42 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.MED.BEDS.ZS?locations=AU 43 https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/hospitals/hospitals-at-a-glance-2017-18/contents/hospital-resources-and-diversity 44 https://www.pm.gov.au/media/update-coronavirus-measures-270320 45 https://www.cyber.gov.au/threats/threat-update-covid-19-malicious-cyber-activity
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BANGLADESH Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Resources Considerations Measures/Access
TC Amphan made landfall International commercial Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Bangladesh COVID-19 Total Case Trend in southwestern flights to resume 3rd (BDRCS) Updates 110,000 Bangladesh 20 May with a week of June. Previously, http://www.bdrcs.org/news/corona- Category 2 Landfall on 1 JUN domestic flights virus-covid-19-situation-update
46 100,000 Classification. resumed and flights Cyclone Emergency to/from China only First COVID-19 death in Preparedness continued.49 Rohingya camps on 2 https://www.humanitarianresponse.i 90,000 JUN.47 First COVID-19 case nfo/sites/www.humanitarianrespons Bangladesh partially e.info/files/documents/files/cyclone in Rohingya camps 80,000 reopens from 31 MAY - _emergency_preparedness_update_ reported 14 May. 15 JUN.50 -_march_2020.pdf Humanitarian access has Inter Sector Coordination Group 70,000 been severely restricted 51 48 Daily curfew 6pm-6am. https://data.humdata.org/dataset/is to the crowded camps. Humanitarian access to cg-4w-influx-cox-s-bazar-bangladesh 60,000 Some 859,000 Rohingya Rohingya refugee camps Humanitarian Coordination Task live in 34 camps in Cox’s in Cox’s Bazar reduced Team Contingency Plan for 50,000 Bazaar. 80%, severely impacting Climate Disasters in COVID-19 Govt of BGD has internet critical services.52 Context, 17 May 2020: blackout and phone https://www.humanitarianresponse.i Restrictions to UN/NGOs restrictions in camps. nfo/fr/operations/bangladesh/docu 1,305 Deaths – 98,489 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN working in Rohingya ment/hctt-contingency-plan-2020- Several instances of social camps; essential staff climate-related-disasters-covid-19 unrest and violence only https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html Institute of Epidemiology, https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 against aid workers. Country has inadequate Disease Control and Research May is a high risk month testing only 240 per http://www.iedcr.gov.bd/ for Tropical Cyclones. million.53
SPECIAL SECTION – Tropical Cyclone (TC) Amphan: In the aftermath of TC Amphan, 323,929 people have been reached out of 700,000 targeted, as of 8 JUN. The Humanitarian Coordination Task Team’s response focused on the seven most affected districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, Barguna, Bhola and Jashore. US$1.8 million has been funded, leaving a $23.2 million gap.54 On 20 MAY, TC Amphan struck Bangladesh, with 2.4 million people evacuated ahead of the storm. As of 26 MAY, at least 25 people were reported killed and an estimated 10 million people affected.55 Some 330,000 houses were damaged, including 55,600 destroyed in the worst affected areas, and at least 100,000 people were displaced. Satkhira, Khulna, Barguna, and Patuakhali districts were most severely affected districts. Widespread flooding damaged at least 150 km of embankments, destroying farmland, paddy, fish and shrimp farms, and other crops. The
46 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/adam_ts_1000667_17_20200520090008-converted.pdf 47 https://www.india.com/news/world/bangladesh-records-first-covid-19-death-in-rohingya-refugee-camp-4047124/ 48 https://www.dhakatribune.com/health/coronavirus/2020/05/14/2-rohingya-refugees-test-covid-19-positive-in-cox-s-bazar 49 https://bdnews24.com/business/2020/06/08/bangladesh-to-resume-international-flights-in-late-june 50 https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2020/05/27/bangladesh-leaving-lockdown-as-offices-public-transports-to-reopen-from-may-31 51 https://bd.usembassy.gov/travel-health-alert-u-s-embassy-dhaka-bangladesh/ 52 https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/28/bangladesh-covid-19-aid-limits-imperil-rohingya# 53 https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/the-covid-19-catastrophe-in-bangladesh/ 54 https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/amphan_dashboard_monitoring_8_june_2020.pdf 55 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/cyclone-amphan-leaves-trail-destruction-bangladesh-india-200521035745307.html
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Government is working with humanitarian partners to respond to immediate humanitarian needs.56 Salt water intrusion will likely effect livelihoods in long term.57 The Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar were not in the storm’s direct path, with initial reports indicating minimal damage, with 300 shelters sustaining damage, 60 shelters fully destroyed, flooding, and small landslides, but no casualties or deaths reported as of 21 MAY.58 GoB, NGO, partners, and UNICEF have implemented preparedness measures across the Rohingya camps and host communities, prepositioned supplies and strengthened critical infrastructure.59 The 300 refugees on the island of Bhasan Char, an already vulnerable location, were not evacuated.60
Bangladesh COVID-19 Forecast Historical Events: Major events: 30000 April 1991: Cyclone Gorky (Marian), left 139,000 people dead.
25000 Nov 2007: Cyclone Sidr, left 4,234 dead and affected 8.9 million
20000 Recent events: July 2019: Heavy rains, floods, 15000 landslides. 119 dead, 7.3 million affected.
10000 May 2019: Tropical Cyclone FANI left 17 dead and 13,000 houses damaged. y = 68.42 5000 May 2009: Cyclone Aila hit southern Bangladesh. 190 people dead and 3,935,341 affected. 0 PACOM Response: April 1991: Cyclone Gorky (Marian).
3/8/2020 4/1/2020 4/7/2020 5/1/2020 5/7/2020 6/6/2020 7/6/2020 8/5/2020 (Operation Sea Angel).
3/14/2020 3/20/2020 3/26/2020 4/13/2020 4/19/2020 4/25/2020 5/13/2020 5/19/2020 5/25/2020 5/31/2020 6/12/2020 6/18/2020 6/24/2020 6/30/2020 7/12/2020 7/18/2020 7/24/2020 7/30/2020 8/11/2020 8/17/2020 New Cases Forecast November 2007: Cyclone Sidr. Lower Forecast Range Upper Forecast Range (Operation Sea Angel II).
Projections: Bangladesh's standard deviation (std.) for new cases is 577.35 indicating Bangladesh's curve remains unstable. Bangladesh needs to experience at least 14-days of new cases below the std. of 577 to crest their curve and begin flattening. Bangladesh is not projected to exhaust their medical capabilities during this curve or subsequent spikes. Bangladesh decided not to extend their lockdown. Their re-spike is not expected to grow faster than their initial wave and is not expected to exceed their largest spike by double. The projection is any spike will plateau and carry on longer that the previous wave.
Disaster Risk: The INFORM Global Risk Index’s overall ranking for Bangladesh is 22 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk) for natural disasters and humanitarian crises. INFORM also has a new COVID-19 Risk Index, which identifies “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Bangladesh is assessed as being in the High COVID risk class, based on a COVID risk of 5.2 on a scale of 1-10, where 10 indicates the highest risk. 61 Bangladesh has two Tropical Cyclone seasons; March – July and September – December. The majority of storms arrive in May and October marking
56 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ROAP_Snapshot_200526.pdf 57 https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/asia-pacific/card/yIePaudh2A/ 58 https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/asia-pacific/card/yIePaudh2A/ 59https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/UNICEF%20Bangladesh%20Situation%20Report%20No.%201%20%28Cyclone%20Amphan%20%29%20-%2020%20May%202020.pdf 60 https://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/bangladesh-cyclone-endangers-rohingya-silt-island 61 https://data.humdata.org/dataset/inform-covid-analysis-v01
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this month at high risk for TCs and prompting preparations from government and humanitarian response.62 With aid drastically impaired by humanitarian access reduced 80% since COVID-19 outbreak, humanitarian groups warn this monsoon season could be particularly dangerous.63
National organization response: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) is working with Armed Forces Division, UN Bodies, International, National & Local NGOs to deliver coordinated assistance. MOHFW Rohingya dashboard: http://103.247.238.81/webportal/pages/controlroom_rohingya.php International commercial flights to resume 3rd week of June, with the exact date to be announced. The first flights will be on London and Qatar routes. “Biman Bangladesh Airlines will fly to London. British Airways will be able to use the route if they want and Qatar Airways can do the same as well,” said Md Mofidur Rahman, chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh. On 1 JUN domestic flights resumed and flights to/from China only continued.64 Bangladesh phased out of lockdown with a partial reopening from 31 MAY - 15 JUN. Offices and other workplaces are allowed to operate in this period and public transit system run in a reduced capacity subject to health directives, although educational institutions to remain closed with online classes continuing.65 Wearing masks is mandatory outside the home. The nationwide curfew is 8pm-6am, as of 31 MAY, with stores allowed to open 10am – 4pm.66 The country’s lockdown began 26 March with the first detection of the virus and fatalities.67 There are also significant concerns over the health of front-line workers. At least 554 medical doctors,68 and 854 police officers have been diagnosed with COVID-19.69 Workers in garment factories which produced 84% of the country’s exports reopen despite lockdown in cramped conditions with no PPE raising serious health concerns that crowds could cause new vectors of the virus.70 The coronavirus has led factories to furlough or lay off more than half of the country’s nearly 4.1 million garment workers, according to estimates from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).71 Myanmar Refugee Relief Operation (MRRO) distributed 90,918 pre-monsoon kits in Cox’s Bazar camps.72 On 8 JUN, to help contain COVID-19 China sent to Bangladesh a team of 10 medical experts, mostly respiratory physicians, comprised of six men and four women.73 On 11 MAY, the U.S. donated 1,000 KN95 surgical masks, 800 pieces of 200-milliliter bottles of hand sanitizer, 500 pairs of surgical gloves, 300 hazardous materials (HAZMAT) suits, 100 protective masks, and 50 medical goggles, all locally sourced from Bangladeshi companies.74
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The Inter Sector Coordination Group (USCG) partners are preparing for Tropical cyclone season in Bangladesh, specifically equipping Cox’s Bazar District by stockpiling emergency items, water purification tables, tie- down kits to ensure rapid access to support to the Rohingya and host communities. The cyclone response plan builds on past year efforts but could be compounded by the existing humanitarian issues, limited resources and lack of emergency relocation and the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.75
62 https://bd.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/living-in-bangladesh/tropical-cyclones/ 63 https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2020/05/07/coronavirus-humanitarian-aid- response?utm_source=The+New+Humanitarian&utm_campaign=4014b09a5b- EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_05_7_2020_DAILY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d842d98289-4014b09a5b-75574133#philippines 64 https://bdnews24.com/business/2020/06/08/bangladesh-to-resume-international-flights-in-late-june 65 https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2020/05/27/bangladesh-leaving-lockdown-as-offices-public-transports-to-reopen-from-may-31 66 https://bd.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 67 https://nenow.in/neighbour/bangladesh/covid-19-bangladesh-to-extend-lockdown-to-may-30.html 68 https://tbsnews.net/coronavirus-chronicle/covid-19-bangladesh/second-doctor-dies-covid-19-bangladesh-76843 69 https://apnews.com/37685e242282a0b3ca9de6124cef67ee 70 https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/may/11/bangladesh-garment-factories-reopen-despite-coronavirus-threat-to-workers 71 https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/coronavirus-asia-asean-live-updates-by-country/ 72 http://www.bdrcs.org/sites/default/files/Reports/20200428_SitRep05_BDRCS.pdf 73 https://www.india.com/news/world/china-sends-team-to-bangladesh-to-help-combat-coronavirus-4052691/ 74 https://www.bangladeshpost.net/posts/us-donates-ppe-to-bangladesh-fire-service-33150 75https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/joint_humanitarian_community_press_release_o n_cyclone_preparedness_04052020_english_final.pdf
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As of 5 JUN, the procurement of additional PPE for IOM Bangladesh is ongoing, including transport arrangements. IOM supports procurement, storage and distribution of critical supplies in coordination with the Pandemic Supply Chain Network (PSCN), the Supply Chain Interagency Coordination Cell, and the relevant clusters.76 As of 19 May, IOM is constructing new a 250-bed capacity Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Isolation and Treatment Centre (SARI ITC) which will contribute to the larger target agreed upon by the lead actors of the humanitarian community, IOM, UNICEF and UNHCR. Triage areas in the 35 primary care facilities IOM supports along with three isolation and treatment centers, and a 93-unit contact-tracing quarantine center large enough to accommodate 465 is nearing completion. IOM is also setting up much needed oxygen provisions as a common pipeline service for treatment facilities supporting both its own and partners. Through 24-hour hotlines and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology, IOM continues to respond despite operational challenges, providing life- saving information while dispelling harmful rumors and misinformation having reached more than 20,000 calls over the last weeks.77 On 24 March, the Government of Bangladesh suspended non-essential activities in all 34 Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar. All shops and markets in the camps are closed and site management staff have been reduced by 50%. The humanitarian community began preparing to have around 1,050 beds ready in May. The biggest needs in the event of a COVID outbreak in the refugee camps would be ICUs and ventilators. Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) operations for COVID-19 support including disinfectant spraying at 262 hospitals, hosting psychosocial support calls from COVID-19 patients struggling with fear/worry, distributing bottles of water, setting up handwashing stations in 64 districts and arranging for financial and human resource mobilization for imminent cyclone season preparations. BDRCS volunteers are also assisting with temperature checking, disinfectant spraying and social distance monitoring activities at 61 prisons.78 The Resident Coordinator (RC) leads the UN Country Team by coordinating overall UN development assistance to Bangladesh, with the support of the UNDP.79 The UN Country Team is prioritizing gender-based violence in COVID-19 affected areas and working with the government to provide food assistance to those in the informal economy hit hardest by lockdown.80 UNHCR has arranged the shipment of 820,000 face masks for use by frontline health workers in Cox’s Bazar, as of 15 MAY.81 The Humanitarian Coordination Task Team (HCTT) is an operational-level coordination platform for the government, national and international actors working on disaster preparedness and response in Bangladesh. The HCTT falls under the Disaster and Emergency Response (DER) working group in the Local Consultative Group Mechanism (LCG) – a key structure through which the government engages with development partners.82 The HCTT Contingency Plan 2020 for Climate-Related Disasters in the COVID-19 Pandemic Context identifies 25 districts it anticipates would be severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and related mitigation measures, encompassing 15.4 million households across Barisal, Chittagong (Chattogram), Khulna, Rangpur, Dhaka, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, and Sylhet Divisions.83 Per HCTT’s 14 JUN COVID-19-related report, 3,521,622 beneficiaries have received support, not including another 115 million peopled reached through risk communication and awareness advocacy. 26.92% of beneficiaries were in Rangpur division, 20.51% in Barishal division, 16.29% in Mymensingh, 9.87% in Chattogram (Chittagong), 8.88% in Rajshahi, 7.96% in Khulna, 5.5% in Dhaka, and 2.45% in Sylhet.84 The Inter-Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) is the coordination mechanism for the international humanitarian response focused specifically on the Rohingya refugee situation in Cox’s Bazar. The ISCG structure is available at: https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/bangladesh/inter-sector-coordination
76 https://www.iom.int/sitreps/iom-covid-19-response-situation-report-18-30-may-5-june-2020 77 https://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/super-cyclone-amphan-approaches-iom-ramps-covid-19-response-coxs-bazar 78 http://www.bdrcs.org/sites/default/files/Reports/20200428_SitRep05_BDRCS.pdf 79 https://www.bd.undp.org/content/bangladesh/en/home/about-us/undp-and-the-un.html 80 https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1062552 81 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/76630.pdf 82 https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/bgd_bkgd_emerg-resp-plan_2014_0.pdf 83 p. 13, https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/fr/operations/bangladesh/document/hctt-contingency-plan-2020-climate-related-disasters-covid-19 84 https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/bangladesh/assessment/20200614-hctt-covid-19-response3w-report2nd-roundnawg
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Country-specific planning considerations Displaced Persons (Rohingya): There are approximately 860,243 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in Cox’s Bazar.85 There are at least 30 confirmed COVID -19 cases in the Rohingya refugee camps per a 7 JUN report,86 and 1,844 cases in the surrounding Cox’s Bazar District as of 17 JUN.87 The first COVID-19 fatality in the Rohingya refugee camps was reported 2 JUN as a 71-year old man.88 Roads to three districts in the camps have been blocked by authorities, quarantining some 15,000 Rohingya, with two of the isolated areas in Kutupalong camp.89 The camps are located in the Cox’s Bazar District, which has 435 COVID-19 cases, as of 27 MAY.90 As of 24 MAY, ISCG-coordinated humanitarian efforts in Cox’s Bazar include inauguration of two of the first Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Isolation and Treatment Centres (SARI ITCs), 18,830 Bangladeshi households in Ukhiya and Teknaf receiving unconditional cash grants to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on their livelihoods, and 8,464 hand-washing stations installed in public places in the camps as well as at 80 entry points to the camps.91 The first COVID-19 case in the Rohingya camps was reported 14 May, following which teams were activated to treat the patients and trace any contacts that may have encountered those who tested positive.92 A fire in Camp-1 on 12 MAY damaged 674 houses and injured 6 people, with BRDCS providing assistance.93 Families of up to a dozen share small shelters.94 Aid in camps is severely limited, since the RRRC reduced humanitarian aid staff by 80% on 8 APR to try to avoid a COVID-19 outbreak, which aid workers said severely impacted the ability to provide critical services such as food, water, hygiene, vaccines, and sanitation.95 CXB hosts 859,000 Rohingya refugee (34 camps, 2 of which host Bangladesh Military Barracks). An internet ban in the Rohingya refugee camps is a growing concern, impeding information sharing. Rohingya women and girls are especially vulnerable in an outbreak as gender norms affect their ability to reduce risks.96 On 7 MAY, a second boat carrying up to 280 refugees was rescued by Bangladesh and transported to Bhasan Char. On 2 MAY, UNHCR was informed that a group of 29 refugees who had disembarked from a boat that was stranded at sea were transferred to Bhasan Char, a silt island that emerged in 2006 in the Bay of Bengal, which Rohingya refugees have been refusing to relocate to.97 Per a 20 MAY report, Rohingya on Bhasan Char say there is limited health care and food. Some claim they were beaten during interrogations,98 which Bangladesh refutes as “baseless.”99 On 15 MAY, the UN Secretary-General called on Bangladesh to move the refugees to the camps following their two-week quarantine period.100 At least 1,000 Rohingya remain stranded at sea as of 15 MAY.101 Dozens of refugees have died102 after embarking on the perilous sea voyage from Bangladesh to try to reach Malaysia, which has previously refused to let refugees land.103 The WHO and BDRCS trainers delivered Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) training to 14 newly recruited staff to support Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Isolation and Treatment Centers, as of 7 JUN.104
85 https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/bangladesh/infographic/bangladesh-cox%E2%80%99s-bazar-refugee-population-31-may-2020 86 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/final_coxs_bazar_update_13_-_covid19_preparedness_and_response_-_10_june_2020.pdf 87 Accessed 2 June 2020. http://www.iedcr.gov.bd/ 88 https://bdnews24.com/rohingya/2020/06/02/bangladesh-reports-first-virus-death-in-rohingya-refugee-camp 89 https://www.thejakartapost.com/seasia/2020/05/26/15000-rohingya-under-coronavirus-quarantine-as-cases-hit-29.html 90 http://www.iedcr.gov.bd/ 91 https://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/covid-19-preparedness-and-response-rohingya-refugee-camps-and-host-communities-2 92 https://apnews.com/f6ad74d1c0dcfb784b5a245e762e3b3e 93 http://www.bdrcs.org/sites/default/files/Reports/20200519_SitRep7_BDRCS_COVID19.pdf 94 https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/live-blog/2020-05-14-coronavirus-news-n1206776/ncrd1206966#liveBlogHeader 95 https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/28/bangladesh-covid-19-aid-limits-imperil-rohingya# 96 https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/bangladesh/document/covid-19-outbreak-rapid-gender-analysis 97 https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2020/05/07/coronavirus-humanitarian-aid-response?utm_source=The+New+Humanitarian&utm_campaign=4014b09a5b- EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_05_7_2020_DAILY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d842d98289-4014b09a5b-75574133#philippines 98 https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/20/bangladesh-cyclone-endangers-rohingya-silt-island 99 https://news.yahoo.com/bangladesh-slams-claims-security-forces-beat-rohingya-refugees-172618426.html 100 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/guterres-asks-bangladesh-move-rohingya-refugee-camps-200518010948998.html 101 https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/at-least-1-000-rohingya-stuck-at-sea-says-amnesty-international-85537 102 https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2020/04/16/Bangladesh-Rohingya-boat-rescued 103 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-rohingya-idUSKBN22F0QA 104 https://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/covid-19-preparedness-and-response-rohingya-refugee-camps-and-host-communities-4
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IOM in Cox’s Bazar delivered four mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) training sessions 30 MAY- 5 JUN for key persons from the community such as Majhis, teachers and imams, with the aim to coach participants to deal with anxiety and stress during the pandemic, while promoting the new tele-counselling service.105 As of 9 JUN, UNHCR is working with health sector partners in Cox’s Bazar Health to increase COVID-19 testing and strengthen home-based care. Refugee volunteers reach out to the community with key messaging on COVID-19 risks. As the government has blocked internet in the camps, UNHCR is introducing messaging through SMS, as many refugees can receive text messages on their mobile phones. UNHCR and Save the Children International conducted refresher training for seven block leaders on preventing early marriage. Due to the pandemic’s socio-economic impacts, child marriage has been increasing along with child labor, domestic violence, and interpersonal disputes among community members in the refugee camps.106 The ISCG’s 2020 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya refugee response is only 27% funded as of 16 JUN, with US$273 million received against US$994 million needed. Breakdown by sector: Logistics (0% of $1.4m requested); Coordination ($0 of $3.6m); Site Management (4% of $95.3m); Education (5% of $69m); Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (5% of $129.1m); Health (9% of $157.4m); Communication with Communities (9% of $11.7m); Shelter and Non-Food Items (10% of $111.2m); Food Security (19% of $284.6m); Nutrition (20% of $39.9m); Protection (24% of $88m); & Emergency Telecommunications (71% of $2.5m requested).107
Health: Bangladesh saw the highest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases on 17 JUN with 4,008 new cases,108 and the 2nd highest increase on 16 JUN with 3,862 new cases.109 Experts anticipated in a 19 MAY report that infections could peak in the following two weeks.110 Increasing medical waste from COVID-19 could exacerbate public health challenges in Bangladesh. Struggling with poor medical waste management before the pandemic, the increase in single-use medical plastic contributed to hospitals generating 250 tons of medical waste in May. Sanitation workers also lack protective gear for COVID-19.111 More than 300 people have been affected by measles since February 2020 in Sajek, Rangamati, in the southeastern Chittagong Hill Tracts. Start Fund Bangladesh gave GBP 60,000 (73,757 USD) for measles response. Per a needs assessment by Ashika Development Associates, Dumdummya in Jurachari upazila (sub-district) and other nearby areas that have chronic illnesses and food insecurity are also highly vulnerable to measles.112 Bangladesh has 18,880 beds across 472 facilities (Upazila/sub-district level); 27,053 across 126 facilities at the secondary and tertiary level; 45,485 beds across 2,983 registered private hospitals. There are less than 2,000 ventilators for population of 165 million, according to Save the Children. Age groups most affected by COVID-19: 21- 30 years of age (26% of cases), 31-40 years (24%), 41-50 years (18%), 51-60 years (13%), 11-20 years tied with over 60 years (8% each), followed lastly by under 10 years (comprising 3% of cases.)113
Prisons: Prisons are at over 200% capacity, raising fears of COVID-19 transmission in the prison population. Tensions projected to increase. 2,329 prisoners set to be freed in response to outbreak.114
Security: In the wake of TC Ampham, an anti-Muslim social media post sparked attacks against a Hindu-owned shop thought to be responsible, injuring 10 people.115 There is a history of attacks, including on aid workers and ambulances, by host and refugee communities in Cox's Bazar.116 In Dhaka’s Tejgaon area, more than 100 residents in March protested a COVID-19 hospital and attacked construction workers.117 Return to TOC
105 https://www.iom.int/sitreps/iom-covid-19-response-situation-report-18-30-may-5-june-2020 106 http://reporting.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/09062020_UNHCR%20Global%20COVID-19%20Emergency%20Response.pdf 107 https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/bangladesh/document/jrp-2020-funding-update-16-june-2020 108 Accessed 17 JUN 2020. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html 109 https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19/blob/master/csse_covid_19_data/csse_covid_19_time_series/time_series_covid19_confirmed_global.csv 110 http://www.bdrcs.org/sites/default/files/Reports/20200519_SitRep7_BDRCS_COVID19.pdf 111 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/bangladesh-deal-mountains-covid-19-medical-waste-200602084636302.html 112 https://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/bangladesh-measels-outbreak-rangamati-briefing-note-23-may-2020 113 http://www.bdrcs.org/sites/default/files/Reports/20200428_SitRep05_BDRCS.pdf 114 https://tbsnews.net/coronavirus-chronicle/covid-19-bangladesh/2329-prisoners-be-freed-over-covid-19-outbreak-79330 115 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/cyclone.pdf 116 http://insecurityinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Bulletin-2-Aid-Security-and-COVID-19-.pdf 117 https://www.newagebd.net/article/103337/protests-halt-coronavirus-hospital-construction
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BHUTAN Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Considerations Measures/Access Resources
International borders All international borders Border restrictions: Bhutan COVID-19 Total Case Trend closed closed 23 March. http://www.ddm.gov.bt/
80 No e-visa for persons Nearly all international Visa restrictions: 70 coming from or through flights are restricted. https://www.drukair.com.bt/ 60 COVID-19 affected 50 countries, and no visas on Visas restricted for Flight restrictions: 40 arrival.118 foreigners. Incoming https://www.mfa.gov.bt/?pa 30 Bhutanese subjected to ge_id=7587 20 Monsoon season runs June medical screening and https://www.paroairport.co 10 to September in the south quarantine. m/ 0 and southwest. The winter northeast monsoon ranges Movement restrictions in COVID-19 Cases Database from November to March, place as all residents asked https://github.com/CSSEGISa bringing gale-force winds to to stay at home except for ndData/COVID-19 higher altitudes. essential travel. 0 Deaths – 67 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN Hotline COVID-19 inquiries: 2121 https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html ;
https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19
Disaster Risk: The INFORM Global Risk Index’s overall ranking for Bhutan is 115 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk) for natural disasters and humanitarian crises. Disaster risk has remained stable in the last three years. The INFORM global risk index annually measures the risk of disasters and humanitarian crises for 191 countries. Bhutan is most highly exposed to the natural hazard of earthquakes.119 The country also frequently experiences flooding, especially during monsoon season.120 Located high in the Himalayas, Bhutan’s elevation ranges from approximately 1200-3700 meters (~3,937-12,379 feet), with a population averaging 800,000 people. INFORM also has a separate COVID-19 Risk Index, which identifies “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Bhutan is assessed as being in the Medium COVID risk class, based on a COVID risk of 4.1 on a scale of 1-10, where 10 indicates the highest risk. 121
National organization response The Department of Disaster Management (DDM), under the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, leads disaster mitigation, preparedness and response, with a vision for “Safe, Resilient and Happy Bhutan”.122
The government closed all international borders on 23 March, only allowing foreigners to exit, and subjecting incoming Bhutanese to medical screening and mandatory 2-week quarantine at a designated facility. Only
118 https://drukair.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/cms/Flash%20NEWS/Notice-MOAH.jpg 119 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 120 https://www.bhutan.travel/page/climate-weather 121 https://data.humdata.org/dataset/inform-covid-analysis-v01 122 http://www.ddm.gov.bt/
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authorized vehicles can move across borders. Any movement of vehicles or people across informal routes is prohibited. The government stated it will ensure the continued supply of all commodities.123
As of 20 April, the government has developed a contact tracing mobile app, called “Druk Trace,” to help identify who may have come into contact with a COVID-19 infected person. Every office, business, and public transport are required to display a Druk Trace-generated QR code, and all individuals are mandated to use the app to scan the QR code upon each entry into those public spaces.124 Bilaterally, the Indian Army is preparing to deploy a team to Bhutan, to boost COVID-19 response.125
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) UNDP reports that the Loden-UNDP COVID-19 Response Fund is helping young Bhutanese to contribute to the country’s response through small grants.126 The UN is supporting the government through various activities. Food supplementation for children includes nutrition and WASH packages which provide a take-home school feeding ration; nutrition and hygiene messages and; soaps. The most vulnerable children will receive a “food basket.”127 Due to the closure of trade routes, the demand for local vegetables is high, according to UNICEF. The UN supports and implements the Farm to Schools (F2S) project which links farmer groups to supply local schools and institutions. The UN also plans to assist local farmers in improving agriculture production.128 The latest GIEWS country brief by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), states that food insecurity persists mostly in rural areas, especially in eastern and southern parts of the country. A large number of households have inadequate access to food markets.129 According to the World Food Program (WFP) the pandemic is causing some minor disruptions in the food supply chain due to the lockdown in neighboring India, the major supplier of food to the country. WFP has reprogrammed some of its funds to accelerate agriculture production and farmer linkages to markets to help mitigate this adverse impact.130 The WFP donated two mobile storage units, with a capacity of 500 metric tons each, which will help authorities preposition food to meet the needs of half the population for three months. Bhutan has taken a proactive approach toward COVID-19, but movement restrictions are straining the economy and food security. WFP’s technical assistance package also includes regional food price monitoring, prepositioning food, and targeting food needs via geo-referenced maps and assessments.131 The World Bank, on 17 April, approved fast-track financing of the US$5million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project, which builds capacity for testing, contact tracing and early warning.132 UNICEF is supporting the health and other ministries with risk communication and community engagement, helping to reach about 90% of the population on social media with the help of 10,000 community leaders and other social influencers. UNICEF has received US$500,000 out of $1.8 million required for Bhutan, which is a funding gap of 68%, below the 72% average gap for the South Asia region.133
123 http://www.ddm.gov.bt/download/public_notification_closure_border_gates.png 124 http://www.moh.gov.bt/contact-tracing-app/ 125 https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/apr/21/fighting-covid-19-army-readying-teams-for-bangladesh-bhutan-sri-lanka-afghanistan- 2133393.html 126 http://www.moh.gov.bt/who-bhutans-generous-donation-of-nu-12-52-million-to-support-activities-towards-covid19/ 127 https://reliefweb.int/report/bhutan/un-family-scaling-nutrition 128 https://reliefweb.int/report/bhutan/un-family-scaling-nutrition 129 https://reliefweb.int/report/bhutan/giews-country-brief-bhutan-05-may-2020 130 https://reliefweb.int/report/bhutan/wfp-bhutan-country-brief-march-2020 131 https://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-extends-food-security-assistance-royal-government-bhutan-covid-19-response 132 https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/loans-credits/2020/04/16/bhutan-covid-19-emergency-response-and-health-systems-preparedness-project 133 https://www.unicef.org/appeals/files/UNICEF_ROSA_COVID19_Situation_Report_14_April_2020.pdf
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United Nations (UN) agencies with a presence in Bhutan doing humanitarian activities include the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO), with additional UN agencies focused more on long-term development.134 The Bhutan Red Cross Society, as of 18 April, provided financial support for HOPE-Covid19 Bhutan to produce 6,000 face-shields mainly for the front-line health care workers. Bhutan Red Cross volunteers help sanitize vehicles at a border crossing in Samdrup Jongkhar, per a 12 April post, and have been going door-to- door to raise awareness of COVID-19 and distribute medicine to seniors in Mongar, per a 14 April post.135 Private Sector: Karma Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies donated 5,500 face masks on 9 March.136
Country-specific planning considerations
Displaced Populations: An estimated 107,000 Bhutanese are living outside the country as refugees, primarily ethnic Lhotshampa in refugee camps in eastern Nepal.137
Quarantine Centers: As of 29 MAY, 58 facilities are being used for quarantine, down from 75 on 21 APR. 1,064 people are quarantined in facilities, with 5,881 people having been discharged from quarantine as of 29 MAY.138
Health: Out of 31 total COVID-19 cases, Bhutan reports 25 are active with 6 recovered as of 28 MAY.139 Bhutan’s patient zero was a 76-year-old US retiree who tested positive 5 MAR, and was repatriated 14 MAR with the help of King Wangchuck.140
Bhutan has 17.4 hospital beds per 10,000 population, per 2012 data.141 The country has 15.1 nurses per 10,000 and 3.72 physicians per 10,000 population.142 Screening is available at 54 flu clinics. All six confirmed COVID-19 cases are imported, with no community transmission.143 A special isolation hospital equipped to treat COVID-19 patients was set up in the Royal Guest House in eastern Mongar.
Security: No significant COVID-19 related security incidents. Community volunteers help patrol border areas. Police see controlling the movement of people across the porous border as a growing challenge.144 Return to TOC
134 http://www.unct.org.bt/about-us/ 135 https://www.facebook.com/bhutanredcrosssociety/ 136 http://www.moh.gov.bt/karma-pharmaceuticals-and-medical-supplies-donated-5500-face-masks-to-ministry-of-health/ 137 https://www.unocha.org/asia-and-pacific-roap/bhutan 138 http://www.moh.gov.bt/national-situational-update-on-covid-19-as-of-28th-may-2020/ 139 http://www.moh.gov.bt/national-situational-update-on-covid-19-as-of-28th-may-2020/ 140 https://www.traveller.com.au/bhutan-coronavirus-king-helps-ill-tourist-get-home-to-the-us-on-private-jet-h1o2go 141 https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/hospital-beds-(per-10-000-population) 142 https://reliefweb.int/topics/covid-19-central-eastern-south-eastern-southern-asia#reports 143 http://www.moh.gov.bt/national-situational-update-on-covid-19-as-of-20th-april-2020/ 144 https://kuenselonline.com/for-the-safety-and-security-of-the-community/
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BRUNEI Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Considerations Affected State Information Resources Measures/Access 3rd COVID-19 death reported on Brunei’s Infectious Government of Brunei: 16 JUN.145 No more active cases, Disease Act 2010 https://www.gov.bn/ BRUNEI COVID-19 Total but Brunei not ready to open provides guidance for the Government of Brunei Case Trend 146 borders. COVID-19 response and COVID-19 site: the Government has 150 Government of Brunei has http://www.moh.gov.bn/Sit implemented procedures 148 banned all foreign citizens from ePages/COVID-19.aspx for the investigation and 146 entering or transiting by air, includes Travel updates, management of outbreak 144 land, or sea to Brunei. Alerts, best practices and such as reporting, 142 video & media Citizens and foreign residents in quarantine, isolation, and 140 statements. the country are barred from treatment of suspected 138 leaving the nation.147 cases as outlined in the Brunei Self-Isolation 136 law; specifically the Policy: Royal Brunei Airlines suspended 134 Infectious Diseases Act http://www.moh.gov.bn/Sit most flights until 31 MAY; ePages/selfisolationpolicy.as 132 Chapter 204. The limited service to KL, Singapore, px 130 Infectious Diseases Act Melbourne, HK, Manila. U.S. Embassy in Brunei: was amended 30 January https://bn.usembassy.gov/ All passengers arriving through 2020 to include Brunei International Airport will punishment for those Brunei Disaster be served a Self-Isolation Notice who breach or refuse the Management Reference 3 Deaths – 141* confirmed cases as of 17 JUN at border control and must quarantine order with a Handbook: https://www.cfe- *No new confirmed COVID-19 cases since 7 MAY undergo an immediate 14-day fine of up to BND dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?file https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html ; isolation at designated $10,000, imprisonment ticket=VwnEuxL818s%3d&p https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 monitoring centers and must be for up to 6 months, or ortalid=0 tested for COVID-19.148 both.149
Disaster Risk Brunei, which joined the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1984, is statistically the safest country in Southeast Asia. The INFORM Global Risk Index’s overall ranking for Brunei is 158 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk). Disaster risk in the last three years has been stable.150 Although Brunei has a low level of risk to natural disaster, the country is still susceptible to floods, forest fires, air pollution, haze, and landslide due to flooding. Additionally, INFORM has a new COVID-19 Risk Index, which identifies “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Brunei’s INFORM COVID-19 risk is 3.1/10, indicating low risk (10 being highest risk).151
National organization response
145 https://menafn.com/1100333781/Brunei-adds-one-more-COVID-19-related-death-zero-positive-cases 146 https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2020/06/15/brunei-no-more-covid-19-cases-but-not-ready-to-open-borders-with-other-countries 147 https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/coronavirus-asia-asean-live-updates-by-country/ 148 https://bn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services-covid-19-information/ 149 https://www.brudirect.com/news.php?id=89708 150 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 151 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic
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The National Disaster Management Centre is the leading agency for disaster management in Brunei. It falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The country has the financial resources necessary to cope with disasters and all aspects of disaster risk reduction and response are funded at the national level.152 The Government has set up a Health Advice Line (148) and web application (https://www.healthinfo.gov.bn) for the community to receive information and updates regarding COVID-19. After confirming the first new case in 17 days on 6 MAY, Minister of Health YB Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad Isham Hj Jaafar cautioned, “We are still in an emergency situation, we may not be under lockdown but the public need to remember that even though there have not been many infections recently, the concern is still there.”153 With the third COVID-19 death on 16 JUN there are no active cases,154 and no new cases since 7 MAY. 155 Brunei will not attend the Hajj in Saudi Arabia this year. The pilgrimage is expected to start 30 JUL.156
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society was established in 1948 and maintains a presence assisting the Government of Brunei in blood donation, first aid training, responding to fires and assisting with disaster preparedness training. https://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/where-we-work/asia-pacific/brunei-darussalam-red-crescent-society/
Country-specific planning considerations Health: Brunei reported the third COVID-19 fatality on 16 JUN as a 67-year-old local male who was diagnosed on 28 MAR as case 122. The number of recovered cases is 138, out of 141 total cumulative cases.157 The Government of Brunei provides free healthcare to all citizens and medical care is among the best in the region. Non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic respiratory disease are the leading causes of death.158 Hospitals: There are four main hospitals serving the four districts of Brunei and several other health centers and traveling clinics serve the country.159 Quarantine Centers: As of 16 JUN, 31 individuals are in quarantine, while 2,792 individuals have completed quarantine.160 February 2020, in preparation and response to the growing pandemic, and before any cases arrived to the country, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Health identified four monitoring centers/quarantine shelters for suspected coronavirus cases: the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium’s Games Village Complex; the SEAMEO Voctech Regional Centre in Gadong; National Service Programme’s Training Camp in Batu Apoi, Temburong, and the Government Rest House in Kuala Belait.161 Additionally, Brunei’s National Isolation Center opened in December 2012. It is part of the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Hospital in Pekan, Tutong which has 139 beds.162 Currently there are 125 individuals in quarantine at this location and individuals are being treated there for critical condition due to COVID-19 symptoms. The Ministry of Health also reports re-admitted persons previously recovered and tested positive again to the National Isolation Center.163 As a result, recovered patients must undergo an additional 14 day self-isolation at home post discharge and be retested after the 14 days.164 Security: Following the amendment to the Infectious Diseases Act, the Royal Brunei Police Force has increased patrols and members of the public are urged to comply with guidance not to gather to reduce spread of disease. Breaches to the quarantine order can be reported to a hotline (993). Monitoring of those under quarantine will be done via video calls, GPS tracking and spot checks with the Royal Brunei Police Force.165 Return to TOC
152 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=VwnEuxL818s%3d&portalid=0 153 https://thescoop.co/2020/05/01/covid-19-live-updates-3/ 154 https://menafn.com/1100333781/Brunei-adds-one-more-COVID-19-related-death-zero-positive-cases 155 https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 156 https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/covid-19-four-countries-wont-attend-hajj-this-year/ar-BB15pf8x 157 https://menafn.com/1100333781/Brunei-adds-one-more-COVID-19-related-death-zero-positive-cases 158. https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=VwnEuxL818s%3d&portalid=0 159 http://www.moh.gov.bn/Pages/BruneiFacilities.aspx 160 https://menafn.com/1100333781/Brunei-adds-one-more-COVID-19-related-death-zero-positive-cases 161 https://thescoop.co/2020/02/09/brunei-sets-up-4-temporary-shelters-to-combat-coronavirus-spread/ 162 http://moh.gov.bn/SitePages/hpmmpmhamb.aspx 163http://www.moh.gov.bn/Shared%20Documents/2019%20ncov/press%20releases/Media%20statement%20on%20the%20current%20situation%20of%20COVID- 19%20in%20Brunei%20Darussalam%20(18.04.2020).pdf 164 https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/coronavirus-brunei-reports-no-new-cases-one-recovered-patient-turns-positive-again 165 https://borneobulletin.com.bn/covid-19-cases-in-brunei-rise-to-11-2/
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CAMBODIA Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Considerations Measures/Access Resources
st Cambodia 21 MAY sees 1 new COVID- On 20 MAY, Cambodia Flight & border 166 COVID-19 Total Case Trend 19 case since 11 APR. The lifted a ban on entry of restrictions: 140 new case comes one day visitors from Iran, Italy, https://kh.usembassy.g 135 after entry ban lifted. Germany, Spain, France ov/covid-19- 130 and the United information/ Cambodia is vulnerable due 125 States.170 Entry of to its weak health system. Domestic Hotline foreigners into 120 Medical facilities/services 012 825 424, 012 488 Cambodia had been 115 do not meet international 981 or 012 836 868. instituted 17 MAR for 110 standards and both Phnom Information is available “foreigners traveling 105 Penh and Siem Reap have a in English and Khmer. from” the United limited number of clinics https://kh.usembassy.g 100 States, France, and hospitals which are ov/covid-19- Germany, Italy, and severely taxed by the 171 information/ 167 Spain. current COVID-19 crisis. Ministry of Health 0 Deaths – 128 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN All visa free entry, e- Seasonal rains begin in mid- website/ daily visas and visas-on- https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html ; May.168 surveillance reports: arrival for foreigners https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 www.cdcmoh.gov.kh Cyclone season runs from suspended for 30 days, May to October. 169 as of 31 MAR.172
Disaster Risk: The INFORM Global Risk Index’s overall ranking for Cambodia is 53 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk) for natural disasters and humanitarian crises.173 Cambodia experiences hazards such as floods, drought, heavy storms, typhoons, fire incidents, and epidemics. Typhoons and tropical storms lead to heavy flood seasons in the country and approximately 80% of Cambodia lies along the Mekong River which is vulnerable to flooding.174 Additionally, Cambodia’s INFORM COVID-19 risk is 4.9/10, indicating medium risk (10 being the highest).175
National organization response The National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) is Cambodia’s lead government agency for emergency preparedness and relief. The Government of Cambodia has adopted the Cambodia Red Cross (CRC) as the primary partner for relief operations. The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) has played an important role in disaster response and relief in the country.176
166 https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html 167 https://kh.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 168 https://reliefweb.int/report/cambodia/dovetailing-disasters-how-covid-19-compounding-risk-cambodian-communities 169 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/DMHA-Resources/Disaster-Management-Reference-Handbooks 170 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-cambodia-idUSKBN22W1BC 171 https://kh.usembassy.gov/important-notice-to-american-citizens/ 172 https://kh.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 173 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 174 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/DMHA-Resources/Disaster-Management-Reference-Handbooks 175 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 176 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/DMHA-Resources/Disaster-Management-Reference-Handbooks
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The Cambodian Ministry of Health (MoH) is keeping the public informed of developments via the MoH website at (www.cdcmoh.gov.kh) and social media where relevant health education materials can also be downloaded. Daily COVID-19 Surveillance Reports can be downloaded in English on this page also.177
On 21 MAY, the first new confirmed COVID-19 case was reported in over a month, since 11 APR.178 This comes one day after the Cambodian MOH announcing on 20 MAY the lifting of entry bans on visitors entering from Iran, Italy, Germany, Spain, France and the U.S., which had been established to curb COVID-19 transmission.179 Cambodia on 31 MAR had suspended visa-free entry, e-visas and visas-on-arrival for foreigners for 30 days.180
The Government issued a state of emergency law.181 The Cambodian Ministry of Education has issued an immediate, indefinite, closure of all schools until further notice. The Cambodian government has closed all museums, cinemas, concert halls, bars, and karaoke establishments (KTV parlors), and prohibited large religious gatherings.182
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) Cambodia has 23 United Nations agencies working together through the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2016–2018.183 The Cambodian Red Cross is the largest humanitarian organization in Cambodia and often provides the first assistance and can draw on a wide network of pre- positioned resources and subnational presence.184 The Cambodian Red Cross website is located here: (https://redcross.org.kh/)
WHO is assisting hospitals with readiness to respond with appropriate case management: Khmer-Soviet, Phnom Penh; Siem Reap Hospital; Sihanoukville Hospital; Kampong Cham Hospital; Kampot Hospital; Strung Treng Hospital; assisting with laboratory capacity for collection of samples nationwide and detection of 2019-nCoV at Institute Pasteur Cambodia, National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) and NAMRU-2.185
UNDP warns that the start of the rainy season in May could increase the risk of transmission, as during the rainy season, there is an increase in fishing, human migration and busier wet markets. “It could also mean that health resources are diverted. Power-cuts – such as those caused by drought conditions across the capital of Phnom Penh last year – could compromise health systems’ capacity to provide sufficient services to both COVID-19 individuals and the wider community,” the UNDP said.186
WFP, in collaboration with the NCDM, developed a digital questionnaire for collecting field information on the large-scale return of migrants following the closure of border crossings. This builds on the existing Platforms for Realtime Information SysteMs (PRISM) used to collect disaster risk data.187
177 http://www.cdcmoh.gov.kh/ 178 https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html 179 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-cambodia-idUSKBN22W1BC 180 https://kh.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 181 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-cambodia-idUSKCN21S0IW 182 https://kh.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 183 https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/137071/ccsbrief_khm_en.pdf;jsessionid=0E0B20605B7A7CAD6D9C3968B7933A8F?sequence=1 184 https://dlca.logcluster.org/pages/releaseview.action?pageId=12355727 185 https://www.who.int/cambodia/news/detail/28-01-2020-ministry-of-health-responds-to-first-positive-case-of-new-coronavirus 186 https://reliefweb.int/report/cambodia/dovetailing-disasters-how-covid-19-compounding-risk-cambodian-communities 187 https://reliefweb.int/report/cambodia/wfp-cambodia-country-brief-march-2020
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WFP and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery, and Forestry (MAFF), expanded the existing remote monthly food price monitoring to cover the entire country to capture changes as a result of the pandemic.188
Country-specific planning considerations
Health: The MOH has designated three hospitals in Phnom Penh (Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital, National Pediatric Hospital, and Kantha Bopha Hospital), and 25 Provincial Referral Hospitals as medical facilities that can order a test for, and treat, suspected cases of COVID-19. The MOH, in consultation with the WHO, US-CDC, and the Institute Pasteur of Cambodia (IPC), has selected IPC as the designated lab for COVID-19 testing. Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have a limited number of clinics and hospitals that can provide basic medical care and stabilization. Medical care outside of these two cities is almost non-existent. Local pharmacies provide a limited supply of prescription and over-the-counter medications, but the quality can vary greatly.189
There are 102 referral hospitals, including 9 National Hospitals, 25 Municipal and Provincial Referral Hospitals and 68 district-based Referral Hospitals. There are 1,141 Health Centers and 107 Health Posts.190
Quarantine Centers: Quarantine is not well-established and may be unpredictable.
Security: Cambodian authorities have arrested approximately 30 people since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic on charges of spreading false news authorities have arrested at least 30 people on charges of spreading “fake news” and other offenses since the global outbreak of the pandemic. Obstruction of execution of emergency measures can result in $US 500-2500 fines and or jail term from 1-10 years.191 Return to TOC
188 https://reliefweb.int/report/cambodia/wfp-cambodia-country-brief-march-2020 189 https://kh.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 190 http://hismohcambodia.org/public/fileupload/carousel/HSP3-(2016-2020).pdf 191 https://asiatimes.com/2020/04/cambodias-state-of-emergency-law-in-context/
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CHINA Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Considerations Measures/Access Resources
The U.S. Department Beijing battling new COVID-19 China CDC China of State maintains a outbreak since 11 JUN,192 when http://www.chinacdc.cn 84,500 COVID-19 Total Case Trend Travel Advisory for Beijing reported first COVID-19 case in /en/COVID19/ China of Level 4: Do 56 days.193 Total infections rose to 158 US embassy updates 84,400 Not Travel due to over past week.194 Beijing and https://china.usembassy novel coronavirus. neighboring regions renew lockdowns. -china.org.cn/health- 84,300 Beijing reclosed schools and cancelled As of 28 March, all 195 alert-012420/ 60% of flights in/out of the city. foreign nationals are 84,200 Flight & border banned from entry Shulan downgraded to low-risk 3 restrictions: 84,100 including those with JUN.196 Shulan, a border city with https://www.aljazeera.c residence permits, Russia and near North Korea, was om/news/2020/03/coro 84,000 with diplomatic reclassified as high risk on 10 May and navirus-travel- exceptions. put on lockdown, after a cluster of restrictions-border- new cases.197 The civil aviation shutdowns-country- ministry has limited Wuhan, the COVID-19 epicenter, to 200318091505922.html 4,638 Deaths – 84,434 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN passenger numbers commence testing of all 11 million COVID-19 Cases https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html on inbound residents. This follows the first new Database international flights. cluster of cases found in over one https://github.com/CSS month, most asymptomatic.198 EGISandData/COVID-19
Disaster Risk: The INFORM (Index for Risk Management) risk assessment ranking for China is 67 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk) for disasters and humanitarian crises, with a stable disaster risk trend for the last three years. China is highly exposed to earthquakes, tropical storms, floods and tsunamis.199 INFORM also has a new COVID-19 Risk Index, which identifies “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” China is in the “low” COVID risk class, based on a COVID risk assessed at 3.4 on a scale of 1-10, where a higher number indicates higher risk. 200 On the morning of 14 JUN, Tropical Storm Nuri made landfall in southeastern China’s Guangdong Province, first striking Hailing Island in Yangjiang City with winds of 83 km per hour (51 mph) near its center. It then headed northwest, degrading into a depression that afternoon. On 13 JUN, China activated for Nuri a Level- 4 emergency response, the lowest in the country's four-tier warning system, with Guangdong raising the local emergency response to Level 3 by 14 JUN. Parts of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces are at risk of landslides in areas recently hit by rainstorms, per the Ministry of Emergency Management. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has sent a work team to Guangdong to assist in disaster relief efforts. Separately, southern Guizhou province was hit by rainstorms last week, resulting in eight people dead and five missing.201
192 https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3089042/coronavirus-beijing-market-outbreak-cases-rise-79 193 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-in-china-cases-in-beijing-school-plans-canceled-meat-seafood-market-closed-fear-2nd-wave/ 194 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-cornavirus-china-idUSKBN23P029 195 https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/world/beijing-recloses-schools-as-coronavirus-cases-spike-in-chinas-capital/ar-BB15CUU5 196 http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202006/03/WS5ed7417ca310a8b24115a9e1.html 197 https://www.businessinsider.com/china-renews-lockdowns-after-coronavirus-reported-in-wuhan-and-shulan-2020-5 198 https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/12/854431546/wuhan-to-test-all-residents-after-new-coronavirus-cases-emerge 199 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 200 https://data.humdata.org/dataset/inform-covid-analysis-v01 201 http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202006/14/WS5ee5c4caa310834817252de2.html ; http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202006/15/WS5ee6ccd6a310834817252f45.html
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National organization response Beijing began battling a new COVID-19 outbreak on 11 JUN, when the capital reported its first COVID-19 case in 56 days, locally transmitted.202 As of 17 JUN, 136 new cases have been reported in Beijing in the past week.203 The spike led to officials re-closing Beijing schools and cancelling 60% of flights in and out of the capital.204 The majority of cases are linked to Xinfadi wholesale food market in the city’s southwestern district of Fengtai – the biggest center of its kind in Asia, covering 112 hectares (0.4 sq. mi.) and supplying food to northern provinces. “The fact that it happened in Xinfadi, a large wholesale market, is a challenge in itself as we try to carry out epidemiological investigations,” said Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist with the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. The capital and neighboring regions renewed lockdowns. Other provinces are requiring travelers returning from some parts of Beijing to isolate for 14-21 days. 205 On 11 JUN, Beijing had previously lowered COVID-19 restrictions from Level I to II on 30 APR, then lowered again to Level III on 6 JUN, with most businesses resuming. Wuhan, the original epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, conducted 887,321 nucleic acid tests on 20 MAY, and 856,128 tests on 19 MAY,206 as part of a 10-day campaign launched 14 MAY to find asymptomatic carriers by testing all 11 million residents.207 This follows the discovery of six COVID-19 cases in the same residential compound on 9-10 MAY – the first new cluster since Wuhan lifted lockdown on 8 APR – with 5 of the 6 showing no symptoms.208 Authorities increased restrictions in two cities in the northeastern province of Jilin. On 20 May, public transportation was stopped within Jiaohe and between it and neighboring cities due to the “severe circumstances” of the epidemic. On 18 MAY authorities further tightened the lockdown of Shulan, a city of 700,000 in the northeastern province of Jilin, by closing off all villages and residential compounds, and allowing only one person per household out for two hours every second day for essentials.209 Shulan had been classified as high risk on 10 MAY, after the city on the Russian border and near North Korea had reported 14 new COVID-19 cases, all traced to a 45-year-old woman with no known history of travel or virus exposure.210 COVID-19 cases have been rising in the area, apparently brought in from over the border and now transmitting locally. Jilin went from 113 cases on 8 MAY to 151 as of 20 MAY, which is a greater increase in new COVID-19 cases than any other Chinese province experienced in the same period.211 The last four imported COVID-19 patients who entered China via Suifenhe from Russia have recovered and were discharged from Hongqi Hospital, though will be transferred to Mudanjiang Hospital for a 14-day medical observation, per 12 May reports.212 Suifenhe was locked down in early April, after a spate of cases from travelers crossing the border from Russia. On March 26, China announced that it was barring the entry of most foreign nationals, excluding diplomatic workers, to prevent imported COVID-19 cases. Starting 28 March, foreign ministry said that even foreign citizens with residence permits would be prevented from entering, although foreign citizens coming to China for "necessary economic, trade, scientific or technological activities or out of emergency humanitarian needs" can still apply for visas. In January, China increased efforts to deal with cases from overseas, with Beijing and other regions forcing international arrivals to go into a 14-day quarantine. The civil aviation ministry also limited passenger numbers on inbound international flights.213 The first known cases of COVID-19 were in Wuhan, China, with information of the first cases starting in December, although international information sharing did not occur until January.214 In the Chinese Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (China CDC), the Public Health Emergency Center (PHEC) takes charge of national public health emergency preparedness and response activities. China CDC’s Office of
202 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-china-beijing-confirms-first-new-covid-19-case-two-months/ 203 Accessed 17 JUN 2020. https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 ; https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html 204 https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/world/beijing-recloses-schools-as-coronavirus-cases-spike-in-chinas-capital/ar-BB15CUU5 205 https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3089042/coronavirus-beijing-market-outbreak-cases-rise-79 206 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-wuhan/chinas-wuhan-says-conducted-887321-covid-19-tests-on-may-20-idUSKBN22X1G3 207 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-wuhan/chinas-wuhan-plans-city-wide-testing-for-coronavirus-over-period-of-10-days-sources-idUSKBN22N24F 208 https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/12/854431546/wuhan-to-test-all-residents-after-new-coronavirus-cases-emerge 209 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/19/china-puts-city-of-shulan-under-wuhan-style-lockdown-after-fresh-covid-19-cases 210 https://www.businessinsider.com/china-renews-lockdowns-after-coronavirus-reported-in-wuhan-and-shulan-2020-5 211 https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 212 http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202005/12/WS5ebaade5a310a8b241155318.html 213 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/coronavirus-travel-restrictions-border-shutdowns-country-200318091505922.html 214 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/coronavirus-causes
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Epidemiology is dedicated to providing epidemiology services for disease control and public health work, including technical support and applied research. China CDC’s Division of Infectious Diseases (DID) is a technical department responsible for national communicable diseases surveillance, early warning, and outbreak investigation. The National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention (NIVDC) is an independent legal institution, which belongs to the China CDC, and has several WHO collaboration centers and laboratories.215 China was more heavily on the receiving end of foreign aid for the COVID-19 response in January and February, but there has also been significant demand from other countries for Chinese medical supplies and technical expertise. The China International Development Cooperation Agency, established in April 2018, is coordinating with other ministries to provide foreign aid to countries and international organizations, including the EU, AU, and ASEAN. China has donated $20 million to the WHO.216
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) UN agencies focused on humanitarian action with a presence in China include UNICEF, FAO, IOM, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA, UN-Habitat, UNHCR, UN Women, WFP, and WHO, along with other development agencies.217 The China Red Cross Society was visited by Secretary-General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to discuss greater cooperation.218 PLAN International distributed 189,000 Euro (US$205,000) worth of disinfectant and personal protective equipment to government institutions and local NGOs, as of 17 April.219 World Vision reported on 21 May that it is collaborating with the Chinese Center for Health Education to produce a series of child-focused animation videos with focus hygiene and COVID-19 prevention.220
Country-specific planning considerations Hubei, where provincial capital Wuhan was epicenter, had been historically hardest hit with cumulative COVID-19 cases. Most provinces hard-hit during the January-February surge of cases have since recovered. Some cases were seen in May in northeastern provinces bordering Russia or North Korea. New outbreak in Beijing 11 JUN.
Health Information: China has 42 hospital beds per 10,000 population, per 2012 data.221 A major hospital in China’s capital, the Beijing Xiaotangshan, designated to screen and treat COVID-19 patients from overseas, closed 29 APR after the last two COVID-19 patients were released. The hospital began operations 16 MAR.222
Security: In response to reports of discrimination against foreign citizens, the Chinese government reiterated that all public health measures apply equally to Chinese citizens and foreigners.223 Discrimination against Africans and African-Americans was reported in Guangzhou. As part of increased scrutiny of foreign nationals in response to COVID-19 infections, police ordered bars and restaurants not to serve clients who appear to be of African origin. Local officials mandated COVID-19 tests followed by self-quarantine for anyone with “African contacts,” regardless of recent travel history or previous quarantine completion. The U.S. Consulate General advises avoidance of the Guangzhou metropolitan area until further notice.224 Human rights lawyer and constitutional scholar Zhang Xuezhong was removed from his Shanghai home by authorities on 10 May after posting a letter criticizing the government's COVID-19 response on WeChat, social media.225 Return to TOC
215 http://www.chinacdc.cn/en/ 216 https://reliefweb.int/report/china/new-chinese-aid-agency-after-its-first-two-years ; http://en.cidca.gov.cn/2020-03/26/c_465653.htm 217 http://www.un.org.cn/pages/UNCountryTeamInChina.html 218 https://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/where-we-work/asia-pacific/red-cross-society-of-china/ 219 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ExSitRep_COVID19_PlanInternational_AP_17April%5B5%5D.pdf 220 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Global%20SitRep%20No9_2020521_FNL.pdf 221 https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/hospital-beds-(per-10-000-population) 222 http://en.nhc.gov.cn/2020-04/29/c_79743.htm 223 https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/embassy-consulates/guangzhou/security-alert-u-s-embassy-beijing-and-all-consulates-april-24-2020/ 224 https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/health-alert-u-s-consulate-general-guangzhou-peoples-republic-of-china/ 225 https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3083863/chinese-scholar-calls-political-reform-criticising-tight
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COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS (U.S.) Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Considerations Affected State Information Measures/Access Resources
Typhoon season is from July CNMI lifts restrictions 26 CHCC COVID-19 CNMI COVID-19 Total Case Trend to January, and CNMI is MAY, allowing some in- website: usually subject to at least 1 person services.231 http://chcc.gov.mp/coron 40 typhoon/yr.226 avirusinformation.php The Commonwealth 35 Screening of incoming Healthcare Corporation CHCC POC: Janet 30 passengers at Saipan airport (CHCC) offers reporting of Guerrero & Portia 25 started 1 February. All vessels COVID-19 symptoms to Tomokane 20 entering CNMI waters are health officials for persons (670) 234-8950 Ext. 232 3416 15 inspected before they make enrolled in Sara Alert. port.227 [email protected] 10 As of 4 April, the Governor’s v.mp 5 Starting 23 March, all Office has not mandated the Governor’s COVID-19 0 individuals entering the CNMI public wear masks, and Task Force POC: Kevin must be quarantined at a discouraged masks for those Bautista, designated site for 14 days, not sick or taking care of the [email protected] per Governor Ralph DLG sick. However, some 2 Deaths – 30 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN Torres's Second Amended businesses have made face CNMI Homeland Executive Order 2020-04, covering required for entry Security & Emergency Directive 8.228 into their establishments.233 Management (OHS & CNMI CHCC, current day: http://chcc.gov.mp/coronavirusinformation.php EM) webpage: COVID-19 Data Repository by CSSE at JHU, updated to previous day for Curfew is in effect 7:00pm – As of 29 March, all grocery CNMI: https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 http://www.cnmihsem.go 6:00am, with workers stores hours were limited to v.mp/ needing to commute required 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and to carry a designated 50% reduced occupancy.234 COVID-19 cases company POC and proper ID, Gatherings of more than 10 database: as of 22 April.229 people are prohibited.235 https://github.com/CSSEGI SandData/COVID-19 Curfew is 11pm – 5am.230
Disaster Risk:
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is composed of 22 islands and inlets including the principal islands, Saipan, Tinian, Rota, Anatahan, and Pagan, although Pagan has not been inhabited since 1981 after a severe volcanic eruption.236 CNMI is subject to a multitude of regularly recurring hazards, including typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis, flash flooding and drought.237
226 https://www.pacificrisa.org/places/commonwealth-of-the-northern-mariana-islands/ 227 http://chcc.gov.mp/DocumentFiles/coronavirusinformation_142_1454553753.pdf 228 http://chcc.gov.mp/DocumentFiles/First%20group%20of%20travelers%20to%20be%20released%20from%20COVID-19%20quarantine%20facility%20this%20week.pdf ; https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2020/04/07/cnmi-release-118-people-quarantine-week/2959323001/ 229 https://www.facebook.com/GovernorCNMI/photos/pb.1743833292514312.-2207520000../2707681932796105/?type=3&theater 230 https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2020/05/25/guam-coronavirus-covid-19-cnmi-restaurants-church-services/5257246002/ 231 https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2020/05/25/guam-coronavirus-covid-19-cnmi-restaurants-church-services/5257246002/ 232 http://chcc.gov.mp/coronavirusinformation.php 233 http://chcc.gov.mp/DocumentFiles/Face%20masks%20and%20DIY%20face%20coverings.pdf 234 http://chcc.gov.mp/DocumentFiles/Two%20cases%20confirmed%20positive%20for%20COVID-19%20Hours%20for%20businesses%20and%20retail%20establishments%20adjusted.pdf 235 https://governor.gov.mp/news/press-releases/the-governors-social-distancing-guidance-cnmi-covid-19-emergency-directives-as-of-april-16-2020/ 236 https://www.britannica.com/place/Northern-Mariana-Islands/Economy 237 https://opd.gov.mp/library/plans/cnmi-standard-state-mitigation-plan-2014-2019/
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CNMI has been experiencing dry conditions since April.238 Drought conditions could worsen across CNMI in June, as less-than-adequate rainfall is expected. Saipan International Airport has had the driest May, April-May, March- May, February-May and January-May on record.239
National organization response
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Homeland Security & Emergency Management (OHS & EM) coordinates emergencies and disaster response. OHS & EM have disaster information awareness for typhoons, tsunami, and volcano, as well as evacuation zones posted on the OHS & EM website found here: http://www.cnmihsem.gov.mp/).240 In September 2018, Typhoon Mangkhut caused damage to CNMI resulting in the U.S. President issuing a major disaster declaration under the Stafford Act. During this time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) appointed a Federal Coordinating Officer for this major disaster to provide federal assistance. The islands of Rota, Saipan, and Tinian received Individual and public assistance, and all areas within CNMI were eligible for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.241 After Super Typhoon Yuta in January 2020, FEMA granted US$4.9 million to CNMI to support ongoing recovery which included rebuilding schools, debris removal, repairs to ports and buildings, and other relief efforts.242
The CNMI has lifted some restrictions including allowing limited in-dining at restaurants and allowing in-person church services, with Governor Ralph Torres announcing on 26 MAY that the CNMI can responsibly initiate the next phase of its Economic Recovery Plan from Community Vulnerability Level “Red” to “Yellow.” Level “Yellow” represents the midway point of the phased schedule, wherein curfew is 11pm-5am and testing has become widespread, but efforts to promote testing among community organizations, businesses and households continue.243
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society)
The American Red Cross of Northern Mariana Islands (https://www.redcross.org/local/northern-mariana- islands.html) is actively involved in the COVID-19 response having distributed 3,500 hand sanitizers to local emergency, health, and social service agencies and providing hundreds of hygiene supplies to those quarantined at Kanoa Resort and Pacific Islands Club Saipan.244 Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) (https://www.who.int/northernmarianaislands) deployed staff to several Pacific Island countries and territories, including CNMI with elevated risks for measles to assist with prevention measures from January-March 2020.245
Country-specific planning considerations
Health: Locally tested COVID-19 samples are confirmed by the US CDC, which results in a time lag before confirmation.246 Due to lifestyle and dependence on imported and processed foods, noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer in CNMI is widespread. 83% of CNMI
238 https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/dry-weather-to-persist-in-the-marianas/ 239 https://readycnmiblog.com/wp/2020/05/29/drought-statement-05-29-2020-fri/ 240 http://cnmihsem.gov.mp/natural-disasters/typhoon/typhoonprep 241 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/10/2018-21927/commonwealth-of-the-northern-mariana-islands-major-disaster-and-related- determinations 242 https://reliefweb.int/report/northern-mariana-islands-united-states-america/fema-grants-additional-funds-super-typhoon 243 https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2020/05/25/guam-coronavirus-covid-19-cnmi-restaurants-church-services/5257246002/ 244 https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/arc-involved-in-covid-19-efforts/ 245 https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/wpro---documents/dps/outbreaks-and-emergencies/measles-2019/20200108-measles-pacific-who-unicef- sitrep-106cd003b8c83042dd81fb17d62dc3f35c.pdf?sfvrsn=657d0d88_0 246 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/415994/cnmi-has-presumptive-positive-covid-19-case
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residents of Northern Marianas descent are overweight or obese and 21% of Carolinian adults and 25% of Chamorro adults have diabetes. Additionally, substance abuse and mental health problems are a public health concern, along with infant mortality rates and sexually transmitted infections.247
Hospitals: CNMI has one hospital, the 86-bed Commonwealth Health Center, located on Saipan. It is operated by the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC).248,249 There are also two major health centers in CNMI, also operated by the CHCC. Tinian Health Center is a satellite clinic located in San Jose Village, Tinian. It is the only medical facility on island.250 The Rota Health Center is a satellite facility on the island of Rota. It is the only medical facility on Rota.251 Another center, the Kagman Community Health Center, is located on Saipan. There are five private healthcare clinics: FHP Health Center, Marianas Medical Center, Medical Associates of the Pacific, Pacific Medical Center, and the Saipan Health Clinic.252
Quarantine: The CNMI government requires all individuals entering CNMI be quarantined at a designated site for 14-days. Upon completion of the quarantine period, each individual will be issued a certificate from Commonwealth Healthcare indicating that they successfully completed quarantine.253
U.S. DoD: Six U.S. Army Reserve nurses deployed to the CNMI to support COVID-19 response. The three critical care nurses and three certified registered nurse anesthetists are from the 1984th U.S. Army Hospital-Pacific, headquartered at Fort Shafter Flats, Hawaii.254 Return to TOC
247 https://www.congress.gov/116/meeting/house/109536/witnesses/HHRG-116-II00-Wstate-MunaE-20190523-SD001.pdf 248 https://chcc.gov.mp/ 249 https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/states/northern-mariana 250 https://chcc.gov.mp/tinianhealthcenter.php 251 https://chcc.gov.mp/rotahealthcenter.php 252 https://www.pihoa.org/cnmi/ 253 https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2020/04/07/cnmi-release-118-people-quarantine-week/2959323001/ 254 https://www.usar.army.mil/News/Article/2191503/army-reserve-nurses-deploy-to-northern-mariana-islands-to-support-covid-19-resp/
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FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Planning Considerations Affected State Measures/Access Information Case Trend Resources
As of 17 June, FSM Typhoon season runs June 1 – Nov. 30 FSM extends State of Public Emergency to 31 JUL.257 WHO country health profile https://www.who.int/countries had no confirmed On January 31, 2020, a Public Health No passengers may disembark, except COVID-19 /fsm/en/ COVID-19 cases. Emergency declared and National Task medical workers or patients returning from Force (NTF) created treatment. All must complete 14-day quarantine. WHO Country Cooperation Strategy: USG with USAID/OFDA as lead likely to be a No personnel are permitted to debark ships with https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstr primary responder the exception of National Oceanic Resource eam/handle/10665/136945/ccs Management Agency (NORMA) observers who must brief_fsm_en.pdf?sequence=1 Travel restrictions have been extended to 255 complete a 14-day quarantine. May 31st, 2020 per FSM Congress. FSM COVID-19 Response Framework: 256 Travel between FSM states is not permitted by There is a dengue outbreak on Yap State. https://gov.fm/files/FSM_COVI international air carrier. Travel between states by Health screening of all incoming travelers Caroline Islands Air or by ship is allowed, but some D- 19_Response_Framework.pdf https://coronavirus.jhu.edu at airport and seaport is ongoing since 2 states are requiring all passengers and crew to /map.html February. complete a 14-day quarantine period.
Disaster Risk: Overall INFORM model risk ranking for the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is 67 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk). A 3-yr trend indicates stable overall risk. Additionally, FSM’s INFORM COVID-19 risk is 5.0/10, placing FSM in the “high” COVID risk class (10 indicates highest risk).258 Drought expanded across the western and northern FSM in April (as well as the Marianas and northern Marshall Islands.)259 FSM’s Yap state should plan on continuing dry conditions.260
National organization response FSM’s Congress extended the State of Public Emergency to 31 JUL, which brings it to six months since President David Panuelo declared a public health emergency on 31 JAN, with a travel ban and border closures.261 FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs (DHSA) will lead any health response. FSM National and States taskforces continue to coordinate local preparedness and readiness efforts for potential introduction and spread of COVID-19. A surveillance system for influenza-like illness (ILI) is in place for all 4 States.262 The National Disaster Committee is the strategic decision-making body for prioritizing, committing resources, and advising the President during a disaster. The National Disaster Response Plan (2016) defines the efforts for all government levels to ensure disaster preparedness, response, relief and recovery are carried out. Tests of any suspected cases of COVID-19 will be sent to Hawaii or Guam to be confirmed.263 U.S. Ambassador Carmen G. Cantor in a joint ceremony on 7 May handed off 30 ventilators to the FSM government. The U.S. had earlier presented $7,700,000 to FSM, which is FSM’s share of the U.S. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, & Economic Security (CARES) Act. Israel also provided to FSM 2,000 surgical masks, 200 NK95 masks, 4 infrared thermometers, and 40 protective suits. At the ceremony, government officials stated that the FSM
255 https://gov.fm/files/CR_No__21-138_Further_Amending_the_Presidents_Public_Health_Emergency_Declaration_APRIL_17_2020_RECEIVED_BY_OOP.pdf 256 https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/micronesia 257 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/418167/fsm-continues-state-of-public-emergency-into-sixth-month 258 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 259 https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/drought/202004 260 https://reliefweb.int/report/northern-mariana-islands-united-states-america/drought-information-statement-16-may-2019 261 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/418167/fsm-continues-state-of-public-emergency-into-sixth-month 262 FSM Updates on Implementation of COVID-19 Preparedness and Response 263 https://fm.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/
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COVID-19 Task Force will more closely collaborate with the Pohnpei COVID-19 Task Force, resulting in a joint FSM-PNI Task Force meeting.264265 FSM is experiencing drought conditions. In mid-April, the Northern Marianas' Emergency Operations Center issued a warning, saying dry conditions could persist for the next month or two.266 The FSM COVID-19 Response Framework is the national COVID-19 contingency plan, available at: https://gov.fm/files/FSM_COVID-19_Response_Framework.pdf CFE-DM Federated States of Micronesia Disaster Management Reference Handbook: https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=YalZdsMBBZo%3d&portalid=0
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) FSM is continuing to work with WHO, CDC, and UNICEF on support for COVID19 response. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) mission is located in FSM and oversees the offices in the FSM, RMI and Palau. WHO Health Profile: non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancers remain a major health problem. Tuberculosis (TB) has a high prevalence, as does leprosy – the latter being among the highest in the Pacific.
Country-specific planning considerations
Evacuation Centers: Chuuk leased the High-Tide Hotel (with 20-27 rooms) as quarantine space. It is also renovating a former Chinese barracks for construction workers (with at least 5 rooms). For surge capacity, Chuuk will utilize the Chuuk High School and Gymnasium. Pohnpei built an 8-room quarantine facility at Misko Beach, and the China Star Hotel (with 30 rooms) and Yvonne Hotel (with more than 50 rooms) were used. However, these became quickly full with travelers. Pohnpei decided to scale back capacity and relocate quarantine services out to Dekehtik. Yap is utilizing its Sports Complex for quarantine space (50 beds). Kosrae does not have any quarantine facilities, and is resorting to home quarantine. Kosrae hospital is also building 24 isolation rooms some of which could be used for quarantine. FSM Government is procuring 30 20’ x 10’ ft. folding container - housing units for additional quarantine and/or isolation rooms.267
Health: The Department of Health Services in each state provides medical and public health services through a hospital, community health centers and dispensaries. Each state system is autonomous. Health services are highly subsidized by the state governments, except in private clinics. The national Department of Health and Social Affairs oversees health programs and is responsible for public health programs funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Hospitals: There are six private health clinics in the country and one private hospital. Access to hospital services remains an issue, particularly for outer-islands residents due to transportation difficulties.
USAID/OFDA and FEMA: Developed an Operational Blueprint for USG disaster response in FSM. USAID/OFDA assisted FSM after Typhoon Wutip passed over Chuuk, Pohnpei and Yap states in Feb 2019. U.S. Department of the Interior released US$416,918 COFA in financial assistance to FSM. The funds will help support and strengthen hospital and quarantine infrastructure in Chuuk State.268
DOD: Seabees have visited FSM since 1969. Seabees from the Naval Mobile Construction Five (NMCB5) are currently assisting in the construction of a quarantine facility in Pohnpei.
Security: No security incidents reported. Return to TOC
264 https://reliefweb.int/report/micronesia-federated-states/through-donations-ventilators-medical-supplies-state-israel 265 https://reliefweb.int/report/micronesia-federated-states/president-panuelo-vice-president-george-receive-ambassador-cantor 266 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/414470/micronesia-experiencing-drought 267 FSM Updates on Implementation of COVID-19 Preparedness and Response 268 https://www.doi.gov/oia/press/compact-funding-help-build-and-repair-covid-19-quarantine-facilities-federated-states
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FIJI Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Resources Considerations Measures/Access
Flight restrictions. Schools will reopen on 30 See footnotes for all. Fiji COVID-19 Total Case Trend June.269 Movement Fiji Ministry of Health & 30 restrictions. Fiji announced 5 JUN it is Medical Services: COVID-free, after its last TC Harold struck Fiji http://www.health.gov.fj/ 25 known infected patient was on 7 APR as a 270 https://www.facebook.co 20 given the all-clear. category 4 storm. m/MoHFiji/ 15 Cyclone season runs Over 1,700 evacuees are November to April. being sheltered in 61 TC Harold: 10 evacuation centers (14 APR). https://reliefweb.int/repo Fiji is regional rt/fiji/fiji-tropical-cyclone- 5 humanitarian Nationwide curfew, 10pm- harold-humanitarian- headquarters for UN 5am, reactivated 25 APR. snapshot-14-april-2020 0 and other Int’l Inter-island travel resumed
agencies. UN RC in 26 APR, gatherings of 20 COVID-19 Confirmed Cases Fiji is co-lead of people or few were http://www.health.gov.fj/ 0 Deaths – 18* confirmed cases as of 17 JUN Pacific Humanitarian permitted from 27 APR. But Team, a primary schools, cinemas, gyms, COVID-19 Cases Database *No new cases since 20 APR humanitarian pools and nightclubs remain https://github.com/CSSEGISa https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html response closed.271 All sporting events ndData/COVID-19 mechanism. remain suspended, whether organized by sporting bodies or at community levels.272
SPECIAL SECTION – Tropical Cyclone Harold Tropical Cyclone (TC) Harold made landfall in Fiji as a category 4 cyclone, striking Viti Levu the night of 7 April and morning of 8 April.273 TC Harold first struck the Solomon Islands, then Vanuatu as category 5, followed by Fiji, and finally hit Tonga. Of the Pacific Island countries affected by TC Harold, Fiji is the only one also dealing with confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 27 April, though all are implementing with movement control and social distancing measures. TC Harold displaced around 10,000 people in Fiji, and led to the deaths of two people. Authorities encouraged people to take shelter before the cyclone struck, and 6,240 people sheltered in 197 evacuation centers. This decreased to about 2,000 people remaining in shelters after the cyclone, as many were able to return home. A remaining concern is whether the mass gatherings in evacuation shelters during the storm resulted in increased COVID-19 infections, which could result in more illnesses and deaths. As Fijian national Nacanieli Bolo Speigth notes: “Evacuating in most Pacific island countries means fleeing to a village hall, church or running across to your closest extended families. It is these confined spaces that enable the spread of the virus. One has to acknowledge the challenges for government to one day be restricting social gatherings to avoid
269 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/10/coronavirus-in-the-pacific-weekly-briefing 270 https://www.rawstory.com/2020/06/answered-prayers-fiji-declares-itself-coronavirus-free/ 271 http://www.health.gov.fj/statement-by-the-prime-minister-hon-voreqe-bainimarama-on-tc-harold-and-covid-19-measures/ 272 http://www.health.gov.fj/all-sporting-events-remain-temporarily-suspended/ 273 https://reliefweb.int/report/fiji/tropical-cyclone-harold-vanuatu-and-fiji-flash-update-no-1-8-april-2020-2200-local-time
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contagion and then the next day congregating them in communal areas to give them needed shelter.” 274 According to the Fiji Red Cross, there is a "full focus on hygiene" in evacuation centers.275 The Government of Fiji declared a disaster on 12 April in the Eastern, Central and Western Divisions. Across Fiji, 635 homes across the country were destroyed by the storm, with over 2,100 suffering damage.276 Agricultural losses over approximately 894 hectares (2,209 acres) are estimated at 19.6 million Fiji Dollars (8.5 million USD), with the majority of damage sustained in the Eastern Division. Major damage to school infrastructure, facilities, resources and materials are reported in Kadavu Island (Eastern Division), Suva and Vatulele Island (Nadroga Navosa). Structural damage is estimated at 3 million FJD. UNICEF provided WASH kits and dignity kits to 1,000 households in Korovou and Nausori via the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MoHMS) and is supporting the needs assessment of WASH facilities. The Fiji Red Cross Society is preparing NFIs for distributions in Vatulele, including 100 jerry cans, 60 tarpaulins and 56 shelter toolkits.277 Under Fiji’s Rural Housing Assistance Programme, the Ministry of Housing and Community Development is working to provide relief to high-need households. They are subsidizing the cost of government-procured building materials for eligible households. Thousands of food ration packs and other supplies have been delivered.278
Disaster Risk The INFORM (Index for Risk Management) risk assessment ranking for Fiji is 115 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk) for disasters and humanitarian crises. Disaster risk in the last three years has been stable. Fiji is highly exposed to tsunamis, and also significantly exposed to tropical cyclones, earthquakes, and drought.279 INFORM also has a separate COVID-19 Risk Index, which identifies “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Fiji is in the “medium” COVID risk class, based on a COVID risk assessment of 4.1 on a scale of 1-10, where a higher number indicates higher risk.280 According to the 2019 Global Health Security Index, Fiji is ranked 28.35% out of a possible 100% (where lower number indicates poor health security) in regards to rapid response to and mitigation of the spread of an epidemic. This number ranks Fiji as a “least prepared” country.281
National organization response The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO: http://www.ndmo.gov.fj/) handles natural disasters. The National Emergency Operations Centre as well as Divisional Emergency Operation Centres have been activated by the National Disaster Management Office, in response to TC Harold striking Fiji.282 The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (http://www.health.gov.fj/) carries news and information on the COVID-19 situation. They have traced 16 of the past cases to four clusters, identifying the potential virus sources as the USA, Australia, India, and New Zealand.283 Fiji plans to reopen schools on 30 June.284 Fiji is in talks with Australia and New Zealand about opening Fiji up to “travel bubble” tourism between the two countries. New Zealand’s PM said on 10 JUN that New Zealand will first re-start travel tourism with
274 https://www.internal-displacement.org/expert-opinion/tropical-cyclone-harold-and-covid-19-a-double-blow-to-the-pacific-islands 275 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52268119 276 http://www.health.gov.fj/statement-by-the-prime-minister-hon-voreqe-bainimarama-on-tc-harold-and-covid-19-measures/ 277 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA-FJI-TCHarold-HumSnapshot-200414_Final.pdf Fiji Red Cross https://twitter.com/FijiRedCross 278 http://www.health.gov.fj/statement-by-the-prime-minister-hon-voreqe-bainimarama-on-tc-harold-and-covid-19-measures/ 279 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 280 https://data.humdata.org/organization/inform 281 https://www.ghsindex.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2019-Global-Health-Security-Index.pdf 282 https://reliefweb.int/report/fiji/fiji-tropical-cyclone-harold-humanitarian-snapshot-9-april-2020 283 http://www.health.gov.fj/fiji-covid-19-cases-clusters/ 284 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/10/coronavirus-in-the-pacific-weekly-briefing
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Australia and then the Pacific islands. New Zealand is also in talks with Singapore to include Fiji in special travel arrangements or “Green Lane” (essential travel) with Singapore.285 As of 26 MAY, an Air Tahiti Nui aircraft flew medical supplies from China to Fiji as part of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Pacific Humanitarian Pathway on COVID-19, provided in conjunction with the WHO and to also be distributed to Samoa, Vanuatu and Tonga. The plane also picked up supplies in Fiji donated by the Jack Ma Foundation and flew them to French Polynesia.286 On 3 MAY, Fiji received personal protective equipment (PPE) worth around US$270,000 donated from China.287 As of 24 APR, China also provided US$300,000 to Fiji to help combat COVID-19, as well as donated US$100,000 earlier that week to the NDMO for TC Harold relief.288 Private Sector: Fiji Chemicals donated $50,000 worth of hygiene and cleaning products to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to boost the government’s COVID-19 response efforts.289
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The WHO in the Pacific is based in Suva, Fiji, and coordinates the COVID-19 Joint Incident Management Team (IMT), which has developed and is implementing a six-month Pacific Action Plan for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness and Response.290 On 4 May, WHO Representative to Fiji and the Pacific delivered testing kits to the Fijian Minister for Health and Medical Services at the Fiji Centre for Disease Control laboratory in Tamavua. These Genexpert kits can be used to test for tuberculosis as well as COVID-19.291 On 3 May the Minister for Health and Medical Services received PPE from the Chinese Ambassador to Fiji.292
Country-specific planning considerations
Fiji announced 5 JUN it no longer had any active COVID-19 cases, after the country’s last known infected patient was given the all-clear.293 Fiji reported its first confirmed COVID-19 case on 19 MAR, but strict isolation measures and border controls kept infections to 18 confirmed cases total, with no new cases since 20 APR.294 Health: So far this year Fiji has had 278 cases of leptospirosis, 77 of typhoid and nearly 800 cases of dengue fever, as of 3 JUN. Fiji has seen a recent surge in cases of leptospirosis, typhoid and dengue, leading Health Minister Ifereimi Waqainabete to urge residents to take responsibility for their well-being, noting that overgrown weeds, blocked drains and water-filled tires increase the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.295 Following TC Harold, the Ministry of Health launched a door-to-door campaign to combat leptospirosis, typhoid, dengue, and diarrhea. The Fiji government is focusing on the illnesses that thrive in the wet environments left behind by tropical cyclones.296 Health services are delivered through 98 nursing stations, 84 health centers, 17 subdivisional hospitals and three divisional hospitals.297 There are 23 hospital beds per 10,000 population, per WHO 2011 data.298 As of 15 April, all 37 fever clinics in Fiji are operational, following TC Harold.299 Mobile fever clinics were introduced in
285 https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/fiji-angry-at-second-class-consideration-in-travel-bubble-plan-20200610-p55183; https://www.rawstory.com/2020/06/answered-prayers-fiji-declares-itself-coronavirus-free/; https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Travel-bubble-NZ-PM-says-Australia-first-then-Pacific-Islands-fx54r8 286 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/417548/who-pif-medical-supplies-arrive-in-fiji 287 https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/covid-19/fiji-receives-ppe-from-china/ 288 https://reliefweb.int/report/fiji/people-s-republic-china-donates-usd300k-fiji 289 http://www.health.gov.fj/covid-19-response-boost/ 290 https://www.who.int/westernpacific/about/how-we-work/pacific-support/news/detail/21-02-2020-pacific-steps-up-preparedness-against-covid-19 291 https://www.facebook.com/MoHFiji 292 https://www.facebook.com/MoHFiji 293 https://www.rawstory.com/2020/06/answered-prayers-fiji-declares-itself-coronavirus-free/ 294 https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 295 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/418217/fijians-need-to-take-more-responsibility-health-minister 296 http://www.health.gov.fj/statement-by-the-prime-minister-hon-voreqe-bainimarama-on-tc-harold-and-covid-19-measures/ 297 https://www.who.int/countries/fji/en/ 298 https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators 299 http://www.health.gov.fj/fever-clinics-now-fully-functional-after-tc-harold/
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Suva on 6 April. Mobile clinics were launched in Lautoka on 2 April to complement clinics already in operation, seeing 43,392 residents over four days. Mobile clinics planned in Samabula East.300 Fiji plans to screen over 150,000 people.301 On 21 April, the Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services deployed mobile fever clinic teams to Lami. The teams visited homes from Delainavesi to Wailekutu taking fever readings for all household members referring individuals for further investigation, including testing if needed.302
Quarantine Facilities: There are eight COVID-19 Isolation Facilities across Fiji, comprising five hospitals and three community isolation facilities. Three facilities are located in Central Division (CWM Hospital; Navua Hospital; Forestry Training Centre) and five in the Western Division (Nadi Hospital; Nadi Special School; Lautoka Hospital; Natabua High School; Ba Mission Hospital).303
Security: As of 15 April, 106 arrests were made in the last 24 hours for breach of COVID-19 restrictions, predominantly for social gathering breaches, followed by curfew violations.304 The Suva lockdown was lifted 17 April, but all other health protections are still in effect.305 School holidays are extended, a stay-at-home order is in place except for life-sustaining reasons to travel, and a nationwide curfew is in effect from 10pm to 5am.306 As of 26 April, all passenger inter-island travel, by air and sea resumed. As of 27th April, restrictions were lifted to allow gatherings of 20 people or fewer.307 As of 5 May, Nabua and Soasoa lockdowns have been lifted.308
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300 http://www.health.gov.fj/mobile-fever-clinics-services-for-the-suva-lockdown-zone/ 301 https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Suva-Lockdown-can-and-will-easily-be-extended-if-enough-people-are-not-screened---PM-4f8rx5/ 302 http://www.health.gov.fj/mobile-fever-clinics-to-be-deployed-to-lami-on-tuesday-21-april/ 303 http://www.health.gov.fj/media-center/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/media-releases/ 304 https://www.fijivillage.com/news/106-arrested-last-night-for-breach-of-COVID-19-restrictions-rf45x8/ 305 https://www.facebook.com/FijianGovernment/videos/though-the-suva-lockdown-is-lifted-every-other-health-protection-is-still-in-eff/211314596985637/ 306 https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Suva-Lockdown-can-and-will-easily-be-extended-if-enough-people-are-not-screened---PM-4f8rx5/ 307 http://www.health.gov.fj/statement-by-the-prime-minister-hon-voreqe-bainimarama-on-tc-harold-and-covid-19-measures/ 308 https://www.facebook.com/MoHFiji
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FRENCH POLYNESIA (Fr.) Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Resources Considerations Measures/Access
Dengue type 2 Officials have suspended Direction de la Sante (Health French Polynesia outbreak started in entry of non-resident Directorate) website on COVID-19: COVID-19 Total Case Trend April 2019. Cases travelers to French Polynesia https://www.service- 100 still circulating.309310 since 28 March.313314 public.pf/dsp/covid-19/ 90 Direction de la Sante (Health 80 Cyclone season All passengers arriving on an between Nov.- international flight will be Directorate) latest news: 70 https://www.service- 60 March; Nov.-April is required to self-quarantine the wet season.311 on Tahiti for 14 days. Travel public.pf/dsp/covid-19/situation- 50 coronavirus-covid-19/ to other islands will be 40 On 21 May, French 30 granted only after the 14- Crisis Cell Bulletins: Polynesia lifted 315 https://www.service- 20 day period. internal restrictions public.pf/dsp/covid-19/communique- 10 imposed in March. Officials have temporarily cellule-crise/ 0 Gatherings of any banned cruise ships from 9-Jun 10-Jun 11-Jun 12-Jun 13-Jun 14-Jun 15-Jun 16-Jun size and domestic arriving.316 State services in French Polynesia travel is now (COVID-19 news): Scheduled flights between http://www.polynesie- allowed and schools Paris and Papeete are francaise.pref.gouv.fr/index.php//Actua are re-opened and 0 Deaths – 60* confirmed cases as of 16 JUN expected to resume next lites/Communiques-de-presse/2020
*No new cases since 5 MAY the night time 317 312 month. COVID-19 Data Repository by CSSE at JHU, updated to PREVIOUS day curfew was lifted. WHO in French Polynesia: https://www.who.int/frenchpolynesia for French Polynesia: https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19
Disaster Risk: French Polynesia is faced with a variety of disaster risks. These include tropical cyclones, sea level changes, storm surge, floods, tsunami, landslides, erosion, drought, climate change, and disease outbreaks.318319320321
French Polynesia is a French overseas territory comprised of around 35 volcanic islands and about 183 low-lying coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, of which 67 are inhabited. This includes the island groups of the Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora-Bora), Marquesas Islands (Hiva Oa and Ua Huka), and Austral Islands (Tubuai and Rurutu). It covers 4,167 million square kilometers, with a land area of 3,521 square kilometers. The
309 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/406393/dengue-outbreak-stabilises-in-french-polynesia-authorities 310 https://reliefweb.int/report/french-polynesia-france/la-dengue-2-toujours-pr-sente 311 https://www.frommers.com/destinations/french-polynesia/planning-a-trip/when-to-go 312 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/417162/french-polynesia-lifts-covid-19-restrictions 313 https://fj.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/ 314 https://www.service-public.pf/dsp/covid-19/ 315 https://fj.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/ 316 https://fj.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/ 317 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/418019/quarantine-terms-debated-for-french-overseas-territories 318 https://reliefweb.int/country/pyf 319 https://www.frommers.com/destinations/french-polynesia/planning-a-trip/when-to-go 320 https://library.wmo.int/doc_num.php?explnum_id=6371 321 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fp.html
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population is approximately 295,121 (2020 est.). French Polynesia is divided into five administrative units: Austral Islands, Windward Islands, Marquesas Islands, Leeward Islands and Tuamotu-Gambier. 322323324325 The head of state is a high commissioner appointed by the president of France. The head of government is a president elected by the Assembly, comprised of representatives elected by vote.326
National organization response The Directorate of Health (Direction de la Sante) is a directorate of the government of French Polynesia. It carries out public health objectives and is responsible to coordinate, implement and monitor public health activities. It also provides management of public health facilities.327 The Institut Louis Malardé (ILM) is a public institution, under the Minister of Research which provides coronavirus testing. The ILM also conducts analysis, research and trading in the fields of health, environment, hygiene and food. (https://www.ilm.pf/qui-sommes-nous/) The first confirmed COVID-19 case in Polynesia was recorded on 10 March 2020. As of 2 June, 60 cases in total were recorded. The largest confirmed cluster of 29 people was identified on an Ecuadorian fishing vessel on 20 May.328 Those on the vessel are considered as part of a different count of cases since they are considered to be in transit. One person from the vessel was hospitalized in Taaone.329330 The French Polynesia COVID-19 Crisis Cell, under the leadership of the Minister of Health, was created in March. This unit is based on five areas of action: 1) Communication and community engagement, 2) Health operations and technical expertise 3) Operational and logistical support, 4) Administration and finances, and 5) Information and planning.331 On 21 May, French Polynesia lifted internal restrictions imposed in March. President Edouard Fritch and French High Commissioner Dominique Sorain jointly made the announcement after determining that the COVID- 19 virus stopped circulating in the territory.332 No state of emergency was declared.333 Travelers to French Polynesia are required to show a health certificate, dated within five days of departure, certifying that they are free of infection. Passengers are also required to fill out a health questionnaire while on the flight and to list where they are staying for the 14-day self-quarantine.334 The French government is exploring easing quarantine restrictions in an effort to revive the tourism industry. Leaders in French Polynesia have also been discussing the idea of exempting some visitors to high-end destinations, such as Bora Bora, by creating “special travel corridors.”335 The Crisis Cell, the Directorate of Health, the Regulatory Agency for Health and Social Action (ARASS) and the Country's IT Department have been working to adapt software specialized in the prevention and monitoring of epidemics, called FIRIORA. The FIRIORA platform is intended to monitor the COVID-19 cases and will later be able to provide surveillance of people arriving in the territory.336
322 https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/french-polynesia 323 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fp.html 324 https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/french-polynesia 325 https://uk.france.fr/en/news/article/french-overseas-territories 326 https://iris.wpro.who.int/handle/10665.1/13943 327 http://www.ville-papeete.pf/preview.php?id=66 328 https://www.service-public.pf/dsp/2020/05/29/situation-coronavirus-290520/ 329 https://reliefweb.int/map/world/epidemic-and-emerging-disease-alerts-pacific-25-may-2020 330 http://www.looptonga.com/global-news/more-residents-repatriated-tahiti-after-covid-19-wait-france-92351 331 https://www.service-public.pf/dsp/2020/03/23/article-note-presse-cellule-crise-230320/ 332 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/417162/french-polynesia-lifts-covid-19-restrictions 333 https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/wpro---documents/dps/outbreaks-and-emergencies/covid-19/covid-19-external-situation-report- 13.pdf?sfvrsn=604af9a9_2 334 https://fj.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/ 335 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/418019/quarantine-terms-debated-for-french-overseas-territories 336 https://www.service-public.pf/dsp/2020/05/28/article-cellule-note-presse-crise-280520/
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Dengue outbreak: According to the latest health watch bulletin, 19 new cases of dengue type 2 were confirmed between 6 April and 3 May. Since the outbreak began in April 2019, 2,882 people have been affected. A total of 15 islands have been affected by the outbreak. The newest island to be affected is Raivavae. The other affected islands are Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Huahine, Taha'a, Rangiroa, Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Hiva Oa, Ua Huka, Fatu Hiva, Tubuai and Rurutu. The report also mentions "high" leptospirosis activity. Between 6 April and 3 May, 17 cases were confirmed.337 A major Zika outbreak occurred in French Polynesia from 2013 to 2014 that resulted in 30,000 cases before spreading to seven other island states in the Pacific.338 On 25 May, a group of 152 people landed back in Tahiti on a French-government chartered flight from France in another repatriation flight. The charter flies about every 10 days. Anyone landing in Tahiti from France must be tested for COVID-19 before departure and go into quarantine for two weeks on arrival. The flights also carry relief supplies from France, including pharmaceutical supplies and masks. Four more flights are planned until the end of June when airline services are expected to resume. 339 340
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The Red Cross said during the recent lockdown that nearly US$100,000 was spent on food for the poor as the need for help increased.341 PPE donated from the Jack Ma Foundation was utilized by the Pacific Humanitarian Pathway on COVID-19 (PHP-C) in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO) to donate 55,000 facial masks and 20,000 protective masks to Pacific Island Forum (PIF) countries. French Polynesia received 10% of supplies.342343
Country-specific planning considerations
Quarantine facilities: On 20 May the government issued new quarantine rules after previous ones were found to be illegal. In a new ordinance, arriving travelers must go into quarantine for 14 days in either facilities set up by the government or at home. The new rules were introduced after an administrative court ruled that it was illegal not to give an individual a choice of venue.344 In March, officials decided to take care of homeless people in emergency accommodation facilities in response to the outbreak345 The government recently said many have since left the state-funded shelters.346 The government gave a quarter of a million US dollars to local association, To Torea, to assist.347
Health: The Centre Hospitalier de la Polynésie Française (CHPF, also known as the French Polynesia Hospital) is the national referral hospital. Public hospitals are located in Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea and Nuku Hiva islands, and there are an additional 115 public health facilities. The population is covered by social health insurance.348 Every 349 island also has a government clinic.
Security: No significant COVID-19 related security incidents to report. Return to TOC
337 https://reliefweb.int/report/french-polynesia-france/la-dengue-2-toujours-pr-sente 338 https://www.ghsindex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-Global-Health-Security-Index.pdf 339 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/416444/more-french-polynesians-repatriated-from-france 340 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/417432/more-residents-repatriated-to-tahiti-after-covid-19-wait-in-france 341 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/417085/french-polynesia-updates-covid-19-quarantine-rules 342 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/414837/first-covid-19-supplies-arrive-through-forum-s-pathway-programme 343 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/417548/who-pif-medical-supplies-arrive-in-fiji 344 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/417085/french-polynesia-updates-covid-19-quarantine-rules 345 https://www.service-public.pf/dsp/2020/05/28/article-cellule-note-presse-crise-280520/ 346 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/03/coronavirus-in-the-pacific-weekly-briefing 347 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/417802/tahiti-homeless-quit-covid-19-shelters 348 https://iris.wpro.who.int/handle/10665.1/13943 349 https://www.frommers.com/destinations/french-polynesia/planning-a-trip/health--safety
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GUAM (U.S.) Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Resources Considerations Measures/Access
Guam is an The Governor extended the Guam Dept. of Public Health Guam COVID-19 Total Case Trend unincorporated Public Health Emergency until and Social Services, COVID-19: territory of the U.S. 30 May, by signing on 30 APR http://dphss.guam.gov/covid- 200 and is home to Joint Executive Order 2020-11, which 19/ 195 Region Marianas also establishes the Pandemic COVID-19 Cases Database 190 (JRM), which Conditions of Readiness (PCOR) 185 https://github.com/CSSEGISan oversees Naval Base System as part of the 180 dData/COVID-19 175 Guam, Andersen Air Governor’s Chålan Para 170 Force Base, and the Hinemlo’ recovery plan.351 The Guam Homeland Security 165 other military Office of Civil Defense page 160 Travel restrictions and a installations that posts daily updates on 155 mandatory 14-day quarantine in 150 occupy the island. information on COVID-19. a government facility for those https://www.ghs.guam.gov Guam has developed, arriving on the island are but limited, medical currently imposed.352 Governor Leon Guerrero’s resources and Facebook Page is: President Trump made a infrastructure. Guam https://www.facebook.com/g disaster declaration 28 MAR for 5 Deaths – 186 confirmed cases as of 16 JUN has 168,000 ovlouguam/ the territory of Guam, ordering residents and COVID-19 Data Repository by CSSE at JHU updated to PREVIOUS federal assistance to approximately 6,000 Pandemic Conditions of day for Guam: https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 supplement local efforts in U.S. service Readiness (PCOR) System 353 members.350 areas affected by COVID-19. http://www.investguam.com/ roadtorecovery/
Disaster Risk:
Guam is a U.S. territory vulnerable to storms during the wet season and destructive tropical cyclones.354 Guam is extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change because of its small size, geographical remoteness, and exposure to threats such as sea-level rise and increased storm surge.355 Guam has a 50-60% chance of being struck by a strong tropical storm this year (2020), and a 25-30% chance of getting a Category 1 typhoon, per a National Weather Service assessment issued 10 JUN.356
National organization response
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Guam coordinates and facilitates all Government of Guam, Military, and Federal Liaison Response Agencies and their resources in mitigating, preparing, responding, and recovering from any and all types of emergencies in order to protect the lives, environment, and property of the island of Guam. The OCD website is: (http://ghs.guam.gov).357 The OCD page posts daily updates on information on COVID-19. The Guam Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (GUAM CEMP) is the master operations document for the Territory of Guam in responding to all emergencies, and all catastrophic, major, and minor disasters. The
350 https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/guams-growing-coronavirus-challenge/ 351 http://dphss.guam.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/JIC-Release-No.-101-Governor-Signs-Executive-Order-2020-11-Public-Health-Emergency- Extended.docx.pdf 352 https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/guams-growing-coronavirus-challenge/ 353 https://www.postguam.com/news/local/white-house-announces-guam-a-major-disaster-area/article_a2ef94c8-7162-11ea-8843-6b16b912cea2.html 354 https://www.britannica.com/place/Guam 355 https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/50118ddce4b0d78fd4e59ba3 356 https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2020/06/10/nws-guam-has-25-chance-cat-1-typhoon-year/5330983002/ 357 https://www.preventionweb.net/organizations/4449/view
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GUAM CEMP describes the basic strategies, assumptions, operational objectives, and mechanisms through which the Guam Emergency Operations Center Emergency Support Function (EOC ESF) Team will mobilize resources and conduct activities to guide and support local emergency management efforts through preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. The GUAM CEMP provides for integration of territorial response operations with the federal agencies responding to emergency situations in Guam at the request of the Governor. If on-hand island resources, and capabilities, whether public or private, are exhausted, additional resources may be requested from other states through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), from the Department of Defense through the Defense Coordinating Officer (DCO), or his representatives, and from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO).358
On 28 March U.S. President Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the territory of Guam and ordered Federal assistance to supplement territory and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. FEMA also announced that federal emergency aid has been made available for Guam. Robert J. Fenton from FEMA was named the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.359 FEMA’s webpage is: (https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus/best-practices). On March 22, President Trump directed the Secretary of Defense to permit full federal reimbursement through FEMA for states’ use of their National Guard forces. This provides Governors continued command of their National Guard forces, while being federally funded under Title 32. Each state’s National Guard is still under the authority of the Governor and is working in concert with the DoD.360
An Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) is being built on Naval Base Guam by NMCB-5. The EMF will provide expanded medical capabilities in support of DoD’s COVID-19 response and will enable forces to be postured to support Guam and the region if a Defense Support of Civil Authorities mission is requested.361 The purpose of the EMF is to provide care to people who may be infected with the virus. In order to make sure that bringing the personnel to Guam didn’t inadvertently spread the virus, movements of CBMU 303 personnel and cargo were made with the proper personal protection gear on and the Sailors from CBMU 303 were immediately put into a 14-day restriction of movement (ROM) onboard Naval Base Guam after they arrived. When they safely complete their ROM and are verified as COVID free, they will begin construction of the EMF. A skilled and dedicated team of U.S. Navy Seabees are providing engineering and logistics support to the EMF.362
The U.S. territorial government is preparing to further ease COVID-19 restrictions from moderate to minimum.363 Guam is on track to move to Pandemic Condition of Readiness 3, which imposes minimum restrictions, by 1 JUL, per government medical advisor Dr. Felix Cabrera. Guam is currently in Condition of Readiness 2, which imposes moderate restrictions. As of June 8, the rolling positivity rate for the island was .34%, much lower than the 3% target set by the administration to further ease pandemic-related restrictions. The government has been performing hundreds more tests each day, with few or no positive results.364
Taiwan made one of the largest donations to Guam during the COVID-19 crisis in mid-May, comprised of 200,000 protective face masks for healthcare and frontline workers. As of 9 JUN, Vice Speaker Telena Cruz Nelson and Speaker Tina Muna Barnes presented Resolution 328-35 expressing gratitude for Taiwan’s donation.
358 https://ghs.guam.gov/sites/default/files/a_basic_cemp_v8_12_13_16.pdf 359 https://www.postguam.com/news/local/white-house-announces-guam-a-major-disaster-area/article_a2ef94c8-7162-11ea-8843-6b16b912cea2.html 360 https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus/governments 361 https://www.facebook.com/pg/NavyExpeditionaryCombatCommand/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10163273851135632 362 https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/2161083/pacific-seabees-demonstrate-expeditionary-expertise-support-covid-19-flight/ 363 https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/us-military-prepares-to-loosen-restrictions-on-guam-as-coronavirus-infections-drop-1.633131 364 https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2020/06/09/guam-coronavirus-positive-test-rate-drops-covid-19-testing-increases/5324228002/
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The 200,000 masks came from the China Medical University Hospital in Taichung, Taiwan, which has treated several patients from Guam in recent years.365
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society)
The American Red Cross of Guam serves all 19 villages in Guam. It is assisting with response and blood banks.366
Country-specific planning considerations
Health Information: There is a current dengue outbreak in Guam.367 Guam has elevated rates of noncommunicable diseases like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease leading to a larger population of health- compromised individuals who may have elevated risk factors for COVID-19. Forecast models indicate Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) and Skilled Nursing Units may reach maximum capacity (250 beds) this week, even if all non-COVID-19 patients can be relocated to Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC), a 136-bed acute care hospital. It is important to note that GMH, the island’s primary healthcare facility, has struggled to retain accreditation and is frequently at maximum capacity, even under normal circumstances. Guam’s public health director confirms the number of coronavirus tests that have been performed by the Department of Public Health and Social Services. There is no on-island V.A. for military.368
Quarantine Information: If you travel to Guam, you will be subject to quarantine at a government-designated facility, even if transiting. You may only be exempt if you have a Government of Guam recognized and certified medical certificate confirming you are not infected with COVID-19; issued within 72 hours of arrival.369
Security: Entry restrictions implemented 21 FEB. Governor Lou Leon Guerrero has declared a state of public health emergency in Guam. All government travel on Guam has been cancelled. 370
U.S. Department of Defense: The U.S. military on Guam plans to ease base restrictions for service members, civilians and their families, and resume limited services early next week, as of 10 JUN. Details of the loosened restrictions are still being worked out. The plan to loosen restrictions comes as COVID-19 cases drop, due to measures mitigating transmission.371 The military on Guam cared for sailors off the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which arrived there 27 MAR, after a COVID-19 outbreak onboard. Per 10 JUN reporting, a DOD-issued report revealed that antibody testing showed 2/3 of USS Theodore Roosevelt volunteers who participated in a study had been infected with COVID- 19, and most were mildly ill. Notable findings included that 18.5% of service members who were identified as having a current or previous infection did not report any symptoms, loss of taste or smell was the symptom most associated with current or previous infection, and those who reported taking preventive measures had a lower infection rate compared to those who did not (wearing a face covering - 55.8% v. 80.8% infection rate; avoiding common areas - 53.8% v. 67.5%; and observing social distancing - 54.7% v. 70.0%).372 Return to TOC
365 https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2020/06/09/guam-health-front-liners-get-masks-taiwan/3173616001/ 366 https://www.redcross.org/local/guam.html 367 https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/guam 368 https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/guams-growing-coronavirus-challenge/ 369 https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/pacific/guam 370 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/411810/covid-19-three-cases-confirmed-on-guam-emergency-declared 371 https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/us-military-prepares-to-loosen-restrictions-on-guam-as-coronavirus-infections-drop-1.633131 372 https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2020/06/10/2-3-sailors-uss-theodore-roosevelt-study-had-covid-19-exposure/5331268002/
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INDIA Return to TOC COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Considerations Measures/Access Resources
India TC Amphan made landfall 20 India ends lockdown, with the first COVID-19 website: May in West Bengal. 373 “unlock” phase 1-30 JUN.378 https://www.mygov.i 400,000 COVID-19 Total Case Trend n/covid-19/ 350,000 Indian Govt. suspended visas Air India has announced additional and quarantining all incoming commercially operated evacuation Flight/border 300,000 374 travelers. flights departing from India to restrictions: 250,000 international destinations, https://in.usembassy.go 200,000 Domestic flight services to v/covid-19-information/ resume 25 May. Railways including the United States, to 150,000 evacuate stranded Indian citizens. Ministry of Home Affairs remain closed until 30 June.375 100,000 U.S. persons eligible to travel on https://www.mha.gov.in
50,000 Restricted access to human these flights. Tickets made Ministry of Health and 379 rights organizations and available 30 MAY. Family Welfare: international NGOs and foreign https://www.mohfw.gov The GoI has decided to re-start staff.376 .in domestic air travel beginning 25 MOHFW helpline: 11,903 Deaths – 354,065 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN Curfew remains 7pm-7am for May.380 +91-11-23978046
all non-essential activities.377 (Toll Free: 1075)
Source: COVID-19 Dashboard & Repository by the Center On 18 May, Air India announced for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins Maharashtra is India’s worst international evacuation flights Central Help Line departing from India. Foreign numbers for States and University: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html ; affected stated accounting for Union Territories at: rd https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 1/3 of the country’s cases. citizens in India are eligible to use https://www.mohfw.gov Mumbai and Pune are the these flights to return home, .in/pdf/coronvavirushelp worst affected cities in including flights to the U.S.381 linenumber.pdf Maharashtra.
SPECIAL SECTION – Tropical Cyclone (TC) Amphan: TC Amphan made landfall in eastern India and Bangladesh at 5pm local time 20 May, with sustained winds of 160km (100mph).382As of 26 MAY, nearly 60 million people were affected in India’s West Bengal and Odisha states, with at least 80 people killed in West Bengal alone. More than 700,000 people were evacuated across India and at least 80,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed. Extensive damage has been reported to thatched houses, standing crops, horticulture, and fisheries. Cyclone response is being impeded by disruptions in electricity, communication and transport networks. The authorities have instructed affected districts to ensure social distancing is maintained and other COVID-19 protective measures are adhered to during the evacuations.383 Odisha state’s four coastal districts of Bhadrak, Balasore, Kendrapada and Jagatsingpur suffered extensive damage. A total of 36 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have been working along with 100 teams of the Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC). Different agencies including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Civic agencies, and the Fire Brigade have also started relief and restoration work.384
373 https://reliefweb.int/report/india/tropical-cyclone-amphan-threatens-india-and-bangladesh 374 https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/03/quarantine-india-covid-19-coronavirus/ 375 https://www.india-briefing.com/news/covid-19-india-latest-updates-business-advisory-20322.html/ 376 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/20200420_acaps_short_note_jammu_and_kashmir_lockdown.pdf 377 https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/covid-19-govt-extends-lockdown-by-two-more-weeks/article31482605.ece 378 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-in-india-spreading-fast-as-covid-19-lockdown-moves-unlock-phase-today-2020-06-01/ 379 https://in.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 380 https://static.mygov.in/rest/s3fs-public/mygov_159004757451307401.pdf 381 https://in.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 382 https://reliefweb.int/report/india/india-bangladesh-tropical-cyclone-amphan-update-dg-echo-gdacs-un-ocha-imd-bmd-media 383 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ROAP_Snapshot_200526.pdf 384 https://reliefweb.int/report/india/super-cyclonic-storm-amphan-causes-havoc-parts-west-bengal-odisha
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In northeastern India’s Assam and Sikkim states heavy rain caused extensive flooding and landslide, leading to two people injured and one fatality after a landslide in North Sikkim District on 24 MAY and damaged road and bridge infrastructure. More than 30,000 people across 5 districts have been affected, with some 9,000 people displaced to 33 relief camps.385
Disaster Risk: The INFORM Global Risk Index’s overall ranking for India is 29 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk) for disasters.386 India is exposed floods, cyclones, droughts, and earthquakes.387 India’s INFORM COVID-19 risk is 4.6/10, placing it in the “medium” COVID risk class (10 indicating highest risk).388
National organization response: India’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has overall responsibility for disaster management along with India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). It has posted orders and guidelines on its MHA website found here: (https://www.mha.gov.in/). India’s government has ordered implementation of lockdown measures in response to COVID-19, as per guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act 2005.389 The State Governments are responsible for the primary function of coordinating disaster management activities. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) is headed by the Chief Minister of each state.390 India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is keeping the public informed of developments via the its website at: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/ MoHFW also hosts a toll-free psycho-social helpline for citizens dealing with COVID-19 related stress, providing stress management including yoga and other training on its website. The country’s lockdown has significantly affected the economy with over 120 million people with job losses.391 The MoHFW released guidance on immunization services during the outbreak, urging that immunization health services were essential and needed to be continued to protect children and pregnant women from vaccine- preventable diseases. The guidance, “Immunization Services during and post COVID-19 Outbreak,” can be found at: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/3ImmunizationServicesduringCOVIDOutbreakSummary150520202.pdf More than 60% of COVID-19 cases are in five cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad said V.K. Paul, chair of Empowered Group-1, a group set up to help tackle the COVID-19 crisis.392 The government has divided India into three color-coded zones which are continuously monitored for rise and fall in cases: red zones, with "significant risk of spread of the infection"; green zones, with either zero cases or no confirmed cases in the past 21 days; and orange zones in between. Red and orange zones will continue to have intensified contact tracing, house-to-house surveillance, and no movement in or out, except for medical emergencies and the supply of essential goods and services, according to a Ministry of Home Affairs statement.393 Some lockdown restrictions were relaxed for economic activity in low-risk areas, as of 4 May.394 Lockdown ended, with the first unlock phase from 1-30 JUN, despite rising COVID-19 cases and fatalities. Most businesses can resume and most movement restrictions on people and goods are lifted. Inter-state travel resumed as 200 more trains went into operation 1 JUN, after only 35 special trains had been running for several weeks to help stranded migrant workers return home from cities.395 However, schools and colleges remain shut.396 It's the biggest change in the rules since March 25 India hit the highest COVID-19 death toll in Asia on 28 MAY, when its 4.695 fatalities surpassed China’s 4,638 fatalities. Government experts acknowledge the outbreak will not peak until June or July.397
385 https://reliefweb.int/report/india/india-flooding-and-landslide-asdma-floodlist-imd-media-echo-daily-flash-26-may-2020 386 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 387 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/DMHA-Resources/Disaster-Management-Reference-Handbooks 388 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 389 https://www.mha.gov.in/ 390 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/DMHA-Resources/Disaster-Management-Reference-Handbooks 391 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52698828 392 https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-coronavirus-lockdown-may-22-2020-live-updates/article31646810.ece 393 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/india-coronavirus-lockdown-extended-weeks-easing-200501141218380.html 394 https://finance.yahoo.com/news/asia-today-no-cases-n-023134743.html 395 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-in-india-spreading-fast-as-covid-19-lockdown-moves-unlock-phase-today-2020-06-01/ 396 https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/06/08/871829309/india-reopens-public-places-even-as-coronavirus-cases-rise 397 https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3086614/indias-coronavirus-deaths-overtake-chinas-stretched-doctors
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A mandatory COVID-19 tracing application ‘The Aarogya Setu App’ is required for all government and private sector employees in India which uses location and personal data to aid the country’s contact tracing efforts.398 It has prompted concerns of security and privacy issues for citizens of which developers of the app refute.399 The Federal Government sent support teams to assist with managing outbreak in 10 states including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi.400 India’s Prime Minister announced a COVID-19 Rescue Package for citizens of $260 Billion (approximately 10% of India’s GDP) to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic.401 India is working with Arab Gulf states for large-scale repatriation of migrant workers stranded by the pandemic, which officials say could bring home 192,000 Indians by mid-June in first wave alone.402 Testing for COVID-19 has been scaled up significantly, with India reportedly conducting around 100,000 tests per day.403 The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said there has been a 1000-fold increase in the number of COVID-19 tests done per day in the last two months. More than 2.5 million tests had been done as of 21 MAY, according to ICMR.404 During the lockdown, Maharashtra, India’s worst affected state, has used drones to monitor physical distancing and applied a cluster containment strategy: if three or more patients are diagnosed, all houses within 3 km are surveyed to detect further cases, trace contacts, and raise awareness.405 Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected state in India with more than half the national tally followed by Tamil Nadu. Both are “red” states who extended their lockdown to 31 May before the 17 May announcement to extend.406Maharashtra released separate guidelines for lockdown.407 Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that noted Indian public health expert and epidemiologist Giridhara R Babu, Professor and Head of Life Course Epidemiology at the Public Health Foundation of India, cautioned that India may witness cases peaking in mid-July if the current lockdown is lifted at the end of May, but also hoped that there could be a “lower surge” due to measures taken in the past two months.408 Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on 22 May became chair of the WHO Executive Board.409 Air India announced commercially operated evacuation flights from India to international destinations, including the U.S., to evacuate stranded Indian citizens. U.S. persons are eligible, tickets available 30 MAY.410 India's Supreme Court issued notices to the federal and state governments on the "deplorable condition" of treatment of COVID-19 patients. "In one case, a body was found in the garbage," said the court. "Patients are dying and nobody is there to even attend to them." New Delhi's health centers are very strained and the state government's deputy chief minister, Manish Sisodia, projected a worst-case scenario in which the number of infections in the capital - already at nearly 35,000 - could reach 550,000 by the end of July.411
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) On 14 May, the World Bank approved US$1 billion for the 'Accelerating India's COVID-19 Social Protection Response Program' to support India’s social assistance to the poor and vulnerable households, severely impacted by the pandemic. Total commitment from the World Bank towards emergency COVID-19 response in India is now US$2
398 https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/aarogya-setu-app-mandatory-massive-showdown-erupts-congress-calls-it-surveillance-system-centre- defends/587357 399 https://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/aarogya-setu-responds-to-hacker-s-claim-of-privacy-issue/story-tkQsplRpupawXuy3XlfPYI.html 400 https://www.india-briefing.com/news/covid-19-india-latest-updates-business-advisory-20322.html/ 401 https://www.npr.org/2020/05/13/855096170/indias-prime-minister-announces-260-billion-covid-19-rescue-package 402 https://www.wsj.com/articles/india-prepares-large-scale-repatriation-of-workers-stranded-by-pandemic-11588620671 403 https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/05/india-states-covid-federalism-kerala.html 404 https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/indias-covid-19-tally-crosses-1-16-lakh-govt-says-mortality-rate-less-than-half-of-global-average-88009 405 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30938-7/fulltext 406 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52698828 407 https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/coronavirus/news/maharashtra-lockdown-4-0-guidelines-full-list-of-whats-allowed-whats-not-in-red-zones- mumbai-pune-thane-navi-mumbai-parlours-salons-taxis-ubers-not-allowed/articleshow/75825929.cms 408 https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/indias-covid-19-tally-crosses-1-16-lakh-govt-says-mortality-rate-less-than-half-of-global-average-88009 409 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/coronavirus-roundup-developments-in-india-and-rest-of-world/articleshow/75895849.cms 410 https://in.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 411 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/coronavirus-dead-treated-worse-animals-india-court-200612081132683.html
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billion.412 The WHO Country Office for India has been working closely with India’s Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) on preparedness & response measures including surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory diagnosis, risk communications and community engagement, hospital preparedness, infection prevention and control, and implementation of containment plan.413 UNFPA partnered with Patna Municipal Corporation in Bihar to provide essential services to pregnant women and the elderly, including free travel assistance to health facilities, which is a lifeline during lockdown.414 The Indian Red Cross Society is collecting units of blood and distributing food packets, face masks, medicine, and other aid.415 A recent avalanche in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand blocked access to the Gangotri National Hospital for days, but the Indian Red Cross provided relief & other essential commodities to villagers cut-off due to the heavy landslide.416 IFRC is present in the country and is working through the Country Cluster Support Team (CCST) office in New Delhi. ICRC is also present in the country as well as the Qatar Red Crescent and Canadian Red Cross. All are coordinating with each other for TC Amphan response.417 The ACT Alliance reported that India Forum, through Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) and Lutheran World Service India Trust (LWSIT) are coordinating with state level Inter-Agency Groups, Sphere India, and GO-NGO to help ensure an efficient response to TC Amphan. The Forum is also planning to respond to the pandemic through the “ACT Alliance Global Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic-ACT 201” (global appeal).418419 HelpAge is organizing food distributions for marginalized older populations in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and other cities. The group assists around 10-12,000 people a day.420 ECHO reports that EUR 500,000 from the Acute Large Emergency Response Tool (ALERT) was allocated on 21 May for humanitarian needs in West Bengal state.421 USAID has provided US$5.9 million to assist India in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak, as of 8 JUN.422 On 16 JUN, the U.S. Ambassador to India handed over to the Indian Red Cross Society 100 ventilators donated by USAID. The equipment, valued at US$1.2 million, builds on the $9.5 million that USAID and the US CDC committed to India in response to COVID-19 to strengthen critical care, disease surveillance and more.423
Country-specific planning considerations India surpassed the UK to become the fourth worst-hit nation by COVID-19 on 12 JUN with more than 297,000 confirmed cases, behind only the U.S., Brazil and Russia.424 Mumbai surpassed the epicenter Wuhan at its peak, recording at least 51,000 COVID-19 cases 9 JUN.425 India has 200 confirmed COVID-19 cases per million (CPM) people, compared to 136 CPM in Japan, 232 CPM in South Korea, 925 CPM globally, 3325 CPM in Russia, 3479 CPM in Brazil, 5981 CPM in the U.S., 6179 in Peru, and 7468 in Chile, as of 10 JUN.426 Health Information: India’s MoHFW has created a process for suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 in which patients are categorized into three groups and managed in the respective COVID hospitals. Screening is being done at “Fever clinics.” Suspected cases go directly to a COVID dedicated facility. Mild and very mild cases are admitted to designated COVID Care Centers (hotels, lodges, hostels, stadiums). Moderate cases are admitted to a dedicated
412 https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/coronavirus-india-live-updates-economic-package-lockdown-extension-migrant-workers- covid-19-global-cases-death-toll-maharashtra-delhi-china-usa-latest-news-120051500117_1.html 413 https://www.who.int/india/emergencies/novel-coronavirus-2019 414 https://asiapacific.unfpa.org/en/news/indias-bihar-state-lifesaving-support-pregnant-women-and-new-mothers-amid-covid-19 415 https://indianredcross.org/ircs/sites/default/files/IRCS%20COVID19%20Bulletin%20No.%2022_0.pdf 416 https://indianredcross.org/ircs/sites/default/files/IRCS%20COVID19%20Bulletin%20No.%2022_0.pdf 417 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/MDRIN025do.pdf 418 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ALERT-Bangladesh-India-Cyclone-Amphan.pdf 419 https://actalliance.org/appeals-rapid-response-funds/global-act-alliance-global-response-to-the-covid-19-pandemic-act201/ 420 https://reliefweb.int/report/india/pandemic-has-exposed-and-exacerbated-neglect-older-people-india 421 https://reliefweb.int/report/india/india-bangladesh-tropical-cyclone-amphan-update-dg-echo-gdacs-un-ocha-imd-bmd-media 422 https://www.usaid.gov/india/fact-sheets/bolstering-india-preparedness-and-response-covid-19 423 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-hands-over-1st-shipment-of-100-ventilators-to-india-as-covid-19-assistance/articleshow/76405602.cms 424 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/india-fourth-worst-hit-nation-297000-coronavirus-cases-200612041115779.html 425 https://news.yahoo.com/mumbai-overtakes-wuhan-peak-india-045736927.html 426 https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/rate-confirmed-cases-vs-rate-confirmed-deaths ; https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/total-covid-cases-deaths-per-million?time=2020-03-13..
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COVID Health Center. Severe cases such as patients with breathing issues are admitted to a dedicated COVID Hospital with an ICU facility. All admitted patients are tested for COVID-19. There are further procedures for patients testing negative and positive.427 Accurately accounting for COVID-19 fatalities may be a challenge, since 80% of deaths occur at home.428
Migrants: Since India commenced lockdown on 24 MAR, millions of Indian daily-wage earners have been stranded in urban centers. Some people were permitted people to go home to their villages through state government facilitation, but these were quickly overrun. Thousands of others have been placed in quarantine centers and relief camps.429 The 24 MAR lockdown led to an unprecedented reverse migration from India’s cities as workers abruptly jobless rushed to inter-state buses and trains, which were shut down along with most businesses. Many walked miles in desperation -- some reached their villages, but others became stranded and forced into makeshift camps. Workers have initiated 4 demonstrations, clashing with police over the past 7 weeks demanding the right to go home.430 On 15 MAY, Union Home Secretary announced to Chief Secretaries of states/UTs that there is no movement of migrant workers on roads and railway tracks, and to facilitate their movement through special buses or Shramik special trains after migrants were still being noticed in several parts of the country. They are taken to nearby shelters and provided food/water until transportation is available.431 Kerala state set up thousands of shelters for migrant workers.432 Some workers continue to make their way to their home villages, many of whom are on foot. District officials requesting the state government to accommodate them until after the current TC AMPHAN storm passes.433 Monitoring and testing of the migrants who have returned home may accelerate or widen the spread of the virus and officials are watching for the 2 week incubation period to trace the impact of not only the migrations but also the ease in lockdown restrictions for the country.434
Quarantine Information: The Narela Quarantine Center is among the largest in India for housing those suspected of having COVID-19. It was established by the Delhi Government in mid-March. The Indian Army has taken over the responsibility of managing the Narela Quarantine Center in Delhi during the daytime and medical staff are managing it at night. The Indian Army is also running quarantine centers for civilians at Jodhpur, Jaiselmer, and Manesar. This is in addition to quarantine centers set up at military stations for defense personnel. To account for isolation and treatment (including ICU-based care) for COVID-19 cases, orders notifying 50 Armed Forces hospitals as dedicated COVID hospitals and mixed COVID hospitals have been issued. These hospitals have a combined bed capacity of 9,038 patients. 100 medical officers from recruiting organizations are being detailed to work in hospitals where COVID wards are being established.435
Security: ACLED warns that the evacuation and housing of populations in shelters due to TC Amphan may lead to a rise in disorder as people fear sharing public space during the pandemic. In West Bengal clashes occurred last week after Muslim citizens were barred from using public toilets after reports of positive COVID-19 cases in their neighborhood. ACLED says that reports say the attacks were systematically coordinated towards the Muslim population and this is part of an alarming trend across the country.436 17,000 prisoners in Maharashtra Prisons department were granted temporary parole437 and in Delhi, 1,056 convicts have been released on emergency parole, and thousands more have been released under interim bail, personal bond and granted special remission due to coronavirus concerns.438 Return to TOC
427 https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/FinalGuidanceonMangaementofCovidcasesversion2.pdf 428 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52435463 429 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52475387 430 https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3083167/coronavirus-modis-lockdown-leaves-india-facing-future-without 431 https://news.abplive.com/news/india/coronavirus-india-lockdown-4-live-updates-total-covid-19-death-and-active-cases-economy-package-news-1229071 432 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30938-7/fulltext 433 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52734259 434 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/migrants-to-be-tracked-focus-on-keeping-toll-low-centre/articleshow/75837356.cms?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=TOIIndiaNews 435 https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/army-takes-over-management-of-indias-largest-covid-quarantine-centre-in-delhi-73315 436 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/cyclone.pdf 437 http://www.rfi.fr/en/international/20200516-indian-inmates-released-from-overcrowded-jails-to-limit-covid-19-spread-lockdown 438 https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/three-days-after-first-covid-19-case-16-test-positive-at-rohini-jail-6412816/
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INDONESIA Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Considerations Measures/Access Resources
Multiple ongoing On 8 JUN, Jakarta partially eased Ministry of Health Indonesia COVID-19 Total Case Trend disasters within lockdown restrictions.441 On 26 (MOH) website: 45,000 Indonesia (Floods, May, TNI deployed 340,000 https://www.kemkes.go.id/ landslides, drought, soldiers to enforce safe distancing The MOH has set up an 43,000 volcanic activity), as well and wearing masks.442 information hotline. 41,000 as dengue outbreaks. On 5 JUN, domestic flights re- Details about the 39,000 Badan Nasional suspended by the Lion Air group, information hotline are 37,000 Penanggulangan which includes Batik Air and Wings available on its website Bencana (BNPB) Air, due to widespread issues with and: +62-21-5210411 or 35,000 reported approximately passengers not observing social +62-82-12123119.446 33,000 145,000 affected people distancing and health disclosure in Central Kalimantan rules.443 The National Task Force: 31,000 due to heavy rains since https://www.covid19.go.id On 23 APR, the government / 29,000 30 April. Flooding and suspended domestic flights in landslides also occurring MOFA – COVID Referral 27,000 regions under Large-Scale Social in several other places Hospitals 25,000 Movement Restrictions (PSBB) and across the country.439 https://kemlu.go.id/portal/ COVID-19 red zones. On 4 MAY a en/read/1126/siaran_pers/ Ibu and Sangeang limited number of domestic flights information-from-the- Volcanoes are active and were allowed, letting foreign indonesian-authority- 2,276 Deaths – 41,431 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN both remain under Alert nationals board domestic flights to about-the-list-of-corona- 440 transit to an outbound virus-referral-hospitals-in- Level II. indonesia international flight out of Jakarta. Source: COVID-19 Dashboard & Repository by the Center for Recent disasters International flights are still National Logistics Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University requiring international authorized to operate under this Cluster Concept of https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html ; assistance placed access policy.444 Operations Map: https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 restriction measures for https://reliefweb.int/map/i international aid Health certificates required as well ndonesia/indonesia- workers. as a travel endorsement letter for national-logistics-cluster- air transport.445 concept-operations-map- april-2020
Disaster Risk: The INFORM Global Risk Index’s overall ranking for Indonesia is 55 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk) for disasters and humanitarian crises. On INFORM’s COVID-19 Risk Index, Indonesia is assessed as being in the “medium” COVID risk class, based on its COVID risk of 4.4 on a scale of 1-10, where 10 indicates highest risk.447 Heavy rains have continued to cause disruption in parts of Indonesia. Heavy rain affected Bogor Regency in West Java Province on 19 May, causing flooding. According to the AHA Centre, almost 16,000 people have
439 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/DWeek_19_04-10May_2020-1.pdf 440 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/DWeek_19_04-10May_2020-1.pdf 441 https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/asia-today-zealand-succeeds-eradicating-coronavirus-71126119 442 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-indonesia-idUSKBN2320IJ 443 https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/indonesias-lion-air-restarts-flights-cancels-them-again/ar-BB150lkN?li=BBnb7Kz 444 https://id.usembassy.gov/health-alert-covid-19-update-47-u-s-embassy-jakarta/ 445 https://id.usembassy.gov/health-alert-covid-19-update-47-u-s-embassy-jakarta/ 446 https://id.usembassy.gov/health-alert-covid-19-update-46-u-s-embassy-jakarta/ 447 https://data.humdata.org/dataset/inform-covid-analysis-v01
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been affected in Gunung Putri and Parung Panjang districts.448 Heavy rains in recent days have triggered flooding in Aceh Timur, Aceh Jaya districts, in Aceh province, affecting around 3,000 people.449450 Lebak and Serang districts in Banten province are also experiencing flooding due to heavy rains and the increased volume of the Ciberang River, affecting close to 1,700 people.451452 Coastal flooding also occurred in Demak District, Central Java Province.453 Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains have affected parts of Indonesia over the past several weeks. Earlier this month, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said the rainy season, initially forecast to end in April, would last to May in Jakarta and June in other parts of Java.454
Indonesia COVID-19 Forecast Historical Events: Major events: 1400 Dec 2004 earthquake and tsunami: Nearly 170,000 people dead, more than 200,000 homes 1200 destroyed.
July 2011 floods: More than 680 1000 deaths, more than 13 million affected.455
800 Recent events: Sept 2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami: 2,227 deaths were 600 reported, and some 211,000 people were displaced456
400 2010 eruption of Mt. Merapi. At least 386 deaths and more than 457 200 300,000 people displaced. PACOM Response: December 2004: Indian Ocean 0 Earthquake and Tsunami.
May 2006: Yogyakarta -200 Earthquake.
September 2009: Padang, Sumatra Earthquakes.
3/1/2020 3/6/2020 4/5/2020 5/5/2020 6/4/2020 6/9/2020 7/4/2020 7/9/2020 3/11/2020 3/16/2020 3/21/2020 3/26/2020 3/31/2020 4/10/2020 4/15/2020 4/20/2020 4/25/2020 4/30/2020 5/10/2020 5/15/2020 5/20/2020 5/25/2020 5/30/2020 6/14/2020 6/19/2020 6/24/2020 6/29/2020 7/14/2020 7/19/2020 7/24/2020 7/29/2020 September 2018: Sulawesi New Cases Forecast Earthquake and Tsunami.458
National organization response The National Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Response was created on 13 March, chaired by the Head of BNPB (National Disaster Management Agency), Doni Monardo. He is also an active duty Army
448 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-floods-bmkg-aha-echo-daily-flash-22-may-2020 449 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-flood-aceh-timur-district-2200-may-16-2020 450 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-flooding-aceh-jaya-district-aceh-province-2220-may-16-2020 451 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-flooding-serang-district-banten-province-0000-may-13-2020 452 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-flooding-cipanas-area-lebak-district-banten-province-0343-may-13-2020 453 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-flooding-demak-district-central-java-province-2300-may-13-2020 454 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/floods-landslides-hit-regions-rainy-season-prolonged 455 https://reliefweb.int/report/thailand/thai-flood-2011-rapid-assessment-resilient-recovery-and-reconstruction-planning 456 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=twwMY081NH8%3d&portalid=0 457 https://www.usaid.gov/crisis/indonesia 458 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=twwMY081NH8%3d&portalid=0
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Lieutenant General. The National Task Force website https://www.covid19.go.id/ contains information about case developments, measures and educational material.459 Regional Task Forces have been created in 34 provinces and 249 districts/cities.460 On 20 April, the national response plan for COVID-19 was finalized. On 22 April, the MoH shared the plan with the National Board for Disaster Management, the COVID-19 Task Force, and to the Provincial Health Offices to be used for the creation of provincial response plans.461 Despite restrictions on people traveling for the Eid al-Fitr holiday this weekend, concerns have been raised over the number of people traveling from Jakarta back to their hometowns. The ban allows some people to travel if they provide proof of reasons to travel and a health certificate. The government had announced a ban on domestic air and sea travel at the start of Ramadan in an effort to contain the outbreak but has since eased some of those restrictions. In an effort to stem the movement, police set up checkpoints on main roads to try and prevent people from leaving the capital. According to Reuters, the country’s largest Islamic group, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), issued a fatwa urging Muslims to pray at home over the holidays rather than gather in mosques.462 On 18 May, the President of Indonesia reiterated that the Government had not eased Large-Scale Social Restrictions but is preparing a plan that would be implemented at the right time and under the right conditions, OCHA reported. The development of post-COVID-19 transition guidelines is led by the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture. The proposed guidelines will regulate efforts to re-start activities. According to OCHA, the transition will be implemented in phases, with the first phase being triggered by an at least 50 percent less cumulative new cases in seven days compared to the previous week, or no new cases.463 Social restriction measures are being implemented in DKI Jakarta, West Sumatra, Gorontalo, and West Java and 27 districts/cities. There are no regions that currently plan to terminate the social restriction measures, while their implementation in West Java is likely to be extended.464 Jakarta’s partial lockdown was extended until 4 June. The government banned the use of sea, inter-city land, and air transportation means, including commercial flights for international and domestic routes, from 24 April to 31 May, though this was modified on 4 May to allow a limited number of domestic flights and international flights out of Jakarta.465 Indonesia's Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the country’s poverty eradication efforts have been set back by at least a decade due to the pandemic and that 2 million people have lost their jobs over the past six weeks. According to Reuters, Indonesia's poverty rate was 12.36% in 2011, with nearly 30 million people considered poor. The rate was 9.22% in September, with 24.79 million people counted as poor. Indonesia expects economic growth this year could drop to 2.3%, down from 5.02% last year, or under the government's worst-case scenario contract -0.4%.466 The government on 18 May agreed upon emergency funding, cash payments totaling 1.8 million Indonesian rupiah ($121) that will target 23 million households and be disbursed over the next three months via the Ministries of Social Affairs and Villages and Underdeveloped Regions.467 The National Economic Recovery Program (PEN – Pemulihan Ekonomi Nasional), which was launched on 11 May, aims to protect, maintain and enhance the economic capabilities of businesses. During the pandemic, the PEN Program is aimed at maintaining and preventing business activities from further deterioration and
459 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-situation-update-covid-19-27-april-2020-enid 460 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-situation-update-covid-19-27-april-2020-enid 461 https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/searo/indonesia/covid19/who-situation-report-5.pdf?sfvrsn=f1d00104_2 462 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-eid-indonesia-trav/indonesias-covid-19-battle-faces-crucial-test-over-eid-holiday-idUSKBN22X0WF 463 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-situation-update-covid-19-18-may-2020-enid 464 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-situation-update-covid-19-18-may-2020-enid 465 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-situation-update-covid-19-27-april-2020-enid 466 https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-05-06/indonesia-warns-on-covid-19-poverty-setback-as-regional-elections-postponed 467 https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/an-idul-fitri-unlike-any-other-in-covid-19-challenged-indonesia/
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minimizing lay-offs. In a post pandemic situation, the program is expected to help accelerate economic recovery.468 According to a new report by the WFP, the economic sectors expected to be highly- to moderately- affected by the pandemic contributed 71% to the GDP in 2019. The sectors include manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, repairs, transportation and storage, accommodation and services. These sectors made up 41% of the Indonesian economy in 2019, employing 45% of the country’s total workforce. Additionally, an estimated 2.9 million to 5.2 million workers could lose their jobs during the pandemic and an additional 1 million formal workers had been told to stay at home, either unpaid or half-paid, WFP reported.469 On 5 May, President Widodo signed a presidential decree to delay regional elections, originally scheduled for September, to be delayed until at least the end of 2020.470 Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi says the country faces a fresh wave of COVID-19 infections with the return of migrant workers and cruise ship employees. She said about 90,000 Indonesian migrant workers had already returned to the country and that the government has stepped up measures ahead of the returns and has begun increasing testing and setting up quarantine centers in anticipation of this.471 Since Indonesian citizens abroad have begun returning home, a total of 132,978 Indonesian citizens consisting of crew members, migrant workers and students, had returned to Indonesia as of 18 May, the national COVID-19 task force reported. Of those, 591 had tested positive for COVID-19.472 On 20 MAY, Indonesia’s Research and Technology Ministry launched a domestically-made medical equipment initiative to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The equipment, comprising rapid diagnostic test kits, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kits and artificial intelligence (AI) to triage patients, are developed by the Ministry's consortium which includes state-owned enterprises, private companies, universities and research institutes.473 On 26 MAY, Indonesia’s military deployed about 340,000 soldiers across four provinces to enforce rules on wearing masks and safe distancing after reports of people flouting them. The measure comes days after people flocked to markets, many unmasked, making purchases for Eid Al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan.474 On 5 JUN, the Lion Air group, which includes Batik Air and Wings Air, announced that all domestic routes are again suspended due to widespread issues with passengers not observing social distancing and health disclosure rules. The company had slowly started reintroducing short-haul flight routes 10 MAY.475 On 8 JUN, Indonesia partially eased large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in the capital, Jakarta, after they were first implemented 10 APR. Offices, restaurants and grocery stores reopened with only 50% of employees and customers allowed, mosques and other places of worship re-opened at half capacity.476 Schools remain closed for June. Some shopping centers, zoos and beaches will open next week. Public transportation resumed under the 50% capacity rule.477 One innovation included backpack shields worn by motorcycle taxi drivers.478 Indonesia has produced 50,000 PCR testing kits, the head of the Assessment and Application of Technology Agency said. The testing kits produced by PT Biofarma, are capable of examining 32 specimens in 90 minutes. PT Biofarma will continue to produce 50,000 PCR testing kits per week. Indonesia has also launched a
468 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-situation-update-covid-19-18-may-2020-enid 469 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-covid-19-economic-and-food-security-implications 470 https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-05-06/indonesia-warns-on-covid-19-poverty-setback-as-regional-elections-postponed 471 https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/indonesia-faces-fresh-wave-of-covid-19-infections-with-return-of-migrant-workers-foreign- minister/articleshow/75678100.cms 472 https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/05/19/more-than-100000-citizens-return-to-indonesia-591-test-positive-for-covid-19.html 473 http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-05/20/c_139072573.htm 474 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-indonesia-idUSKBN2320IJ 475 https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/indonesias-lion-air-restarts-flights-cancels-them-again/ar-BB150lkN?li=BBnb7Kz 476 https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/asia-today-zealand-succeeds-eradicating-coronavirus-71126119 477 https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/asia-today-zealand-succeeds-eradicating-coronavirus-71126119 478 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-indonesia-motorcyc-idUSKBN23H1RJ
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mobile Laboratory known as Bio Safety Level-2. The laboratory aims to conduct testing with the PCR method in areas that lack adequate health services. 479 S=JAJAR, a network of civil society organizations and NGOs that strengthens the scope of the COVID-19 recovery response for weak and marginalized groups, has been carrying out weekly webinars, OCHA reports.480 The MoH reported that over 143,000 tests have been conducted. As the majority of the country’s 71 laboratories are on Java Island, it can take a while for samples from outside areas to obtain results. In an effort to increase testing, the Government is conducting rapid molecular tests with tuberculosis test kits and cartridges that can detect COVID-19. Thousands of cartridges have been distributed among 64 hospitals in 30 provinces, according to OCHA.481 Indonesia will not attend the Hajj in Saudi Arabia this year. The pilgrimage is expected to start 30 JUL.482 Indonesia DM Handbook https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=YUdeVhtp3ns%3d&portalid=0
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The WHO, jointly with partners, is supporting the National Institute of Health Research and Development (NIHRD) with a training on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for COVID-19 for 52 laboratories.483 On 29 April, the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia organized a virtual meeting for vaccine manufacturers and national regulatory authorities from the region and leading manufacturers from India, Indonesia and Thailand to discuss timelines and production capacity, while regulatory bodies deliberated on process adjustments that would be needed to make COVID-19 vaccines available as soon as possible. Indonesian manufacturer, PT Bio Farma, shared their plan and timeline for COVID-19 vaccine development.484 WFP released a Food Price Bulletin (https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-food-price- update-march-2020-focus-effect-covid-19-outbreak-food-prices) which looked into potential effects of the outbreak on food prices between December 2019 and March 2020. According to WFP, the outbreak did not have a major impact on the prices of 10 key commodities. WFP has also been supporting the response through increased research and analysis, and improving preparedness through the National Logistics Cluster.485 IOM has initiated risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) activities with refugee and asylum seekers in Indonesia. IOM has also jointly donated 30 ventilators with UNDP and WHO to the government.486 The Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia - PMI), is active and has a large presence of volunteers throughout the country. PMI will continue to help the Government in terms of prevention and education.487 In recent disasters, PMI has been named as the primary direct assistance organization, with BNPB providing overall coordination and the TNI providing logistical support.488 There are multiple ongoing disasters in Indonesia (without international support). The reach of these responses is limited due to COVID-19 restrictions and other protection measures for aid workers. In addition, multiple recovery efforts from large disasters in 2018 are ongoing in Lombok and Central Sulawesi. During the most recent crisis in Indonesia that required international assistance (Central Sulawesi Earthquake/Tsunami), the IDN government placed the ASEAN AHA Centre in charge of coordinating offers of international assistance. According to the World Bank, in Indonesia, over 530,000 schools have closed amid the outbreak, affecting 68 million students from pre-primary through tertiary levels.489
479 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/indonesia-produces-50-000-testing-kits-for-covid-19/1844999 480 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-situation-update-covid-19-18-may-2020-enid 481 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-situation-update-covid-19-18-may-2020-enid 482 https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/covid-19-four-countries-wont-attend-hajj-this-year/ar-BB15pf8x 483 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-situation-report-6 484 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-situation-report-6 485 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/wfp-indonesia-country-brief-march-2020 486 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/iom-ramps-response-covid-19-pandemic-refugees-indonesia 487 http://www.pmi.or.id/index.php/berita-dan-media/siaran-pers.html 488 http://www.pmi.or.id/ ; https://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/where-we-work/asia-pacific/indonesian-red-cross-society/ 489 https://blogs.worldbank.org/eastasiapacific/indonesias-education-technology-during-covid-19-and-beyond
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UNICEF has released its position brief: “COVID-19 and Children in Indonesia: An Agenda for Action to Address Socio-Economic Challenges” (https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/covid-19-and-children-indonesia- agenda-action-address-socio-economic-challenges-11). This paper provides an overview of the socio-economic impact on Indonesia’s 80 million children (30 percent of the population) of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to UNICEF, although the health risk of COVID-19 infection is lower for children than for older age groups, children are likely to be heavily affected by secondary impacts in both the short and long-term.490 UNAIDS and its local partner, Inti Muda, conducted a survey to assess the needs of young key populations and young people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Indonesia and found that 81.5% of respondents are struggling to make ends meet due to COVID-19 measures.491 As of 12 May the U.S. has committed US$7.3 million to support the response to COVID-19. The U.S. CDC has been providing technical assistance to help develop a national testing strategy and in support of this, USAID has directed over US$1 million to support lab capacity and provide testing supplies. The CDC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the U.S. Association for Public Health Laboratories, is also supporting virtual training for lab technicians. USAID and CDC is partnering with UNICEF and Johns Hopkins University to enhance public awareness about the disease.492 The Taiwan-based Tzu Chi Foundation has donated a total of 2,241,100 surgical masks, 39,420 N95 masks, 1,000,000 COVID-19 test kits, 41,536 protective gowns, 111 ventilators, 11,840L of disinfectant, and 1,627 high pressure mist blasters. Additionally, Tzu Chi has distributed food and necessities packs to 344,000 families across 18 regions. The NGO also supported 844 hospitals and medical clinics in 17 regions.493 WHO helped train the MoH on the WHO Essential Supplies Forecasting Tool (ESFT): (http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Health-systems/pages/strengthening-the-health-system-response- to-covid-19/surge-planning-tools/essential-supplies-forecasting-tool-esft). WHO also facilitated a coordination meeting on laboratory logistics between the BNPB and the MoH. The online WHO course on ‘Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Treatment Facility Design’ was translated into Indonesian and published on the website and on the OpenWHO platform (http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Health- systems/pages/strengthening-the-health-system-response-to-covid-19/surge-planning-tools/essential-supplies- forecasting-tool-esft).494 At the WASH sub-cluster meeting on 12 MAY, it was discussed that only one-third of all Puskesmas (Community Health Centers) in Indonesia have hand washing facilities with running water and soap. Similar conditions can be found at schools throughout the country, as only an estimated 20-30% of schools have such facilities. Organizations that work in the WASH sector are expected to contribute to improving this situation.495 OCHA published on 8 JUN the “Indonesia Multi-Sectoral Response Plan to COVID-19 (May - October 2020)”: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/covid19-msrp-v7.pdf The pandemic is challenging gains made against poverty, in food security and nutrition, against inequality – especially gender inequality, and has interrupted routine health services.496
Country-specific planning considerations Quarantine Centers: WHO is discussing with the Association of Indonesia Local Health Offices (ADINKES), isolation and quarantine facilities and contact tracing at province and district levels.497
490 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/covid-19-and-children-indonesia-agenda-action-address-socio-economic-challenges-11 491 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/how-covid-19-has-affected-needs-young-people-living-hiv-and-young-key-populations 492 https://id.usembassy.gov/indo-pacific-cooperation-on-covid-19/ 493 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/covid-19-relief-action-report-3-activities-29-april-2020 494 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-situation-report-8 495 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-situation-update-covid-19-18-may-2020-enid 496 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-multi-sectoral-response-plan-covid-19-may-october-2020 497 https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/searo/indonesia/covid19/who-situation-report-5.pdf?sfvrsn=f1d00104_2
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Displaced Populations: 104,000 displaced (2019).498 13,829 refugees and asylum seekers in Indonesia.499
Health: On 10 JUN, Indonesia recorded its highest single-day rise in COVID-19 cases with 1,240 new cases,500 followed by 12 JUN marking the second-highest single day increase with at least 1,111 new cases.501 Hundreds of children are believed to have died from COVID-19, which would give Indonesia one of the world's highest rates of child deaths from COVID-19. The official figure is 28 children under 18 died of COVID-19 as of 22 MAY, but Indonesia also recorded more than 380 deaths among 7,152 children classified as "patients under monitoring", indicating severe coronavirus symptoms for which there is no other explanation but whose tests have not confirmed the infection. Even the official figure for children under 18 who died of COVID-19 gives Indonesia a relatively high rate of child death, at 2.1% of COVID-19 deaths. Although age brackets differ across countries, this compares to 1.2% COVID-19 deaths under age 19 in Brazil, 2.3% under 19 in the Philippines, and 0.1% under 24 in the U.S. Doctors and health officials in Indonesia point to underlying factors – especially malnutrition, anemia and inadequate child health facilities – for exacerbating COVID-19 child fatalities. "COVID-19 proves that we have to fight against malnutrition," said Achmad Yurianto, a senior health ministry official. Per UNICEF, in Indonesia nearly 1 in 3 children are stunted,502 and 9 in 10 children experience deprivation in at least one dimension of well-being, such as access to food and nutrition, health, education, housing, water and sanitation, or child protection.503 OCHA reported 27 APR there were 668 referral hospitals for COVID-19 in the country. Indonesia will start producing ventilators jointly developed by the Bandung Institute of Technology, PT Dirgantara Indonesia and PT Pindad. It is expected that 500 ventilator units can be produced every week. Several other prototypes will be tested.504Jakarta Military Command Chief Maj. Gen. Eko Margiyono is leading the operation of the capital's emergency hospital for treating COVID-19. Four of 10 towers at the former athlete’s village for the 2018 Asian Games have been designated to treat up to 3,000 patients and will continue to be expanded to handle up to 24,000.505There are 2,410 inpatient facilities (1,782 general & 546 specialty); 338,370 inpatient beds, including 140,186 private sector.
Security: The Papua Police Chief on 29 MAY said the killing of medical workers needs to be condemned, in reference to the 22 MAY killing of two medical workers from the Wandai Health Center in Intan Jaya District who were reportedly shot by armed rebels while they were delivering drugs for COVID-19 patients.506 The Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) remains active in spreading radical narratives, planning operations, and selecting targets, benefiting from the security forces’ new focus on handling the COVID-19 crisis, according to an article in The Diplomat. Additionally, Ramadan (23 APR – 23 MAY) may bring additional acts of terrorism and Chinese-Indonesian communities may be targets.507 In Jakarta, special police units have been formed to guard burial processions for COVID-19 victims, after protesters blocked streets in some areas to prevent the dead from being transported to cemeteries.508 On 7 APR, hundreds of people held a protest in Banjarmasin City, South Kalimantan province, opposing the government plan of using a public building as a quarantine center. They blockaded a road until police and military forces intervened.509
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498 https://www.internal-displacement.org/countries/indonesia 499 https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/protection/operations/50001bda9/indonesia-fact-sheet.html 500 https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19/blob/master/csse_covid_19_data/csse_covid_19_time_series/time_series_covid19_confirmed_global.csv 501 Accessed 12 JUN 2020. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html 502 https://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/other/indonesian-children-caught-in-e2-80-98devil-e2-80-99s-circle-e2-80-99-of-coronavirus-and-malnutrition-killing- hundreds/ar-BB15mziW 503 https://www.unicef.org/indonesia/media/4641/file/COVID-19%20and%20children%20in%20Indonesia.pdf 504 https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/indonesia-situation-update-covid-19-27-april-2020-enid 505 https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/03/30/jakarta-military-commander-tapped-as-covid-19-emergency-hospital-head.html 506 https://en.antaranews.com/news/149760/shooting-of-medical-workers-must-be-condemned-papua-police-chief 507 https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/how-covid-19-is-reshaping-terror-threats-in-indonesia/ 508 https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/01/848956806/fearing-infection-some-in-indonesia-refuse-nearby-burial-of-covid-19-victims 509 https://data.humdata.org/dataset/aid-security-and-covid-19
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JAPAN Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Considerations Measures/Access Resources
July – September is On May 25, Prime Minister Abe Japan COVID-19 tracker peak Typhoon lifted the state of emergency for https://covid19japan.com Japan COVID-19 Total Case Trend season; May –July is Hokkaido, Chiba, Saitama, Tokyo, Health Ministry web page on the rainy season.510 and Kanagawa. The state of COVID-19: emergency has now been lifted for 18,000 The CDC set its https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/sei all of Japan. However, authorities 17,800 warning in Japan to sakunitsuite/bunya/newpage_0 in many prefectures and municipal 17,600 highest level.511 0032.html wards continue to request 17,400 On February 14, a restricted hours and/or closures of Japan National Tourism 17,200 Cabinet Order public venues.515 Organization (JNTO) (for 17,000 designated COVID-19 travel restrictions): 16,800 The emergency is a non- https://www.japan.travel/en/co as a “quarantine-able 16,600 mandatory stay-at-home request; ronavirus/ disease.” This order It also requests the cancellation or 16,400 permits detention WHO Japan: postponement of events and 16,200 and isolation of https://www.who.int/countries/ exhibits.516 16,000 those suspected or jpn/en/
confirmed to be Initial emergency steps included White Paper on Disaster 512 infected. shutting down schools and Management 2019: cancelling large events; Olympics Hospitals turning http://www.bousai.go.jp/kaigire 935 Deaths – 17,530 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN were later postponed until 2021. p/hakusho/pdf/R1_hakusho_en away people as the glish.pdf Source: COVID-19 Dashboard & Repository by the Center for Systems country struggles Entry bans in place for foreigners Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University: with surging cases from COVID-19 affected Basic Policies for Novel https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html ; and its emergency countries517 Coronavirus Disease Control https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 system is (Revised on April 7, 2020): 513 Japan asked returning nationals to https://www.mhlw.go.jp/conte overloaded. 518 self-quarantine for 14 days. nt/10900000/000620733.pdf On 12 May, USFJ Prefectures with few cases relaxed extended COVID-19 US Embassy, COVID-19: restrictions for some businesses public health https://jp.usembassy.gov/covid- but residents asked not to travel 19-information/ emergency for US outside their home region. Bars troops in the country COVID-19 Multilingual and nightclubs remain closed.519 to 14 June.514 Hotline: 0120-296-004
Disaster risk: The INFORM Global Risk Index’s overall ranking for Japan is 153 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk) for disasters, with a 3-yr trend of stable disaster risk.520 Common natural hazards include: earthquakes, tsunami, typhoons, volcanoes, landslides, and flooding. Additionally, INFORM has a new COVID-19 Risk
510 https://www.adrc.asia/nationinformation.php?NationCode=392&Lang=en&NationNum=23 511 https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/03/58d3ae2df4bb-japan-to-ask-travelers-from-us-to-self-quarantine-for-14-days.html 512 https://jp.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/ 513 https://apnews.com/9140ddd7283d534d8464778d9c4bd92a 514 https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/us-forces-japan-extends-its-public-health-emergency-as-okinawa-preps-to-reopen-businesses-1.629382 515 https://jp.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 516 https://nypost.com/2020/04/07/japan-declares-state-of-emergency-as-coronavirus-cases-soar/ 517 https://www.japan.travel/en/coronavirus/ 518 https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/03/58d3ae2df4bb-japan-to-ask-travelers-from-us-to-self-quarantine-for-14-days.html 519 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/04/japan-to-extend-state-of-emergency-covid-19-amid-fears-second-wave-could-cripple-tokyo- hospitals 520 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index
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Index, which identifies “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Japan’s INFORM COVID-19 risk is 2.3/10 (with 10 indicating highest risk), placing it in the “low” COVID-19 risk class.521 In mid-October 2019, Typhoon Hagibis caused record-breaking rains in central to northern Japan, including Tokyo. In late October, Chiba and Fukushima were hit by heavy rains, landslides and floods.522
National organization response Japan will launch a coronavirus-tracking smartphone app next week to curb transmission by tracking close contact with those infected, per a 12 JUN report. Smartphones with the app can detect each other via Bluetooth short-range wireless and log those who have come in close contact. If an infected phone user gives consent, people who spent more than 15 minutes closer than one meter (three feet) to the infected person in the previous 14 days will be notified and prompted to seek medical consultation, while the infected person will remain anonymous to those notified.523 On May 25, Prime Minister Abe lifted the state of emergency for Hokkaido, Chiba, Saitama, Tokyo, and Kanagawa. The state of emergency has now been lifted for all of Japan. However, authorities in many prefectures and municipal wards continue to request restricted hours and/or closures of public venues. 524 The PM reiterated his call for citizens to reduce people-to-people contact, with a focus on avoiding the “three Cs:” closed spaces, crowded spaces, and close-contact settings. He has also asked that people refrain from all non- essential prefectural border crossings.525 Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike on 15 May revealed a framework for the city’s plan to gradually reopen. The completed plan will be announced on 19 May. The plan will be decided as the city government closely monitors daily cases, untraceable cases and the infection rate.526 The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has a dedicated COVID-19 page. On the page is a listing of countries subject to an entry ban. Starting 16 May, it has added another 14 countries to its list. For the complete list and more restrictions please visit: https://www.japan.travel/en/coronavirus/527 Under the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act, the Central Disaster Management Council (CDMC) was formed as the lead disaster management agency. The council consists of the Prime Minister, who is the chair, the Minister of State for Disaster Management, all other ministers, heads of major public institutions and experts. Prefectural and municipal Disaster Management Councils are established at the state and local level. Implementation of disaster risk management measures is based on the Local Disaster Management Plans drafted by the Councils. Japan’s Basic Disaster Management Plan clarifies the duties of the Government, public corporations and local governments in implementing measures. The plan also describes disaster countermeasures such as preparation, emergency response, recovery and reconstruction, according to the type of disaster.528 The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) is the central organization in the health care system. The Novel Coronavirus Response Headquarters has been stood up in Tokyo.529 There are 1.66 million foreign workers in Japan and many have been affected by the economic impact of the shutdown. Government support packages including 100,000 yen are available to foreign nationals registered as residents and additional loans and rent deferral plans are in place to assist.530
521 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 522 https://www.adrc.asia/view_disaster_en.php?NationCode=392&Lang=en&Key=2358 https://www.adrc.asia/view_disaster_en.php?NationCode=392&Lang=en&Key=2357 523 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/world-extreme-poor-rise-11-billion-live-updates-200611225207924.html 524 https://jp.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 525 https://jp.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 526 https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/05/15/national/tokyo-reopening-plan-coronavirus/#.Xr8zu9aSk_w 527 https://www.japan.travel/en/coronavirus/ 528 https://www.adrc.asia/nationinformation.php?NationCode=392&Lang=en&NationNum=23 529 https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/japan-imposes-14-day-self-quarantine-for-travelers-from-united-states-1.623498 530 https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Japan-immigration/Japan-s-foreign-work-force-hit-by-coronavirus-cuts
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Foreigners who leave Japan, even U.S. citizen legal residents, will not be able to return under current conditions. International flights are currently available in Japan, but service has dropped significantly since the outbreak.531 The Tokyo Metropolitan Government launched a multilingual call center on COVID-19 for foreign residents at 0120-296-004.532 There are no penalties for noncompliance to state of emergency and social distancing measures.533 A government campaign was instituted to counter harassment against bullying and discrimination toward the sick, their families and health workers, which discouraged people from seeking testing and care.534
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The Japan Red Cross Society (JRCS) is transferring doctors, nurses and pharmacists to support all government quarantine facilities.535 The JRCS has asked for more blood donations among a dwindling supply in the face of the crisis.536 The JRCS also sent medical staff to assist with the Diamond Princess outbreak.537 The Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA) Medical Information Center is operating a hotline to assist foreign nationals in Japan. It is available from 10:00 to 17:00, and can be reached at 03-6233-9266.538 More information on multilingual COVID-19 call centers can be found here (NHK): https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/1019/
Country-specific planning considerations
Quarantine Centers: Numbers/locations unknown at this time; Hotels being used to alleviate hospital shortages.
Hospitals: There are 8,442 (2017) hospitals, including 7,380 general hospitals and 324 national hospitals. Of the total, 361 hospitals have infectious disease beds.539 There is roughly a total of 1,664,525 hospital beds (2016). Approximately 100,461 clinics (2014) augment the health system.540 It has about 13 hospital beds per 1,000 people, the highest among Group of Seven nations and more than triple the rate for Italy, the U.S., U.K. and Canada, according to World Bank data.541 A government panel warned that hospitals and clinics were stretched in Tokyo, Aichi, Kanagawa, Osaka and Hyogo; "drastic countermeasures need to be taken as quickly as possible."542 Japan is also facing a potential shortage of ventilators. As of February, Japan was estimated to have more than 22,000 ventilators, for a population of over 126 million (NHK). At least 40% of those ventilators are already in use, as officials scramble to ramp up production and source new machines from overseas.543A government virus task force has warned that, in a worst-case scenario, more than 400,000 could die due to shortages of ventilators and other intensive care equipment. Abe has said the government has secured 15,000 ventilators and is getting Sony and Toyota to
531 https://jp.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 532 https://jp.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 533 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/04/japan-to-extend-state-of-emergency-covid-19-amid-fears-second-wave-could-cripple-tokyo- hospitals 534 https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/05/09/breaking-news/in-japan-coronavirus-pandemic-brings-outbreaks-of-bullying-ostracism/ 535 https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2020/look-for-the-helpers-stepping-up-to-stomp-out-covid-19.html 536 https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/03/7cf4dda2ef3d-japan-frets-over-falling-blood-donations-amid-coronavirus-outbreak.html 537 https://www.redcross.org.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/press-releases/coronavirus---latest-updates-from-british-red-cross 538 https://jp.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 539 https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/database/db-hh/2-2.html 540 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5719211/ 541 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-19/a-coronavirus-explosion-was-expected-in-japan-where-is-it 542 https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/07/asia/japan-coronavirus-state-of-emergency-intl-hnk/index.html 543 https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/07/asia/japan-coronavirus-state-of-emergency-intl-hnk/index.html
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produce more.544 Hospitals lack ICUs, with five per 100,000 people, compared to 30 in Germany, and 35 in the U.S.545 Japan only has 7 intensive care beds per 100,000 people.546 Officials had previously been urging anyone with symptoms to go to hospital, putting an additional strain on the health system, but are shifting to requiring those with mild symptoms to self-isolate. Additionally, Japan has been limiting testing for the coronavirus because of rules requiring any patients to be hospitalized. An uptick in cases have prompted the Health Ministry to loosen those rules and move patients with milder symptoms to hotels to free up beds.547
Health: According to the WHO, Japan’s health care system is characterized by excellent health outcomes at a relatively low cost; there is universal insurance, with virtually free access to health-care facilities. The government regulates and controls most aspects of the health system at three levels: national, prefectural, and municipal. Diabetes and hypertension are the two major chronic diseases. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are now the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Japan.548 Japan has had success with control and eradication of common infectious diseases over the past 50 years.549 Life expectancy is higher than the global average, however, the country’s population is rapidly ageing, and in the COVID-19 context, this trend poses a danger to a significant portion of the population.
DOD/USJF: USFJ extended COVID-19 public health emergency for US troops to 14 June.550 Return to TOC
544 https://apnews.com/9140ddd7283d534d8464778d9c4bd92a 545 https://apnews.com/9140ddd7283d534d8464778d9c4bd92a 546 https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/07/asia/japan-coronavirus-state-of-emergency-intl-hnk/index.html 547 https://apnews.com/9140ddd7283d534d8464778d9c4bd92a 548 https://apps.searo.who.int/PDS_DOCS/B5390.pdf 549 https://apps.searo.who.int/PDS_DOCS/B5390.pdf 550 https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/us-forces-japan-extends-its-public-health-emergency-as-okinawa-preps-to-reopen-businesses-1.629382
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KIRIBATI Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Considerations Affected State Information Resources Measures/Access
As of 17 June, Kiribati has no confirmed Cyclone season is November to Travelers from countries with Entry Restrictions: COVID-19 cases. April in the South Pacific. ongoing local transmission of https://fj.usembassy.gov/u- s-citizen-services/covid-19- novel coronavirus must spend Entry Restrictions – for travelers information/ at least 14 days in a country from countries with ongoing free of the virus before Kiribati Ministry of Health COVID transmission. traveling to Kiribati, and and Medical Services https://mhms.gov.ki/ Flight Restrictions – all commercial provide a medical clearance https://www.facebook.com airlines servicing Kiribati that they are virus-free. /info.mhms.gov.ki internationally have suspended Travelers arriving earlier than flights to the country, effectively COVID-19 Cases Database the required 14-day waiting https://github.com/CSSEGIS isolating Kiribati. andData/COVID-19 period may be subject to quarantine and/or deportation.
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html Schools closed 30 MAR.
Disaster Risk – The INFORM Global Risk Index’s overall ranking for Kiribati is 86 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk) for disasters.551 Kiribati’s disaster risk trend for the previous three years has been stable. Like other Pacific island countries, Kiribati faces humanitarian logistics challenges, as it is among the most remote, geographically dispersed nations on earth, with an estimated population of just over 100,000 spread over 21 islands across three million square kilometers of ocean. Additionally, INFORM has a new COVID-19 Risk Index, which identifies “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Kiribati’s INFORM COVID-19 risk is 5.9/10, placing it in the “high” COVID risk class (10 indicates highest risk). 552
National organization response President Taneti Maamau on 26 March 2020 formally declared Kiribati in a state of public emergency.553
The National Disaster Management Office carries out disaster management and other responsibilities as determined by the Minister or the National Disaster Council. The National Disaster Council advises the Minister on disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, including the coordination of activities of government and non-government agencies. All Local Government Councils have a Disaster Committee.554
The Health Emergency Operational Centre (HEOC) was set up in the MoH/Tarawa Central Hospital following the first measles recorded in December 2019.
551 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 552 https://data.humdata.org/dataset/inform-covid-analysis-v01 553 https://kiribatiupdates.com.ki/president-declared-kiribati-a-state-of-public-emergency-for-convid-19/ 554 http://www.president.gov.ki/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Kiribati-National-Disaster-Risk-Management-Plan_Part-3.pdf
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Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT), based in Suva, Fiji, supports 14 Pacific Island countries and territories, including Kiribati. OCHA leads coordination and the PHT Secretariat; UNDP leads the Early Recovery Network; WFP leads Logistics, and Emergency Telecommunications; IFRC leads Shelter; UNICEF leads Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene; UNICEF and Save the Children co-lead Education; UN Women leads Protection; WHO and UNICEF co-lead Health and Nutrition, and FAO and WFP co-lead Food Security.555 On 10 March 2020, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Government of Kiribati, with support from the Australian Government and the Pacific Community, officially launched Kiribati’s first nationwide survey – Kiribati Social Development Indicator Survey – to monitor and promote the well-being of women and children.556
Country-specific planning considerations Following the confirmation of Fiji’s first COVID-19 case on 19 March 2020, the Fijian government suspended services to Kiribati’s Tarawa and Kiritimati airports by Fiji Airways from Nadi, effective the next day. Together with the earlier suspension of the Our Airline service, from Nauru and Majuro, and the Solomon Airlines service, Kiribati has effectively been isolated from the rest of the world. Tarawa in the Gilbert group and Kiritimati in the Line Islands are Kiribati’s main international ports of entry and are usually serviced Fiji Airways, Our Airline (Tarawa only) and Solomon Airlines (Tarawa only).557 Island councils and mayors have further imposed interisland travel restrictions domestically within Kiribati.558 President Maamau declared all schools in Kiribati closed effective 30 March 2020.559 Nation-wide elections started 14 April for the House of Parliament. There are 44 Member of Parliament seats available and 108 registered candidates competing for a 4-year term.560
Hospitals / Health Facilities: Kiribati has 18.6 hospital beds per 10,000 population as of 2015.561 The health system has a central hospital, three sub-divisional hospitals, more than 20 health centers and around 70 dispensaries. Tungaru Central Hospital on Tarawa provides medical service to all the islands. Government dispensaries on all islands are equipped to handle minor ailments and injuries.562
Health: Kiribati recorded its first measles case on 17 December 2019 when test samples returned from Fiji.563 The country’s second measles case was confirmed 23 December. The Measles Taskforce in Kiribati was established in October 2019, following the measles outbreak declared in Samoa. The Taskforce, with experts from UNICEF and WHO, monitors and investigates suspected measles cases.564 The US$15 million South Tarawa Water Supply Project was approved on 13 December 2019 by the World Bank, to provide the most populated island with better access to a safe, reliable, and climate-resilient water supply.565 Return to TOC
555 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/PHT%202018%20Annual%20Report_FINAL.pdf 556 https://www.unicef.org/pacificislands/press-releases/kiribati-launches-its-first-nationwide-survey-monitor-well-being-women-and-children 557 https://newsletter.visitkiribati.travel/2020/03/31/covid-19-impacts-kiribati-tourism/ 558 https://kiribatiupdates.com.ki/islands-travel-restrictions-contain-virus-from-spreading/ 559 https://kiribatiupdates.com.ki/the-kiribati-schools-are-first-among-lockdowns-for-the-convid-19/ 560 https://kiribatiupdates.com.ki/kiribati-national-election-begins-today/ 561 https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators 562 http://www.commonwealthhealth.org/pacific/kiribati/health_systems_in_kiribati/ 563 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/405799/kiribati-records-first-measles-case 564 https://reliefweb.int/report/kiribati/kiribati-measles-sitrep-2-27122019 565 https://reliefweb.int/report/kiribati/safer-more-reliable-water-kiribati
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LAOS Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Measures/Access Information Considerations Resources
Entry visas will not be As of 26 May, Lao citizens, students, experts Lockdown/ Laos COVID-19 Total Case Trend issued to visitors and diplomats are now permitted to enter borders: from or traveling and exit Laos with travel documents http://www.vienti 30 through countries authorized by the Ministry of Foreign anetimes.org.la/fr 25 with a COVID-19 Affairs.567 eeContent/FreeCo outbreak, except for nten_Local74.php On 4 May, the GOL announced new 20 special cases screening and quarantine measures. https://www.visal 15 whereby prior Foreigners who have a work permit or who aos.com/travel- authorization has have been granted permission from the GOL restrictions/ 10 been issued. Inter- to work in Laos are required to present at 5 provincial travel, COVID-19 Cases the port of embarkation a Certificate of including domestic Database 0 Entry into Laos issued by the Lao Embassy or flights, resumed 18 https://github.co 566 Lao Consulate General in their country of May. 568 m/CSSEGISandDat departure. a/COVID-19 On 4 May, some Foreigners must also furnish a completed businesses were Hotline for 0 Deaths – 19* confirmed cases as of 17 JUN Declaration Form and Fit to Fly Health allowed to reopen, information: Certificate issued no more than 72 hours *No new confirmed cases since 12 APR 2020 but had to follow 166 or 165 before traveling https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.htm COVID-19 prevention Hotline to self- and social distancing Upon entry, foreigners will be required to be report symptoms: guidelines. tested and spend 14 days in self-quarantine +856 20 5406 at a government facility at their own Monsoon season 6777 expense. These measures will be in effect runs May to October. until at least 17 May.569
Disaster Risk: The INFORM (Index for Risk Management) ranking for the Lao People's Democratic Republic (also referred to as Laos) is 74 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk). Disaster risk in has decreased in the last three years.570 The INFORM global risk index annually measures the risk of disasters and humanitarian crises for 191 countries. The natural disaster that Lao is the most highly exposed to is flooding, which occur frequently due to storms. The country is also exposed to typhoons (tropical cyclones) and earthquakes.571 In July 2018, Laos suffered its worst floods in a decade, which affected more than 600,000 people in all 17 provinces and Vientiane. Tropical storm-driven rains caused the collapse of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy saddle dam in Attapeu province, leading to unprecedented flash flooding, and exacerbated by another tropical storm the following month.572 According to the INFORM COVID-19 Risk Index, Laos is in the “medium” COVID risk class, based on a COVID risk of 4.6 on a scale of 1-10, where 10 indicates the higher risk. 573
National organization response
566 https://laotiantimes.com/2020/05/15/laos-to-resume-domestic-flights-schools-other-restrictions-eased/ 567 http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/asiapacific/2020-05/26/c_139089408.htm 568 https://la.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 569 https://la.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 570 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 571 https://www.unocha.org/asia-and-pacific-roap/lao 572 https://reliefweb.int/report/lao-peoples-democratic-republic/government-presents-way-forward-lao-pdr-s-recovery 573 https://data.humdata.org/dataset/inform-covid-analysis-v01
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On 26 May, Rattanaxay Phetsavanh, Director General of the Department of Communicable Disease Control under the Ministry of Health, announced that Lao citizens, students, experts and diplomats are now permitted to enter and exit Laos with travel documents authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. People are still required to strictly follow government guidelines to prevent COVID-19 spreading. 574 On 18 May, Laos resumed domestic flights, permitted inter-provincial travel, and began to reopen schools -- but only grade levels primary 5, secondary 4, and secondary 7. Other school levels are authorized to reopen on 2 June. If there is a new confirmed case, stricter measure will be implemented in that province.575 On 4 May, the economy was partially reopened for some retail and service businesses following social distancing restrictions in place and offices adopting rotating shifts.576 There have been no new confirmed cases since 12 April. Laos reported its first confirmed COVID-19 cases on 24 March.577 The National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC), established in 1999, provides recommendations and advice to the Prime Minister and plays the lead role in ensuring effective coordination throughout disaster mitigation, prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.578 US Ambassador Haymond delivered additional supplies on 26 May, including specialized laboratory air filters, autoclaves, viral transport mediums and laboratory testing equipment.579 On 22 May, Haymond announced additional US$3.17 million funding via the CDC to help Laos fight COVID-19 with surveillance, infection prevention and control, laboratory capacity building and other measures.580 Vietnam announced on 26 March it would provide Laos with medical equipment worth $100,000, and medical experts if desired.581 China announced on 25 March it would send a team of medical experts to Laos, medical equipment and medicines to help respond to the COVID-19 epidemic.582 Many schools are unable to comply with measures to avert further outbreaks of the coronavirus due to a lack of necessary preventive equipment, such as temperature monitors, hand gel and face masks, per an education ministry official on 28 MAY.583 Information on DM in Laos is available in CFE-DM’s Laos Disaster Management Reference Handbook: https://www.cfe-dmha.org/DMHA-Resources/Disaster-Management-Reference-Handbooks
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is providing psychosocial support with its local NGO partners.584 UN agencies providing humanitarian assistance in Laos include FAO, IOM, UN-Habitat, UN Women, UNAIDS, UNCDF, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP, WHO. Led by the UN Resident Coordinator, the UN Country Team in Laos is also comprised of other UN agencies focused more on development work.585 As of 26 May, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $20 million loan to support Laos’ response to COVID-19. The loan finances the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Health Security Project, and will assist the Ministry of Health in procuring personal protective equipment, laboratory equipment, testing kits, medical devices, and ambulances.586
574 http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/asiapacific/2020-05/26/c_139089408.htm 575 https://laotiantimes.com/2020/05/15/laos-to-resume-domestic-flights-schools-other-restrictions-eased/ 576 https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/Virus-free-Laos-lifts-shutters-on-shops-and-restaurants 577 https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID- 19/blob/master/csse_covid_19_data/csse_covid_19_time_series/time_series_covid19_confirmed_global.csv 578 http://www.fao.org/3/a-at540e.pdf 579 https://la.usembassy.gov/united-states-delivers-additional-supplies-to-help-laos-fight-covid-19/ 580 https://la.usembassy.gov/united-states-announces-3-million-of-cdc-support-for%E2%80%A8covid-19-response-in-lao-pdr/ 581 https://vietnaminsider.vn/vietnam-to-provide-laos-and-cambodia-with-medical-equipment-worth-100000-each/ 582 https://laotiantimes.com/2020/03/26/china-sends-medical-experts-to-help-laos-fight-covid-19/ 583 http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/freeContent/FreeConten_State_102.php 584 https://reliefweb.int/report/lao-peoples-democratic-republic/coping-covid19-through-psychosocial-support-lao-pdr 585 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/lao_pdr_inter-agency_contingency_plan_3sep19.pdf 586 https://news.fundsforngos.org/laos/adb-disburses-20-million-to-support-covid-19-response-efforts-in-laos/
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Since 24 March, WFP has suspended physical presence of all staff at the field-level and activities are conducted remotely or postponed. WFP is coordinating with other UN agencies and partners on assessing the potential impact, particularly for food security.587
Country-specific planning considerations
Displaced Populations: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused thousands of Lao women and girl migrant workers to return to Laos. As of 2 April, 4,715 migrants have crossed Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge in the capital, Vientiane, of whom 2,922 (62%) are women and girls, per the Immigration Department of Vientiane Municipality Public Security. Those exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms are quarantined for 14 days. There were 277,840 registered Laotian employees in Thailand as of August 2019, with women comprising more than half. As in many crises, they are at higher risk of gender-based violence.588 3,750 survivors of the 2018 collapse of Attapeu Province’s Xepian-Xe Nam Noy dam remain without permanent homes.589
Quarantine Centers: As of 25 March 2020, quarantine facilities have been set up by the government in the capital for returning migrants who may have symptoms.590 On 24 May, 1,516 people entered Laos through international border checkpoints, which included 26 returning Lao workers, though the vast majority were truck drivers bringing freight from Thailand, Vietnam and China. The temperature of each person entering Laos was checked and no one showed signs of fever. All Laotian workers repatriating were sent to a quarantine center for 14 days. On 25 May, the National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control stated it had been monitoring 3,690 people at 95 accommodation centers across Laos.591
Health: Two of the five remaining COVID-19 patients at Mittaphab Hospital in Vientiane are set to be discharged on 27 May, if they test negative for the virus a second time.592 Laos has reported a total of 19 confirmed COVID- 19 cases, with 14 of those patients recovered. Despite the ongoing pandemic and national lockdown, Laos is making special efforts to continue other health care services,593 including routine immunizations in fixed sites with physical distancing measures in place. The WHO warned the COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting life-saving immunizations globally, putting 80 million children worldwide at risk of diseases like diphtheria, measles and polio in both rich and poor countries.594 Laos has 15 hospital beds per 10,000 population, per 2012 data.595
Security: Enforcement of the country’s lockdown has been inconsistent.596 Return to TOC
587 https://reliefweb.int/report/lao-peoples-democratic-republic/wfp-lao-pdr-country-brief-march-2020 588 https://reliefweb.int/report/lao-peoples-democratic-republic/1000-migrant-women-quarantine-covid19-receive-essential 589 https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/opinion/2019/04/11/qa-why-laos-dam-collapse-wake-call- un?utm_source=The+New+Humanitarian&utm_campaign=4e57d365e4- EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_Cheat_Sheet_1_May&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d842d98289-4e57d365e4-75574133 590 https://reliefweb.int/report/lao-peoples-democratic-republic/1000-migrant-women-quarantine-covid19-receive-essential 591 https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2020/05/26/laos-confirms-no-new-case-of-covid-19-for-record-43-consecutive-days 592 http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/ 593 https://reliefweb.int/report/lao-peoples-democratic-republic/lao-health-system-continues-offer-immunization-services 594 https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen 595 https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/hospital-beds-(per-10-000-population) 596 http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/freeContent/FreeConten_Local74.php
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MALAYSIA Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Measures/Access Information Considerations Resources
Since 8 May, floods due Malaysia eased restrictions on social, MOH COVID-19 to heavy rains have education, and religious activities, moving web site: Malaysia COVID-19 Total been affecting Betong into the Recovery Movement Control Order https://www.mo Case Trend district (Sarawak state), (RMCO) phase 10 JUN – 31 AUG. 598 The h.gov.my/index.p resulting in casualties government authorized citizens to resume hp/pages/view/2 9000 and damage. At least interstate travel. Malaysia Airlines is 019-ncov-wuhan
8800 650 families have been reinstating domestic flights in June and is to 597 Ministry of 8600 affected. resume international flights in July.599 Health: 8400 Kuala Lumpur hosts the On 10 May, Prime Minister (PM) Tan Sri http://www.moh. 8200 UN Humanitarian Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the gov.my/index.ph 8000 Response Depot Conditional Movement Control Order (MCO) p 7800 (UNHRD) hub, serving would be extended to 9 June. During the 7600 MOH Facebook: Asia –Pacific; 1 of 6 CMCO, the government will open limited 7400 https://www.face worldwide hubs. immigration services.600The Prime Minister 7200 book.com/kemen said most businesses can open on 4 May 7000 Monsoons Nov-Dec teriankesihatanm until March, and with recommended restrictions, but a ban alaysia 601 May/June to Sept./Oct. on gatherings remain. PM Office: ASEAN through the International commercial flight options are https://www.pm AHA Centre likely to operating in Malaysia.602 All foreign o.gov.my/special- 121 Deaths – 8,515 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN lead regional response nationals, with very limited exceptions, are contents/2019- to a disaster if outside restricted from entry to Malaysia until 9 novel- help needed. June. Any travelers permitted to enter coronavirus- Malaysia will be subject to COVID-19 testing 2019-ncov/ https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html ; https://www.outbreak.my/ United Nations Country and a mandatory 14-day quarantine.603 Team (UNCT) in WHO Malaysia Malaysia supports From 3 April, all Malaysians returning home website: government disaster must head to government quarantine https://www.wh management efforts. centers for 14 days604 o.int/malaysia
Disaster risk: Overall INFORM model risk ranking is 111 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk); 3-yr trend indicates stable to decreasing risk.605 Malaysia is affected by floods, forest fires, tsunami, cyclonic storms, landslides, and haze. According to the INFORM COVID-19 Risk Index, Malaysia’s COVID-19 risk is 3.2/10 (10 indicates highest risk), placing it in the “low” COVID-19 risk class.606 Since 17 May, floods triggered by heavy rains have affected Penang and Perak States.607 In early May, heavy rains led to floods that affected some 3,250 people in Betong district in Sarawak state.608
597 https://reliefweb.int/report/malaysia/malaysia-floods-metgovmy-media-echo-daily-flash-11-may-2020 598 https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/other/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-recovery-movement-control-order-rmco/ar-BB159fdx 599 https://simpleflying.com/malaysia-airlines-international-flights/ 600 https://my.usembassy.gov/health-alert-covid-051120/ 601 https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/coronavirus-asia-asean-live-updates-by-country/ 602 https://my.usembassy.gov/health-alert-covid-051120/ 603 https://my.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/ 604 https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/03/31/ismail-sabri-straight-to-quarantine-centre-for-any-malaysians-returning-home-no-exceptions 605 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index 606 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 607 https://reliefweb.int/report/malaysia/malaysia-floods-met-malaysia-media-echo-daily-flash-18-may-2020 608 https://reliefweb.int/report/malaysia/malaysia-flooding-betong-district-sarawak-state-1949-may-11-2020
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CFE-DM Disaster Management Reference Handbook on Malaysia: https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=he2xmI8xZFQ%3d&portalid=0
National organization response The National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) is the government lead for disaster management and response. The disaster management organization structure is divided into federal, state, and district levels. NADMA website: http://www.nadma.gov.my/ The Ministry of Health (MOH) has an overall responsibility for the health sector. MOH website: http://www.moh.gov.my/index.php Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced on 7 June the COVID-19 outbreak was "successfully" under control and restrictions would be relaxed. From 10 June – 31 August, Malaysia will enterthe Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan Pemulihan (PKPP), or the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) phase. Most businesses can reopen, with restrictions being eased on social and religious activities. However, large gatherings are still not allowed, thus nightclubs and theme parks remain closed. Schools will reopen gradually based on health ministry recommendations, with school-related plans to be finalized in the coming weeks.609 The government authorized citizens to resume domestic interstate travel, but international borders remain closed.610 Malaysia Airlines reinstating domestic flights in June and international flights in July.611 Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said on 29 MAY that schools and other sectors can reopen if Malaysia continues to see low COVID-19 figures in the first week of June. While 28 MAY optimistically brought the lowest number of new daily cases (10) in more than two months, the health ministry continues to observe to the impact in the aftermath of Eid al-Fitr festivities marking the end of Ramadan.612 The Movement Control Order (MCO) which began 18 March, prohibits all individuals from movement and mass assembly within Malaysia. Under the MCO, only one person from each family is permitted to leave home to buy essential items. Outdoor recreational activities are prohibited. Foreign citizens may depart Malaysia during the MCO. However, authorities require that foreign citizens obtain certain required documents, including written concurrence from the respective diplomatic mission; and a written movement permit from the nearest police station. The Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) came into effect on 4 May, which relaxed some of the nationwide restrictions over commercial and social activities under the MCO. 613614 On 17 May, PM Muhyiddin Yassin announced that people will not be allowed to cross states to celebrate upcoming festivals, including Hari Raya Aidilfitri (24-25 May). The PM said gatherings of up to 20 people are allowed during the celebrations, but advised against open house gatherings and banquets. The government has also eased a ban on mass prayers in mosques, starting from 22 May and ahead of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.615 Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah encouraged Malaysians to download two apps to help the government with efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. “MySejahtera” can help users find hotspots while “MyTrace” is meant to aid contract tracing.616 In an effort to learn from the experiences of neighboring Singapore, Malaysia plans to test millions of migrants for the virus. In mid-April, Singapore experienced outbreaks in the dormitories housing the country's hundreds of thousands of migrant workers. Malaysia’s government says some 2.5 million migrants are in the country legally, though there are thought to be just as many in Malaysia illegally. Many of Malaysia's migrant
609 https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/other/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-recovery-movement-control-order-rmco/ar-BB159fdx 610 https://news.yahoo.com/malaysia-lift-most-coronavirus-curbs-080558624.html 611 https://simpleflying.com/malaysia-airlines-international-flights/ 612 https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysias-health-chief-says-schools-can-reopen-if-covid-19-numbers-are-low 613 https://my.usembassy.gov/health-alert-covid-050420/ 614 https://my.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 615 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-covid-19-cases-may-20-coronavirus-12752914 616 https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/05/04/on-first-day-of-cmco-malaysias-new-covid-19-cases-back-to-two-digit-zero-de/1862954
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workers are packed into large dorms or hostels sleeping 10 to 20 people to a room. On 4 May, following an increase in cases traced mostly to noncitizens, the government ordered that all migrant workers be tested.617 The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Doctor On Call, has set up a platform to disseminate information, including a list of designated public hospitals in each state that are equipped to screen for COVID- 19. (https://www.doctoroncall.com.my/coronavirus?lang=en)618 Screening points are present at all international entry points. Sabah and Sarawak states have imposed temporary restrictions on all foreign nationals and non-Sabah residents from entering. Long term visa holders may be admitted but will be required to self-quarantine at home for 14 days.619 The Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) said swab sticks produced for testing kits for COVID-19 are being tested. The group is working with a team of experts from Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Penang Hospital, Perdana Universiti-Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, University of Malaya’s Medical Faculty and the Malaysian Petrochemicals Association (MPA) to make 1.2 million of the specialized swabs. The initiative is in partnership with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry which has allowed resumption of operations of manufacturers of essential plastics products to allow Malaysia to produce its own essential supplies without relying on international suppliers.620 Malaysia will not attend the Hajj in Saudi Arabia this year. The pilgrimage is expected to start 30 JUL.621
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) set up a task force to support the GOM in dealing with the pandemic. (https://www.redcrescent.org.my/covid-19-task-force/) The MRCS is continuing to provide support to affected populations from heavy rains and flooding in Kelantan and Terengganu that began in late 2019.622 HP Foundation has donated US$500,000 (RM2.17 million) to Mercy Malaysia’s COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan. The donation will be primarily used to help test high risk and vulnerable communities. Mercy Malaysia’s plan is part of the wider efforts supporting the Ministry of Health (MOH) and National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC).623 Mercy Malaysia’s COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan can be found here: https://secureservercdn.net/166.62.107.20/c4u.e1c.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/COVID-19- Strategic-Preparedness-and-Response-Plan-1.pdf The UN World Health Organization (WHO) is Malaysia’s primary health partner. Other UN agencies include UNAIDS, UN Development Program (UNDP), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)624 Amnesty International and the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) have expressed concern over reports of boats likely carrying Rohingya refugees in the region and have called upon on regional governments to allow them safe disembarkation.625626 Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has expressed that it is willing to support the government in its COVID-19 and general health response with regards to refugees and asylum-seekers.627
Country-specific planning considerations
617 https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/singapores-coronavirus-outbreak-sends-malaysia-scrambling-test-migrant-workers 618 https://my.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 619 https://my.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 620 https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/05/20/malaysian-plastics-makers-to-make-swabs-for-covid-19-mass-testing/1868096 621 https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/covid-19-four-countries-wont-attend-hajj-this-year/ar-BB15pf8x 622 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/MDRMY004du3.pdf 623 https://sg.channelasia.tech/article/679854/hp-supports-covid-19-fight-malaysia-through-mercy-donation/ 624 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=he2xmI8xZFQ%3d&portalid=0 625 https://reliefweb.int/report/malaysia/urgent-statement-end-pushbacks-rohingya-refugees 626 https://reliefweb.int/report/malaysia/covid-19-no-excuse-sacrifice-rohingya-lives-sea 627 https://reliefweb.int/report/malaysia/msf-ready-support-government-malaysia-safe-disembarkation-people-distress-sea
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Quarantine Centers: Government-run centers set up in March. NADMA is coordinating the operation of quarantine centers. One of the main centers, at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS), has the capacity for 600 patients and will be coordinated by NADMA with the Armed Forces and other government agencies.628 On 7 April, NADMA identified hotels which could double as centers.629 Any travelers permitted to enter Malaysia during the CMCO will be subject to testing and a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Travelers will be transported directly from the airport to a quarantine facility. Foreign nationals, including Malaysian permanent residents, will be required to cover the costs of this quarantine, which will be a minimum of RM150/day.630
Displaced Populations / Migrants: 178,990 refugees and asylum seekers are registered with UNHCR across Malaysia,631 including more than 101,000 Rohingya and 52,000 others also from Myanmar.632 Sabah has a large migrant and stateless population. Malaysia has four million undocumented migrant workers and refugees altogether. On 1 May, Malaysian police raided homes and arrested hundreds of undocumented migrants in an attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19. It deported nearly 400 Myanmar nationals on 11 May,633 arresting 1,368 illegal immigrants that same day in a Kuala Lumpur raid.634 Healthcare professionals are bound by circular 10/2001, which requires doctors to report illegal immigrants seeking health services to the police and immigration authorities. This also gives license to authorities to detain the undocumented workers. 635 There is a great need for affordable or free testing in Malaysia as this is becoming a requirement for refugees and asylum-seekers looking to re-enter employment and, in some cases, to extend their housing rental agreements, per UNHCR on 9 JUN.636
Hospitals: Total beds available are 3,585 at 34 identified hospitals for the response. The GOM has identified other hospitals that can be turned into temporary quarantine centers.637 There is a total of 144 government, 240 private hospitals in the country.638
Health: Outbreaks of Dengue and TB remain concerns. Malaysia has a health system and health status on par with its rank as an upper middle income country. Malaysia is a medical tourism destination.639 Malaysia has a current polio outbreak. On 27 February, Malaysia’s MoH received 2.5 million doses of the polio vaccine from WHO and managed by the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to be delivered to over 1 million children below 13 years old in Sabah to control the spread of polio. Malaysia was polio free from 1992 to 2019, but now has 3 reported cases.640
Security: In Malaysia, reports have emerged of health workers evicted from their homes by landlords over fears that the tenants could transmit the virus.641 Return to TOC
628 https://www.pmo.gov.my/2020/03/covid-19-pm-visits-maeps-low-risk-patient-quarantine-treatment-centre/ 629 https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/04/07/hotels-doubling-up-as-quarantine-centres-identified-by-nadma-says-health-dg/ 630 https://my.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 631 https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance-in-malaysia.html 632 https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2020/05/25/Malaysia-coronavirus-refugees-asylum-seekers-xenophobia 633 https://www.irrawaddy.com/specials/myanmar-covid-19/malaysia-deports-nearly-400-undocumented-myanmar-workers.html 634 https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/05/12/immigration-detains-1368-illegals-after-kuala-lumpur-wholesale-market-raid-monday-may-11 635 https://asiafoundation.org/2020/05/13/malaysias-marginalized-and-covid-19/ 636 http://reporting.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/09062020_UNHCR%20Global%20COVID-19%20Emergency%20Response.pdf 637 https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/03/578007/malaysia-has-enough-hospital-beds-says-pm 638 https://www.statista.com/statistics/794860/number-of-public-and-private-hospitals-malaysia/ 639 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=he2xmI8xZFQ%3d&portalid=0 640 https://www.who.int/malaysia/news/detail/28-02-2020-2.5-million-doses-of-polio-vaccines-deployed-to-stamp-out-polio-in-sabah 641 http://insecurityinsight.org/
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MALDIVES Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Considerations Affected State Information Resources Measures/Acces s International travel remains As of 29 MAY, the Government of Maldives site: MALDIVES COVID-19 banned for maritime and Maldives has http://www.maldivesinfo.gov.mv international and domestic extended lockdown /home/ Total Case Trend flights. Foreign tourists over the capital, MoH Maldives COVID-19 site: cannot check into hotels and Male, for another 2500 covid19.health.gov.mv/en/ must remain in resorts where two weeks. The 2300 restrictions can be enforced. lockdown was first MoH Maldives Corona Virus 2100 implemented 15 Infection Response Guideline 1900 Nationwide ban on public APR and scheduled 2020: gatherings and stay at home through 28 MAY.645 http://hpa.gov.mv/DOCS/158029 1700 guidance issued. Police 6708.pdf enforcing measures and could Public Health Risk 1500 DRR in Maldives 2019 Status detain or fine violators.642 Six Alerts: Report: inhabited islands, including National – Level 2 https://www.preventionweb.net/ Male, are under lockdown.643 (Yellow) files/68254_682304maldivesdrms Male’ City - Level 4 8 Deaths – 2,120 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN tatusreport.pdf 500 foreigners are stranded, (Red) https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html including 100 at the airport. Kuredu Island COVID-19 Case Database The Government providing Resort & Spa – Level https://github.com/CSSEGISandD financial assistance.644 3 (Orange)646 ata/COVID-19
Disaster Risk
The Republic of Maldives has an overall INFORM model risk ranking of 136 out of 191 countries (a lower number indicates higher risk). Disaster risk in the last three years has been stable.647 Its low-lying atolls, are highly vulnerable to flooding and impacts from climate change.648 90% of the islands flood annually and 97% experience flood line erosion.649 The country has a tourist dependent economy which has been hard hit by travel bans due to COVID-19 restrictions.650 Additionally, INFORM has a new COVID-19 Risk Index, which assesses “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Maldives is in the “medium” COVID risk class, based on its INFORM COVID-19 risk of 4/10 (with 10 indicating highest risk).651
642 https://www.worldaware.com/covid-19-alert-maldives-eases-some-entry-restrictions-may-4 643 https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/maldives-sees-rapid-spike-in-covid-19-patients/ 644 https://weather.com/health/coronavirus/news/2020-05-01-hundreds-of-tourists-are-stranded-in-the-maldives-due-to 645 https://www.indiablooms.com/world-details/F/24430/lockdown-extended-in-maldives-as-covid-19-cases-cross-1-500.html 646 https://covid19.health.gov.mv/en/ 647 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 648 https://www.britannica.com/place/Maldives 649 https://www.preventionweb.net/files/68254_682304maldivesdrmstatusreport.pdf 650 https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/covid-19-india-will-stand-by-maldives-in-this-challenging-time-says-pm- modi/articleshow/75247158.cms 651 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic
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National organization response
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was established in December 2018 to carry out comprehensive disaster risk management interventions and address vulnerability issues. The National Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Framework provides legal and administrative guidance for DRR activities and coordinates between government ministries, private sector, NGOs and citizens.652
In late January, the Health Minister began preparations for a COVID-19 outbreak by conducting a risk assessment and forming a national response guideline and health emergency coordination committee. In February, Maldives arranged with the WHO to receive 1000 testing kits and thermal cameras were fitted in the main airport to screen incoming passengers. Resorts were quarantined, and schools and other public spaces were closed.653 The government has allocated USD$13.7 million to finance precautionary measures against the virus outbreak.654
The Government of the Maldives has proposed guidelines for reopening tourism starting 1 July, with major regulations including a minimum 14-day stay, testing on arrival, and isolating until test results known.655 The Ministry of Tourism stated on 27 MAY that zero tourist arrivals since March was “more devastating than the 2004 Tsunami and 2008 Global Financial Crisis.”656
USAID committed US$2 million to Maldives for emergency assistance to address COVID-19.657
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society)
UNICEF (https://www.unicef.org/maldives/) and Maldivian Red Crescent (https://redcrescent.org.mv/ ) are among the most active contributors to DRR and disaster management funding and support.658On 1 May, Maldivian Red Cross launched a ‘COVID-19 Migrants Relief Fund’ to expand ongoing relief efforts to support the socio-economic impacts of the outbreak of coronavirus in the country.659
The World Bank on 9 June approved a $12.8 million COVID-19 Emergency Income Support Project to support poor and vulnerable workers and their families impacted by COVID-19, and to increase the capacity of the Maldives’ social protection programs to respond to future emergencies.660
Country-specific planning considerations
Many of the COVID-19 patients are Bangladeshi migrant workers, who live in congested accommodation in the capital, Male, a small densely populated island where more than 150,000 people live in a 5.8-square-kilometer (2.3-square-mile) area. Many [foreign workers] are undocumented, do not report symptoms or are asymptomatic," said Mohamed Mabrook Azeez, spokesman for the National Emergency Operations Center, adding that “physical distancing measures is logistically difficult in place like Male’ in any situation.” There are about 60,000 migrant workers, mostly from Bangladesh, working as unskilled laborers in Male’, many of whom work as couriers to deliver essentials. The government plans to relocate some 3,000 Bangladeshi nationals to
652 https://www.preventionweb.net/files/68254_682304maldivesdrmstatusreport.pdf 653 https://covid19.health.gov.mv/faqs/ 654 http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-03/31/c_138935314.htm 655 https://maldivestimes.com/maldives-proposes-guidelines-to-commence-safe-tourism/ 656 https://visitmaldives.s3.amazonaws.com/74w8n5qK/afkp01xi.pdf 657 https://mv.usmission.gov/united-states-to-support-maldives-covid-19-response-through-economic-support-and-social-protection/ 658 https://www.preventionweb.net/files/68254_682304maldivesdrmstatusreport.pdf 659 https://redcrescent.org.mv/documents/press-statement-maldivian-red-crescent-launches-covid19-migrants-relief-fund/ 660 https://reliefweb.int/report/maldives/world-bank-approves-128-million-support-maldives-workers-impacted-covid-19
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other islands in the Maldives to enable social distancing, and repatriate 1,500 unregistered Bangladeshi workers, according to Azeez. 661
Health: Maldives has made strides against communicable diseases having great success with vaccine-prevention and receiving free status from malaria, polio, neonatal tetanus, whooping cough, and diphtheria. However, it is moving toward an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases.662
Hospitals: There are 23 public hospitals, 6 regional hospitals, 14 atoll hospitals, and 172 primary healthcare centers. The geographic dispersion of the islands challenges access to provide health care and necessary supplies, pharmaceuticals, and equipment to the population.663
Quarantine Centers: The Government set up three dedicated clinics for COVID-19 include: Flu Clinic in Senahiya, Male; Flu Clinic behind Male’ Hiya 2, Male; Expat Clinic next to Maldives Autism Centre, Hulhumale.664 Additionally, there are a total of 17 isolation facilities and 867 quarantine facilities in the country.665 In March the government converted the abandoned luxury resort island of Villivaru in the Kaafu Atoll into a quarantine facility. Renovations to update facilities to house patients were completed in 10 days by 50 workers. Increasing space in the country for 1,158 rooms and 2,288 beds available for potential quarantined populations.666
Security: On 15 April, al-Nab, the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for attacks against the Maldives with the arson of 5 speedboats and 2 dinghies in the Mahibadhoo island harbor. 667 The Maldives has seen a resurgence of ISIS supporters spreading ideology by the exploitation of the COVID-19 pandemic as several incidents show violent extremism becoming a growing problem in the country.668 Return to TOC
661 https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/maldives-sees-rapid-spike-in-covid-19-patients/ 662 http://www.health.gov.mv/Uploads/Downloads//Informations/Informations(42).pdf 663 http://www.health.gov.mv/Uploads/Downloads//Informations/Informations(42).pdf 664 https://covid19.health.gov.mv/en/ 665 http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-03/31/c_138935314.htm 666 https://www.businessinsider.com/maldives-turns-abandoned-island-into-coronavirus-quarantine-facility-2020-3 667 https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/islamic-state-terror-in-the-maldives-as-covid-19-arrives/ 668 https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ICS-Maldives_UNCLASS-508.pdf
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MONGOLIA Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Resources Considerations Measures/Access International borders Mongolia has suspended all Government of Mongolia Official remain closed and inbound travel from foreign website: only charter flights locations until May 31 and http://www.cabinet.gov.mn/ MONGOLIA COVID-19 repatriating banned the entry of all foreign Mongolia government official Total Case Trend Mongolian citizens nationals for the same period. All website on COVID-19: are able to land with commercial flights, passenger https://covid19.mohs.mn 240 passengers following rail, and auto traffic into and out Mongolia National Center for 220 3-week quarantine of Mongolia are suspended Communicable Diseases: 670 200 measures. during this time period. https://www.nccd.gov.mn/
180 School closures On 14 APR, the State Emergency US Embassy, COVID-19: 160 affecting 900,000 Commission extended https://mn.usembassy.gov/covid- children have caused preventative measures to 1 SEP 19-information/ 140 secondary impacts 2020. CFE-DM Disaster Reference 120 such as nutrition, Handbook for Mongolia: 100 protection, and The U.S. has committed $1.2 https://www.cfe- million in financial support to dmha.org/DMHA- safety. Physical abuse 671 of children up by Mongolia to combat COVID-19. Resources/Disaster-Management- Reference-Handbooks 32.9% in March Compulsory use of face masks in compared to public was mandated on 14 April COVID-19 Case Database 0 Deaths – 197 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN 669 February. subject to penalty of MNT https://github.com/CSSEGISandDa ta/COVID-19 https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html $150,000 for noncompliance.672
Disaster Risk Mongolia has an overall INFORM model risk ranking of 101 out of 191 countries (a lower number indicates higher risk) and shows decreasing risk in the last three years.673 The country is also at risk for natural disasters including severe winter storms, strong winds, dust storms, drought, flooding and earthquakes.674 Additionally, INFORM has a new COVID-19 Risk Index, which assesses “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Mongolia is in the “medium” COVID-19 risk class, based on its INFORM COVID-19 risk of 3.7 on a scale of 1-10, where 10 indicates highest risk.675
National organization response On 23 February, the Mongolian government mobilized a COVID-19 task force of 832 individuals monitoring 336 checkpoints around the country. Additionally, citizens were repatriated from S. Korea, Japan, Turkey, and Russia. When the first cases were detected on 2 March, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) detained the man and all he made contact with to curb the spread.676 In February 2020, the number of unemployed increased by
669 https://reliefweb.int/report/mongolia/mongolia-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-situation-report-no-1 670 https://mn.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 671 https://www.usaid.gov/mongolia/press-releases/mar-25-2020-us-mongolia-partner-combat-covid-19-mongolia 672 https://mn.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 673 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 674 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/DMHA-Resources/Disaster-Management-Reference-Handbooks 675 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 676 https://thediplomat.com/2020/03/mongolias-small-country-strategy-for-containing-covid-19/
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31,000 from the previous month in the same period in 2019.677 As a result, on 27 March, a comprehensive set of measures to address the financial impact of COVID-19 response including tax exemptions, child allowance and unemployment benefits was implemented.678
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The World Bank approved US$26.9 million for the Mongolia COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Project. Funding will go toward training emergency medical staff, medical equipment and supplies and the construction of COVID-19 diagnostic capacity centers in Ulaanbaatar and all provinces.679 The U.S. Government will collaborate with USAID, the Mongolian Ministry of Health, World Health Organization and UNICEF to strengthen infection prevention and control in Mongolia with a $1.2 million COVID-19 funding allocation.680 On 11 April, over USD$80,000 in lab tests and personal protection equipment was provided to the Mongolian Ministry of Health on behalf of the WHO. To maintain essential protective measures for health workers and responders on the frontline and their patients.681
Country-specific planning considerations Total COVID-19 cases doubled with 56 new cases reported 14 May. Most patients were returning students. All cases involved recent arrivals from neighboring Russia, where a spike in infections brought total cases to over 240,000. Mongolia faces risks from the spiraling outbreak in Russia, where many Mongolians work and study.682
Health: Mongolia struggled with H1N1 virus during winter 2018-2019 specifically affecting children under 5. 1,700 children were hospitalized exceeding the pediatric beds available (977) in Ulaanbaatar by 70%. Anticipating the 2019- 2020 flu season and prevalence of the H3N2 flu strain, the country began doubling the number of available hospital beds. In February 2020, 1,169 children were hospitalized due to flu coinciding with the onset of COVID-19 cases globally. The government measures for closed borders and quarantine were successful. And preparations for H3N2 set up the country for success in the COVID-19 response. Additionally, flu cases dropped 90% from last year to only 1.8% of hospital visits. Also, due to heightened hygiene practices surrounding COVID-19 precautions, there have been 0 cases of gastro infections registered this year.683
Hospitals: There are 12 general and maternity hospitals, 16 district health centers, and 21 health facilities in Mongolia. Their contact information is here: (https://covid19.mohs.mn/p/cat/post/52/). The urban areas in the country had the highest number of physicians (42.4 per 10,000 patients) and 77.6 hospital beds per 10,000.684
Security: The State Emergency Commission (SEC) announced that not wearing a mask in public places could be considered intent to harm other people’s health and residents could be fined MNT $150,000 for the Law on Infringement.685 Return to TOC
677 https://reliefweb.int/report/mongolia/mongolia-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-situation-report-no-1 678 https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/Policy-Responses-to-COVID-19 679 https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/04/02/the-world-bank-approves-269-million-for-mongolias-covid-19-coronavirus- emergency-response 680 https://www.usaid.gov/mongolia/press-releases/mar-25-2020-us-mongolia-partner-combat-covid-19-mongolia 681 https://www.who.int/mongolia/news/detail/10-04-2020-supporting-frontline-workers-in-the-covid-19-response 682 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-outbreak-spreads-to-neighbor-as-mongolian-cases-jump/ar-BB144gny 683 https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/mongolia-finds-a-silver-living-in-the-covid-19-crisis/ 684 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5576166/ 685 https://montsame.mn/en/read/222259
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MYANMAR / BURMA Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Considerations Affected State Information Measures/Access Resources
Pre-monsoon cyclone season is April to May. Stay-at-home orders that Travel & Activity Post-monsoon cyclone season is October to originally went into effect restrictions Myanmar COVID-19 Total Case Trend November. April 25 remain in place as https://mm.use of 29 May for the Yangon mbassy.gov/covi The government decided 15 JUN to extend 300 townships of Mayangone d-19- many COVID-19-related restrictions through 689 290 686 and Insein. information/ 30 JUN. Restrictions include a ban on 280 international commercial flights, the e-visa People entering the capital, Myanmar 270 and visa-on-arrival programs, no large Nay Pyi Taw, must Information 260 gatherings of people, lockdowns of certain quarantine for 21 days if Management 250 neighborhoods, mandatory quarantines, from COVID quarantined Unit / Daily nightly curfew, and movement restrictions townships, as of 30 APR. SITREPS 240 throughout the country. Myanmar Airways Foreigners entering for https://themimu 230 International (MAI) and Korean Air continue work must have employer .info/emergencie 220 to operate a limited number of relief flights approval and be symptom s/coronavirus- 687 690 210 from Yangon to Seoul. Exceptions apply to free. disease-2019- “relief flights, all-cargo flights, medical covid-19 200 Nationwide ban on evacuation flights and special flights gatherings of five or more Ministry of specifically approved by the Department of 691 688 people, 17 APR-15 JUN. Health and Civil Aviation.” Sports COVID In Mandalay, non-essential Extreme shortages of health care dashboard 6 Deaths – 262 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN businesses are closed and professionals https://mohs.go persons must wear masks v.mm/Main/cont https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html 150,000+ internally displaced persons (IDPs) in public. Mandatory 21- ent/publication/ day facility quarantine and Numbers of reported COVID positive cases 2019-ncov 7-day home quarantine for likely to be vastly lower than rates of persons entering Mandalay COVID-19 Cases infection. Region from states and Database Government continues to greatly restrict regions with COVID-19 https://github.co humanitarian access to areas with conflict. positive cases. 692 m/CSSEGISandD ata/COVID-19
Disaster Risk: The INFORM Global Risk Index’s overall ranking for Myanmar is 14 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk) for disasters and humanitarian crises. The natural hazards Myanmar is most highly exposed to include flood, earthquake, and tsunami, in addition to human conflict. Additionally, INFORM has a new COVID-19 Risk Index, which assesses “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Myanmar is in the “medium” COVID risk class, based on a COVID risk of 4.8 on a scale of 1-10, where 10 indicates highest risk. 693
686 https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-extends-bans-gatherings-intl-flights-imported-covid-19-cases-rise.html 687 https://mm.usembassy.gov/message-for-us-citizens-061520/ 688 https://mm.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 689 https://mm.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 690 https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanmars-capital-sets-regulations-visitors.html 691 https://mm.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 692 https://mm.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 693 https://data.humdata.org/dataset/inform-covid-analysis-v01
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Myanmar COVID-19 Forecast Historical Events: Major events: May 2008: 50 Cyclone Nargis left 138,300 people dead and affected 2.4 40 million people.694
30 Recent Events: Aug 2019: Heavy rains and landslides In 20 Mon State 53 were killed and 29 reported missing; more 10 than 105,000 displaced.695
y = -0.08 PACOM 0 Response: May 2015: Rohingya Sea Migration -10 May 2007: Myanmar: Cyclone 4/1/2020 4/4/2020 4/7/2020 5/1/2020 5/4/2020 5/7/2020 6/3/2020 6/6/2020 6/9/2020 7/3/2020 7/6/2020 7/9/2020 4/10/2020 4/13/2020 4/16/2020 4/19/2020 4/22/2020 4/25/2020 4/28/2020 5/10/2020 5/13/2020 5/16/2020 5/19/2020 5/22/2020 5/25/2020 5/28/2020 5/31/2020 6/12/2020 6/15/2020 6/18/2020 6/21/2020 6/24/2020 6/27/2020 6/30/2020 7/12/2020 7/15/2020 7/18/2020 7/21/2020 7/24/2020 Nargis696 New Cases Forecast Lower Forecast Range Upper Forecast Range
Projections: The slope/test positivity rate (TPR) for Myanmar is less than 1, which indicates a manageable or resolving COVID-19 situation.
National organization response Ministry of Health and Sports (MoHS) is lead for response. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement (MoSWRR) plays critical role in determining humanitarian access and assistance to most vulnerable populations. Rakhine and Chin States in Myanmar continue to be hard to reach due to Government restrictions on access. The MoSWRR continues response efforts, and together with national and international partners, delivered hygiene items to IDP camps, and provided awareness sessions and psychosocial support. 697
694 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=twwMY081NH8%3d&portalid=0 695 https://www.adrc.asia/view_disaster_en.php?NationCode=104&Lang=en&Key=2345 696 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=twwMY081NH8%3d&portalid=0 697 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA%20Myanmar%20-%20%20COVID-19%20Situation%20report%20No%203.pdf
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There has been no change in the availability of fuel or water in the country due to COVID-19, but the pandemic has disrupted the supply of some imported food, according to the US embassy.698 According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the border with Thailand was expected to re-open on 1 May to allow an estimated 20,000 to 50,000 migrant returns. The Myanmar Government requested the Thai Government only allow 2,500 returnees per day through the Myawaddy border gate, but returns were delayed due to an extension of the Emergency Decree in Thailand until 31 May. The government, UN and other actors are closely observing the situation in order to provide support. It is expected that approximately 2,000 returning migrants will be quarantined in Myawaddy, while the remainder will be transported from the border to their home communities for community-based quarantine, the IOM reports.699 Preparedness and response efforts, as well as risk communication and community engagement by government and humanitarian partners continue.700 The government decided on 15 JUN to extend pandemic-related restrictions through 30 JUN. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said temporary entry restrictions for visitors from all countries have been extended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.701 Restrictions include a ban on international commercial flights, the e-visa and visa-on-arrival programs, no large gatherings of people, lockdowns of certain neighborhoods, mandatory quarantines, nightly curfew (12-4am), and movement restrictions throughout the country. Myanmar Airways International (MAI) and Korean Air continue to operate a limited number of relief flights from Yangon to Seoul.702 Schools remain closed. Everyone must wear masks when going outside. Anyone entering the country must quarantine for 21 days. Long distance buses across the country have been allowed to operate since early June with a limited number of passengers. Restaurants, coffee shops, tea shops and markets are also open again with social distancing measures. Hotels, bars, clubs and karaoke lounges, however, are not yet allowed to open. On 5 JUN, Japan’s ambassador and Myanmar’s Deputy Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations exchanged diplomatic notes concerning grant aid worth 2 billion Japanese Yen (US$18.1 million) for the provision of medical equipment in response to COVID-19.703 Information on disaster management is available in CFE-DM’s Myanmar DM Reference Handbook: https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=S8aQJk6cuzE%3d&portalid=0
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) On 20 April, the World Bank approved a US$50 million loan for the Myanmar COVID-19 Emergency Response Project.704 According to OCHA, while maintaining ongoing operations, humanitarian organizations continue to scale up COVID-19 prevention and response preparedness activities in camps, displacement sites and conflict-affected areas, as well as activities in support of the government to provide basic assistance to returning migrant workers in quarantine facilities.705 Over 60,300 migrant workers had returned from abroad as of 23 April, according to the IOM.706 IOM continues to support the MOHS and State/Region Health Departments in Kachin, Rakhine, Mon, Kayin and Yangon in surveillance and health screenings near points of entry.707
698 https://mm.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 699 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/iom-myanmar-covid-19-response-situation-report-3-1-may-2020 700 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/myanmar-covid-19-situation-report-no-03-4-may-2020 701 https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-extends-bans-gatherings-intl-flights-imported-covid-19-cases-rise.html 702 https://mm.usembassy.gov/message-for-us-citizens-061520/ 703 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/exchange-notes-grant-aid-2-billion-japanese-yen-181-million-usd-provision-medical 704 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/myanmar-covid-19-situation-report-no-03-4-may-2020 705 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA%20Myanmar%20-%20%20COVID-19%20Situation%20report%20No%203.pdf 706 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/myanmar-covid-19-situation-report-no-03-4-may-2020 707 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA%20Myanmar%20-%20%20COVID-19%20Situation%20report%20No%203.pdf
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According to IOM, over 4,000 migrants returned to Kachin State, mainly from China. An additional 6,207 returned to northern Shan State through Muse Nan Taw, Muse Chinshwehaw and Mongla. IOM states that 65,613 migrants have expressed intention to re-migrate to Thailand once the border reopens. IOM reported that due to the delayed re-opening of the Thai-Myanmar border, only 218 returns through official channels occurred from 1-7 May, according to the Department of Labour. IOM and partners provided hygiene kits and WASH supplies to returnees.708 The International Labour Organization and local partners provided hygiene items in Kachin, Shan and Kayin states, in Bago and Tanintharyi regions, and Yangon. UNHCR is providing assistance in Kachin, northern Shan State and in the Southeast. WFP coordinating with Kayin State to provide meals to returning migrants.709 The UNDP and the UNHCR agreed with the government of Myanmar to extend the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for activities in Rakhine State through June 2021. The MoU aims at “helping create a conducive environment for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh as well as supporting recovery and resilience-based development for the benefit of all communities living in the three northern townships of Rakhine State,” UNDP and UNHCR report.710 UN to provide 50,000 sets of coveralls to the Ministry of Health and Sports. The coveralls are expected to be distributed to the frontline healthcare workers at state and regional levels, as well as to community-based organizations and ethnic health organizations. The Access to Health Fund is in process of delivering other PPE.711 World Vision Myanmar supported the Township Health Departments and General Administration Departments (GAD) across conflict-affected areas and provided 2,660 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE), 8,360 masks and 480 thermometers.712 WFP is coordinating the consolidated procurement of PPE for humanitarian organizations and is arranging chartered flights connecting Yangon to Kuala Lumpur on a weekly basis in May. The service will provide access for humanitarian workers and help transport humanitarian cargo. According to OCHA, WFP is promoting the use of its newly established Consolidation Hub in Guangzhou, China to humanitarian partners for storing and shipping COVID-19-related humanitarian cargo.713 The Myanmar Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) “provides a framework for coordinated, needs-based and prioritized action in Myanmar.” The plan is developed by the Myanmar Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), under the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC). The plan can be found here: https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/myanmar-humanitarian-response-plan-2020-december-2019 A COVID-19 Addendum to the 2020 HRP has been added for an initial period of three months, that outlines priority preparedness and response, in particular in Chin, Kachin, Kayin, Rakhine and Shan states. According to OCHA, “the total caseload includes the existing HRP target (850,000) and an emergency support for 50,000 returning migrant workers. Response will be mobilized through existing humanitarian coordination structures (including clusters/sectors) with additional requirements for Logistics. An inter-sectoral Rapid Response Mechanism is also being established. US$46 million will be required to implement priority activities in regard to COVID-19 in high risk areas, in addition to the $216.3 million requested through the existing HRP (total $262.3m).”714 According to OCHA, the Health cluster adapted programs and prioritized infection prevention and control measures to ensure essential services are delivered in HRP target areas.715 The Germany based NGO Arche noVa reports that it has supplied masks to the MOH, started a COVID-19 awareness campaign, and provided hygiene supplies in Lashio and Rakhine state.716
708 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/IOM%20Myanmar%20COVID19%20Sitrep%20%234%20%289%20May%202020%29.pdf 709 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/IOM%20Myanmar%20COVID19%20Sitrep%20%234%20%289%20May%202020%29.pdf 710 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/undp-unhcr-and-government-union-myanmar-extend-memorandum-understanding 711 https://myanmar.un.org/en/40126-un-support-healthcare-workers-myanmar-myanmar-text-below 712 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA%20Myanmar%20-%20%20COVID-19%20Situation%20report%20No%203.pdf 713 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA%20Myanmar%20-%20%20COVID-19%20Situation%20report%20No%203.pdf 714 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA%20Myanmar%20-%20%20COVID-19%20Situation%20report%20No%203.pdf 715 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA%20Myanmar%20-%20%20COVID-19%20Situation%20report%20No%203.pdf 716 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/coronavirus-emergency-aid-worldwide-current-preventive-measures-myanmar-and-syria
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Emergency food aid from the WFP have reached communities stranded for months in Paletwa in southern Chin State, located near the border with Rakhine state. Some 3,700 conflict-affected people will receive food. Supply routes going into Paletwa have been cut off due to fighting. The delivery was hampered on 29 April, when a convoy of five WFP contracted trucks carrying aid was fired on by unidentified gunmen.717 UNFPA (United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency), has delivered 350 sets of PPE to Kachin State Health Department. UNFPA is also working on delivering 1,500 sets of PPE for the State Health Departments from Kachin, Northern, Shan, Rakhine, Mon and Kayin States supported by the Women and Girls First Programme and Access to Health.718 WFP will operate its first weekly humanitarian flight linking Yangon and Kuala Lumpur on 10 May to bring in priority cargo and support frontline humanitarian and health responders in Myanmar. Each flight is able to accommodate two MT of humanitarian cargo and up to 100 passengers. 719 Since April, WFP has shifted its emergency relief assistance to a two-month ration in the majority of its operational areas and a three-month ration in hard-to-reach areas in Kachin, Kayin, Rakhine and northern Shan.720 WFP – with UNICEF, UNHCR, and UNFPA – is designing a Rapid Response Mechanism for Myanmar to be activated in case of need. The package may include food assistance, drinking water and hygiene kits, and will aim to link to Government social protection assistance.721 WFP is planning a UN COVID-19 Socio-Economic Workstream, co-leading the social protection pillar with UNICEF and the community resilience pillar with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).722 WFP, in close coordination with other actors in the Nutrition in Emergency (NiE) Sector, has developed a guidance package on emergency nutrition response in the context of COVID-19.723 On 10 May, the first flight brought 10,000 COVID-19 test kits, the first batch of 20,000 kits, reagents and viral transport medium that UNICEF has procured as part of its ongoing support to the MoHS. EU and Switzerland are providing financial support.724 On 9 May, to mark Europe Day, EU Ambassador Kristian Schmidt handed over food and supplies to 550 health workers at the government hospitals of Wai Bar Gyi and South Okkapala.725 Myanmar Red Cross: Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), in close coordination with the MoHS and with the support of IFRC Myanmar Country Office, is leading the Red Cross and Red Crescent’s response to COVID-19 in Myanmar. MRCS has 44,000 community-based volunteers through its 330 branches in the country. With the auxiliary role to the government in humanitarian activities by the national law, MRCS has closely coordinated with MoHS both at national, regional, and township levels.
Country-specific planning considerations Quarantine Centers: As of 2 May, around 42,600 people had been quarantined in over 8,300 facilities across the country.726 According to MoHS, in conflict-affected areas, 461 facilities host over 3,500 people in Shan, 518 facilities host over 5,700 people in Kachin, 367 facilities host more than 230 people in Kayin and 209 facilities host around 2,000 people in Rakhine.727 WFP is providing emergency food and nutrition assistance to 14,400 people in quarantine sites in Kayin, Mon and Yangon. WFP also delivered meal boxes to 800 people who completed facility quarantine in Hpa An Township in Kayin. WFP plans to provide cooked meals for 15,000 migrant returnees in quarantine sites in Hpa An, Kyarinseikgyi and Myawaddy townships in Kayin State for the
717 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/wfp-food-reaches-communities-affected-conflict-and-hunger-remote-paletwa-chin-state 718 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/unfpa-scales-its-support-myanmar-s-state-and-regional-health-departments-fighting 719 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/wfp-myanmar-covid-19-situation-report-04-6-may-2020 720 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA%20Myanmar%20-%20%20COVID-19%20Situation%20report%20No%203.pdf 721 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Myanmar%20COVID-19%20External%20Sitrep%20%234%20%286%20May%202020%29.pdf 722 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/wfp-myanmar-covid-19-situation-report-04-6-may-2020 723 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/wfp-myanmar-covid-19-situation-report-04-6-may-2020 724 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/united-nations-launches-european-unionswitzerland-funded-humanitarian-flights-first 725 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/eu-ambassador-marks-europe-day-myanmar-donation-health-workers 726 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/myanmar-covid-19-situation-report-no-03-4-may-2020 727 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA%20Myanmar%20-%20%20COVID-19%20Situation%20report%20No%203.pdf
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21-day quarantine period, in addition to a one-time meal for an estimated 30,000 migrant returnees who may cross the Thai-Myanmar border in Myawaddy. 728
Health: Myanmar’s fifth COVID-19 laboratory is planned to open and conduct tests in July in Taunggyi, Shan State’s capital. The fourth COVID-19 lab started conducting COVID-19 tests on 2 JUN in Mon State’s capital, Mawlamyine.729 The third COVID-19 lab started operating on 1 JUN in Mandalay.730 There are also two COVID-19 labs testing civilians in Yangon. On 21 April, the Government opened a new medical center in Hlegu Township of Yangon able to treat up to 600 patients, with the possibility to expand to up to 2,000 patients. The facility has four intensive care units (ICU) capable to support 40 patients, and a special ward with two oxygen therapy rooms for 240 patients. Given the high proportion of confirmed cases and limited ICU beds in Yangon, the government has also repurposed a training facility into a medical center.731 Myanmar health authorities have been planning to accelerate preventive and control measures against Dengue this year, an official from the Public Health Department said. Efforts are being focused, especially in Yangon, Mandalay regions and Mon state.732 Myanmar utilizes a community-based health care system. Hospitals vary in size by district and range from 16 to 300 beds with a provider-to-patient ratio of about 2:1. EXTREME shortages of health care professionals. Somewhat updated facilities, but severely understaffed. Infection control measures not in place. 944 hospitals / 45,346 beds.
Displaced: In Rakhine State – 130,000 IDPs in camps;733 In Shan State – 9,817 IDPs at 34 sites.734 As of 31 March, there were 138 IDP sites in Kachin State, with a total of 96,930 IDPs.735 For maps of IDP sites in Kachin and northern Shan states: https://reliefweb.int/map/myanmar/myanmar-idp-sites-kachin-state-31-march-2020. Some 4,000 people were forced to flee their homes on 21-22 April due to fighting in Minbya Township – the same township where a WHO driver died 20 April after his WHO vehicle came under gunfire (see “Security” section). There is also small-scale displacement in Kyauktaw and Ponnagyun townships.736 The Government announced a budget of 2.4 billion Myanmar Kyats (US$1.7million) for preventive measures in IDP camps.737 Myanmar contends with rebel groups in its borderlands, which have severely limited medical supplies and piecemeal COVID-19 containment plans – some led by armed groups and civil society groups. Some armed groups are procuring coronavirus test kits and building makeshift quarantine sites. The problems are magnified by extreme restrictions on aid in rebel-controlled areas.738
Prisons: On 17 April, Myanmar’s president announced the release of 24,896 prisoners amid fears of COVID-19 outbreaks in the crowded prisons.739 The largest mass pardon in recent years was timed with Myanmar’s New Year, but excluded rights activists.740 The country’s entire system of almost 100 prisons and labor camps has only 30 doctors and 80 nurses.
Security: On 9 May Myanmar’s Tatmadaw has announced a four-month unilateral ceasefire to allow the country to fight COVID-19, but it excludes areas where the Arakan Army operates. The military said there will be a
728 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/wfp-myanmar-covid-19-situation-report-04-6-may-2020 729 https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmars-fifth-covid-19-lab-operate-shan-state-july.html 730 https://www.irrawaddy.com/specials/myanmar-covid-19/myanmars-third-covid-19-lab-begins-operating-mandalay.html 731 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA%20Myanmar%20-%20%20COVID-19%20Situation%20report%20No%203.pdf 732 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/preventive-and-control-measures-against-dengue-accelerated 733 https://www.globalprotectioncluster.org/2020/04/29/covid-19-protection-risks-responses-situation-report-no-4-as-of-29-april-2020/ 734 https://reliefweb.int/map/myanmar/myanmar-idp-sites-kachin-state-29-february-2020 735 https://reliefweb.int/map/myanmar/myanmar-idp-sites-kachin-state-31-march-2020 736 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ROAP_Snapshot_200428.pdf 737 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/myanmar-covid-19-situation-report-no-03-4-may-2020 738 https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2020/04/21/Myanmar-coronavirus-Rakhine-Kachin-Karen-conflict 739 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-17/myanmar-releases-prisoners-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/12160388 740 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/myanmar-rights-activists-excluded-largest-prisoner-release-years
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ceasefire from 10 May to 31 Aug with the aim of allowing the nation to carry out the containment, prevention and treatment of COVID-19.741742 On 20 April, a WHO driver was killed while driving a marked UN vehicle from Sittwe [Rakhine State’s capital] to Yangon, transporting COVID19 surveillance samples for the MoHS.743 Some armed groups have called for a ceasefire to prepare for the coronavirus, though military officials have rejected such proposals.744 The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) has expressed concern over growing civilian fatalities as a result of fighting between Myanmar security forces and the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) — an ethnic Rakhine armed group fighting for greater autonomy in Rakhine state.745 Criminal penalties exist for violating Burma’s disease-control efforts.746 Return to TOC
741 https://www.ucanews.com/news/myanmar-military-calls-unilateral-ceasefire-in-covid-19-fight/87983 742 https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-05-10/Myanmar-military-declares-ceasefire-for-COVID-19-fight-QngnEOEII8/index.html 743 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/attack-vehicle-killed-myanmar-driver-condemned-200422011858564.html 744 https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2020/04/21/Myanmar-coronavirus-Rakhine-Kachin-Karen-conflict 745 https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/coronavirus-cover-myanmar-civilians-under-fire 746 https://mm.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/
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NAURU Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Considerations Affected State Information Resources Measures/Access
As of 17 June 2020, Nauru has 0 confirmed cases Government suspended all On 16 March 2020, Nauru’s Government of Republic of COVID-19. international flights to Nauru President declared a state of Nauru website: except one every other day of emergency to manage http://www.naurugov.nr/ Republic of Nauru President Lionel Rouwen Aingimea to Brisbane with strict and minimize the impact of TC Harold SITREP: stated on 15 March 2020, “Nauru is particularly quarantine measures COVID-19 effective for an vulnerable to threat of the coronavirus. The global Details affecting Pacific including 14 day quarantine. initial 30 days. impact indicates that should the virus enter Nauru, Islands: the results could be devastating.” 14-day Quarantine Mandate Australia will provide AUD https://reliefweb.int/rep for travelers with direct or $4.5 million to assist the ort/vanuatu/tropical- cyclone-harold-situation- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of indirect involvement with a Government of Nauru Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has designated Nauru a address the health and report-7-14-april-2020 vessel with confirmed country at minimal risk for natural disasters however economic impacts of the coronavirus cases. acknowledges it has a low capacity to respond due to COVID-19 pandemic.749 *TC Harold has not had 747 its small population and geographic isolation. Any travelers with flu-like any impact to Nauru.
symptoms may be 200 refugees and asylum seekers in country COVID-19 Case Database quarantined until cleared by https://github.com/CSSE 748 undergoing Australian off- https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html Nauru Health Department. shore processing.750 GISandData/COVID-19
Disaster Risk: The INFORM Global Risk Index’s overall ranking for Nauru is 108 out of 191 countries (a lower number indicates higher risk) for natural disasters and humanitarian crises. Disaster risk in the last three years has been stable.751 INFORM has a separate COVID-19 Risk Index, which assesses “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Nauru is in the “high” COVID risk class, based on its INFORM COVID-19 risk score of 5.2 on a scale of 1-10, where 10 indicates highest risk.752
National organization response
Nauru established the Department of National Emergency Services in 2016 also passing their Disaster Risk Management Act detailing the plan for disaster management and disaster risk reduction in the country.753
The Coronavirus Taskforce and the Nauru Police Force are working on a national response drill while the hospital is also working on its own drill. The MOH is expecting a second oxygen plant which will more than double oxygen capacity. The hospital is expected to receive testing kits on 1 May.754
747 https://www.unocha.org/office-pacific-islands/nauru 748 https://fj.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/ 749 http://www.naurugov.nr/government-information-office/gio-notices/wednesday,-15-april-2020.aspx 750 https://www.sbs.com.au/news/nauru-declares-state-of-emergency-to-manage-coronavirus-pandemic 751 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 752 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 753 http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/acts/d36677fea38c559c4ea7f5041735cf8e.pdf 754 http://www.naurugov.nr/government-information-office/gio-notices/thursday,-30-april,-2020.aspx
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Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The WHO in the Western Pacific is based in Manila, Philippines and there are several regional WHO Country Liaison Offices which provide support to Nauru.755 The WHO in the Pacific coordinates the COVID-19 Joint Incident Management Team (IMT), which has developed and is implementing a six-month Pacific Action Plan for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness and Response.756
Country-specific planning considerations A Migration Act with Australia could critically complicate persons contracting the COVID-19 virus and needing to seek emergency care services and or inundating services in country and needing to be medically evacuated to Australia. Particularly concerning are the 600 Australian refugee/asylum seekers currently detained in offshore processing centers in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. The ‘Medevac Bill’ was passed in February 2019 allowing refuges to be transferred to Australia for urgent medical treatment unavailable in Nauru. Prior to this bill, patients were delayed or denied medical transfers of against the recommendation of doctors for months or years impacting outcomes and in at least one instance resulting in a death that was deemed preventable if not for the significant delays.757 In December 2019, Australia repealed the medical evacuation law citing concerns about national security and concerns regarding the ability to obtain approval for medical transfers for this population have returned.758 This population being held in detention facilities are at greater risk due to their inability to practice recommended social distancing in the event of exposure to the virus.759
Evacuation Centers: Nauru has no confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Hospitals: Nauru has two hospitals: Nauru General Hospital is run by the government and Nauru Phosphate Corporation Hospital also known as the Republic of Nauru Hospital (RONH), which is state run and provides free medical and dental treatment for its citizens. Anyone with serious illnesses and injuries unable to be treated on island are sent by air to Australia. Additionally, the Republic of Nauru Pharmacy imports pharmaceuticals from Australia and Netherlands and suffers from frequent supply shortages and disruptions in distribution.760 These circumstances could critically challenge the country if affected by the virus.
Quarantine: A flight from Brisbane arrived 1 May with 27 passengers. They will be taken to the Meneñ Hotel and Anibare Village for a 14 day quarantine, along with one Nauruan fisheries observer who was waiting on a vessel at sea.761
Security: N/A Return to TOC
755 https://www.who.int/nauru/about-us 756 https://www.who.int/westernpacific/about/how-we-work/pacific-support/news/detail/21-02-2020-pacific-steps-up-preparedness-against-covid-19 757 https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/08/23/australia-retain-emergency-medical-care-refugees# 758 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/dark-day-australia-repeals-medical-evacuation-refugees-191204004120084.html 759 https://reliefweb.int/report/australia/coronavirus-poses-added-risks-australia-s-immigration-detainees 760 http://www.naurugov.nr/government/departments/department-of-health-and-medicinal-service.aspx 761 http://www.naurugov.nr/government-information-office/gio-notices/thursday,-30-april,-2020.aspx
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NEPAL Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Considerations Affected State Information Measures/Access Resources
On 4 JUN, Nepal reported the The Cabinet decided 10 JUN to Ministry of Health highest single-day increase, ease lockdown in some low-risk and Population Nepal COVID-19 Total Case Trend with 334 new confirmed areas, including Kathmandu. 767 https://heoc.mohp.go 8,000 762 v.np/update-on- COVID-19 cases. The nationwide lockdown was novel-corona-virus-
extended through 14 JUN.768 covid-19/ 7,000 Monsoon season is JUN-SEP. Communities vulnerable to A ‘timecard system’ Epidemiology and 6,000 floods also at high risk of implemented 10 May regulates Control Division COVID-19.763 the limited vehicular movement http://www.edcd.gov .np in Kathmandu Valley by 5,000 5.3 magnitude earthquake mandating essential businesses Civil Aviation struck central Nepal on 12 Authority 4,000 only operate vehicles 2-3 May. No damages or loss of http://caanepal.gov.n 764 hours/day at designated p life reported. 769 3,000 times. Measles outbreaks have been COVID-19 Cases The government has extended Database 2,000 reported in several districts the suspension on all domestic https://github.com/C including in Kathmandu and and international flights to 30 SSEGISandData/COVI Lalitpur. 770 D-19 JUN. Dept. of Immigration Epidemiology and 20 Deaths – 7,177 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN The borders with India and suspended all visa services Disease Control 765 China are closed until further Division Weekly https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html until 14 June. 771 notice. Bulletin: The Logistics Cluster will https://reliefweb.int/ Domestic movement restricted provide storage service for report/nepal/epidemi between municipalities, ology-and-disease- medical supplies at three districts, and provinces. control-division-early- Humanitarian Staging Areas warning-and- (HSAs): Kathmandu, Emergency responders, security reporting-system- Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi forces, and UN staff are exempt ewars-40 Airports.766 from the lockdown order.772
Hotel Association Nepal will keep all affiliated hotels shut until mid-OCT.773
762 https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 763 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/avoiding-perfect-storm-covid-19-and-floods-nepal-findings-community-disaster-management 764 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/5-3-magnitude-earthquake-hits-nepal/articleshow/75710871.cms 765 http://www.nepalimmigration.gov.np/ per notice dated 31 May 2020 766 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/nepal-national-logistics-cluster-standard-operating-procedure-transport-and-storage 767 https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/nepal-loosens-lockdown-heres-a-list-of-what-will-operate-what-will-not/ 768 https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2020/may/31/nepal-extends-coronavirus-lockdown-until-june-14-vows-to-bring-back-stranded-citizens-2150401.html 769 https://thehimalayantimes.com/business/time-card-system-implemented-from-sunday-delivery-services-comes-to-standstill/ 770 https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2020/may/31/nepal-extends-coronavirus-lockdown-until-june-14-vows-to-bring-back-stranded-citizens-2150401.html 771 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/covid19-nepal-response-situation-report-no-vi-11-may-2020-banke-bardia-kailali 772 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/wfp-nepal-country-brief-march-2020 773 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/covid19-nepal-response-situation-report-no-vi-11-may-2020-banke-bardia-kailali
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Disaster Risk: The INFORM Global Risk Index’s overall ranking for Nepal is 44 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk) for disasters and humanitarian crises. Additionally, INFORM has a new COVID Risk Index, which identifies “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Nepal is assessed as being in the High COVID risk class, based on a COVID risk of 5.1 on a scale of 1-10, where a higher number indicates higher risk. 774 Monsoon season runs June to September. Communities vulnerable to floods are also at high risk of COVID- 19. 80% of Nepal is vulnerable to multiple hazards, with flooding one of the most frequent and devastating.775
National organization response: The High-Level Coordination Committee on Prevention and Control of Novel Coronavirus under the leadership of the Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister has established a COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre (CMC). Key function of the CMC is to deliver rapid responses to COVID-19. Ministry of Health Epidemiology and Control Division has released an SOP for case investigation and contact tracing: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X_xo6Pgc8DLEJ97OAH3aF0pavBAwhmvV/view Coronavirus Prevention, Control and Treatment Fund (CPCTF) established by the federal government has been receiving funds from various organizations and individuals. The Ministry of Finance, on 27 April, introduced the second phase of a stimulus relief package for the public and businesses affected by the pandemic.776 Nepal decided to ease the ongoing nationwide lockdown in some low-risk areas, including Kathmandu Valley, in a 10 JUN Cabinet meeting. To gradually resume economic activities, the operation of some businesses and private vehicles will be allowed in some areas. Nepal has three designated phases for resuming all services, with most activities in the first phase to go into effect 15 JUN.777 Schools, religious gatherings, malls, gyms, and other venues of large gatherings will remain closed. Domestic and international flights remain suspended with some exceptions. The relaxed restrictions come as Nepal saw the highest number of daily new COVID-19 cases, 448, on 12 JUN.778 Nepal extended its nationwide lockdown past the 2 JUN deadline to 14 JUN, per a 30 MAY Cabinet decision. All residents and visitors throughout Nepal are required to remain in their place of residence. All movement on the roads, by vehicle and on foot, is currently prohibited with very limited life safety exceptions.779 All domestic and international flights are suspended until 30 JUN, and visa services suspended until 14 JUN.780 The government also decided to mobilize the Army to the worst-hit areas to effectively implement the lockdown.781 Nepal saw its highest single-day increase in new COVID-19 cases on 1 JUN with 226 cases, per the health ministry. Of Nepal’s 77 districts, 59 have confirmed COVID-19 cases.782 With officials expanding testing in May, the government anticipated a rise in COVID-19 cases.783 The government has decided to bring home Nepalese stranded abroad on a priority basis.784 500,000- 600,000 migrant workers plan to return to Nepal as early as possible, as the COVID-19 pandemic causes job losses for 10-30% of Nepalis working in Malaysia, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, per a Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies report.785 In March, before lockdown, close to 500,000 Nepali migrant workers crossed the border back into Nepal from India without any screening.786 According to the government’s early warning and reporting system (EWARS) weekly bulletin (17 May) nine cases of dengue were reported (five from Myagdi, three from Kaski and one from Kathmandu). Additionally, 113 cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) have been reported (these are separate from COVID-19 cases).787
774 https://data.humdata.org/dataset/inform-covid-analysis-v01 775 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/avoiding-perfect-storm-covid-19-and-floods-nepal-findings-community-disaster-management 776 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/DCA_SITREP%20%23V%20_4%20May%2C%202020_Final.padf 777 https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/nepal-government-to-ease-coronavirus-lockdown-in-some-areas/story-dnz5M6wKFSEMQ1b1oRsibK.html 778 https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/highest-single-day-cases-recorded-on-friday-covid-19-tally-shoots-past-5000/ 779 https://np.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ Updated 31 MAY 2020 780 http://www.nepalimmigration.gov.np/ 781 https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2020/may/31/nepal-extends-coronavirus-lockdown-until-june-14-vows-to-bring-back-stranded-citizens-2150401.html 782 https://www.livemint.com/news/world/nepal-records-highest-single-day-spike-with-226-new-covid-19-cases-11591037367759.html 783 https://kathmandupost.com/health/2020/05/20/nepal-s-covid-19-tally-reaches-427-after-the-confirmation-of-25-new-cases 784 https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2020/may/31/nepal-extends-coronavirus-lockdown-until-june-14-vows-to-bring-back-stranded-citizens-2150401.html 785 https://kathmandupost.com/national/2020/05/21/at-least-500-000-migrant-workers-want-to-return-home-at-the-earliest-says-report 786 https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/returnees-may-be-taking-coronavirus-to-rural-nepal/ 787 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/epidemiology-and-disease-control-division-early-warning-and-reporting-system-ewars-43
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According to a report by the Government of Finland, in 2019, remittances in Nepal accounted for some 26% of the country's GDP. The World Bank estimates that in 2020 remittances to Nepal may fall by 14% (approximately US$1.2 billion). According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the number of Nepalese migrant workers in Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait is estimated to be 1.5 million. An estimated 3–4 million are working in India.788 With the country under lockdown, routine measles immunization programs have been affected in several districts. The MOHP suspended measles-rubella vaccination drives for an indefinite period after the lockdown. Due to the rise in cases, the Ministry has begun asking local health facilities to resume regular vaccination programs.789 WFP, as the lead of the Logistics Cluster, is coordinating closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Health Directorate on the possibility of consolidating shipments of COVID-19 related health supplies from China planned by the government and other partners. The Cluster has also finalized a health facility assessment in six provinces.790 The government said it will restrict people’s movement into Kathmandu valley, but despite the lockdown, there are reports that hundreds of people are entering from various parts of the country, according to a report by The Tribune India.791 Nepal on 8 May began a new session of its parliament as the country entered the 46th day of a nationwide lockdown. The previous day, health workers took samples of lawmakers to conduct lab tests as a precautionary measure.792 A report from the Kathmandu Post says that some Nepali officials are worried that hundreds of crews and cargo trucks being let in from India to deliver supplies to Nepal might result in further spread of COVID-19. The concerns come after the government relaxed some lockdown measures, allowing factories to resume production. According to the mayor of Birgunj Metropolitan City, the number of cargo trucks entering the country via the Birgunj- Raxaul border point has reached around 700 daily and each truck carries at least two to three people. Hundreds of cargo trucks are also entering the country via several other border entries such as in Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj.793 Almost 4,500 tourists are still stranded in Nepal according to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). Around 10,000 tourists were in the country at the beginning of the lockdown, but around 5,500 have since returned. All flights have been suspended since March 22 and only flights with special permission from the Civil Aviation Authority are allowed to fly.794 The government has released its “National Policy and Strategic Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 2018-2030.”The document can be found here: https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/national-policy-and- strategic-action-plan-disaster-risk-reduction-and-management-2018 (Not directly COVID-19 related but is a key national disaster risk reduction document that details the key priority actions in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction priorities for action [SFDRR]). The related National Policy for Disaster Risk Reduction 2018 can be found here: https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/national-policy-disaster-risk-reduction-2018-enne Information on disaster management is available in CFE-DM’s Nepal DM Reference Handbook: https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=YydG2a5IWvY%3d&portalid=0
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The National Logistics Cluster (NLC) has released a document which explains the scope of the logistics services provided by the NLC: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/nepal_national_logistics_cluster_covid-19_sop_200419.pdf
788 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/vital-remittances-nepal-risk-due-coronavirus-outbreak-says-ambassador-pertti-anttinen 789 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/measles-outbreaks-reported-five-districts-including-kathmandu-and-lalitpur-last-one 790 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WFP-0000114431.pdf 791 https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/covid-19-pandemic-nepal-extends-lockdown-till-may-18-81177 792 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/nepal-begins-parliament-session-amid-covid-19-lockdown/1833923 793 https://kathmandupost.com/national/2020/05/10/officials-warn-rise-in-number-of-cargo-trucks-entering-nepal-raises-the-risk-of- coronavirus 794 http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-05/11/c_139048365.htm
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The Swiss government on 8 May gave the government 30,000 PCR tests.795 The Nepali Times reported on 8 May, two Chinese flights taking back Chinese tourists stranded in Nepal brought in medical equipment including 10,000 KN95 masks, 338,000 disposable surgical masks and 9,000 PPE donated by the Chinese Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.796 World Vision International Nepal (WVIN) has developed a response plan to support the government’s efforts. Children’s interests are the main focus of the plan, and the response will be initially implemented across 14 districts.797 WVIN has also donated PPEs and hygiene kits.798 The UN in Nepal has released “Rumours and Facts on COVID-19” brochures to help combat misinformation on COVID-19. The latest issue can be found here: http://un.org.np/sites/default/files/rumour-tracking_Issue3.pdf The World Bank has approved a fast-track US$29 million COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project to help Nepal prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness.799 On 6 May the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a US$214 Million Disbursement.800 UNICEF warns that as the pandemic continues to weaken the health system, an estimated 4,000 children could die in Nepal in the next six months without urgent action. The number of children dying before their fifth birthdays is going to increase for the first time in decades if action not taken, UNICEF warns.801 UNICEF Report on COVID-19 response in South Asia: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/UNICEF%20ROSA%20COVID- 19%20Situation%20Report%20No.%205%20-%2031%20March-7%20April%202020.pdf On 4 May, the UN released its “Strategic Summary 2019” for Nepal. (While not directly COVID-19 related, the plan gives a good overview of the UN strategic plan towards development in Nepal): https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/strategic-summary-2019 Nepal Red Cross Society is responding to COVID-19 with ambulance and blood transfusion services, ensuring Personal Protective Equipment for front line workers, psychological support, and Red Cross Emergency Clinics.802 NRCS Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) was activated on 6 February. Community Based Health and First Aid (CBHFA) volunteers are on the ground in Palpa and Arghakhanchi districts with the financial support of the Australian Red Cross doing COVID-19 related awareness activities.803 On 17 May India gave Nepal 30,000 PCR test kits.804 DanChurchAid (DCA) is providing food aid, medical and hygiene supplies in central and western Nepal.805
Country-specific planning considerations
Quarantine Centers: Established in various parts of Nepal, centers lack basic facilities (bedding, toilet, drinking water) including safety gear (PPE) for health practitioners deployed to those locations. (Source: Preliminary report on the epidemic of corona virus, Informal Sector Service Center [INSEC]).
Displaced Populations: According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), there are 29,000 IDP (2019) in Nepal.806
795 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/nepal-confirms-three-new-coronavirus-cases-total-infections-reach-102-health- ministry/articleshow/75629816.cms 796 https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/swiss-pcrs-for-nepal-covid-19-testing/ 797 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/nepal-covid-19-response 798 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/world-vision-international-nepal-supported-1000-personal-protective-equipment-ppes-and 799 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/government-nepal-and-world-bank-sign-29-million-financing-agreement-nepal-s-covid-19 800 https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2020/05/07/pr20209-nepal-imf-executive-board-approves-us-million-disbursement-address-covid-19- pandemic 801 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/covid19-nepal-response-situation-report-no-vii-18-may-2020-banke-bardia-kailali 802 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/covid19-nepal-response-situation-report-no-vi-11-may-2020-banke-bardia-kailali 803 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/NRCS-COVID-19-Prepardness-and-Response-situation-updateSitrep-74.pdf 804 https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/nepal-thanks-india-for-providing-medical-supplies-to-fight-covid-19/article31606721.ece 805 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/DCA_COVID-19_SITREP%20%23VII_18%20May%2C%202020.pdf 806 https://www.internal-displacement.org/countries/nepal
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Health: On 12 JUN, Nepal reported the highest-single-day increase, with 448 new confirmed COVID-19 cases.807 Local governments in more remote regions of Nepal have asked Tribhuvan University for help in carrying out tests. The university has sent testing equipment, experts and volunteers to help in at least three provinces.808 The GoN has designated a total of 25 hospitals across the country for the treatment of COVID-19.809 Including the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Teku, COVID-19 lab test services has been expanded to 19 other institutions across the country, with at least one lab in each province.810 Nepal has increased testing, performing more rapid diagnostic tests that only test for antibodies than Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. The lockdown implemented 24 March stranded people at the border, including many migrant Nepalis who entered informally.811 Total 1,029 ICU beds and 552 ventilators are available in the country. Of this, 278 ICU beds and 250 ventilators are in Kathmandu Valley and 751 ICU beds and 302 ventilators in other districts (Source: Ministry of Health and Population (SITREP#51). Severe shortages of health care professionals. Infection control measures not in place. 84 government hospitals / 5,025 beds total. Increased concern for pregnant women facing limited access to maternal health care due to movement restrictions, transportation challenges and anxiety over exposure to the virus.812 A 50-bed Special Hospital has been established in Dhangadhi, Sudurpaschim Province.813
Security: According to the Nepal Police Headquarters, sexual assault and domestic violence have increased. Over the 40 days through 1 May, at least 158 girls and women have reported sexual assault, 272 people have committed suicide, and 182 other cases of domestic violence including child abuse, have been reported.814 The Hindustan Times reported that a group of Chinese nationals stranded in Nepal due to the lockdown clashed with police as they tried to reach the Prime Minister’s Office in Kathmandu. Nepal police said 45 had been arrested.815 Several people harassed a health worker traveling in a car at Nagdhunga check post 16 May, resulting in one being arrested.816 The COVID-19 lockdown seems to be exacerbating rights violations against lower caste members, especially “untouchable” Dalits. Since lockdown was imposed at least a dozen cases of caste-based discrimination and human rights violations have occurred toward Dalit communities, including rape and murder, spurring Parliament’s Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee on 25 MAY to directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate the incidents during lockdown. A Samata Foundation legal advisor said that in Achham only people from Dalit communities returning home from abroad were quarantined.817 Return to TOC
807 https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/highest-single-day-cases-recorded-on-friday-covid-19-tally-shoots-past-5000/ 808 https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20200508091926245 809 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ADRANepal_COVID-19_SitRep_03.pdf 810 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/covid19-nepal-response-situation-report-no-vii-18-may-2020-banke-bardia-kailali 811 https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/nepals-covid-19-struggle-continues-amid-a-concerning-surge/ 812 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/nepal-covid-19-turning-pregnancy-excitement-fear 813 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/covid19-nepal-response-situation-report-no-vii-18-may-2020-banke-bardia-kailali 814 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/covid19-nepal-response-situation-report-no-v-may-4-2020-banke-bardia-kailali-kanchanpur 815 https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/45-chinese-nationals-in-nepal-demand-flights-to-go-home-throw-stones/story-IHVldc3ZR9gMTF3dFEcZmJ.html 816 https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/one-held-for-harassing-health-worker/ 817 https://kathmandupost.com/national/2020/05/26/serious-human-rights-violations-against-dalits-reported-during-lockdown ; https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/06/01/nepal-ensure-justice-caste-based-killings#
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NEW CALEDONIA (Fr.) Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Considerations Measures/Access Resources
November – March Lockdown orders for the Government of New Caledonia Tropical Cyclone Season. country ended 20 April New Caledonia 30 COVID-19 Total Case Trend with certain precautions website: 25 New Caledonia requires still in place for reduced https://gouv.nc/ anyone arriving from class sizes, strict hygiene, 20 overseas to isolate for 3 and social distancing.820 Government of 15 weeks of which the last New Caledonia, week can be spent at Original lock down orders COVID-19 10 home. This is an were issued 19 March https://gouv.nc/cor 5 extension from initial 2- and extended in two- onavirus week mandatory week increments. 0 quarantine.818 Travel Advisory for Lockdown conditions New Caledonia: The only shipments required anyone in public https://www.travel- 0 Deaths – 21 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN allowed are for to carry justification for advisory.info/new-
emergencies/supplies. movement papers or face caledonia Gov’t of New Caledonia, current day: https://gouv.nc/coronavirus 819 821 COVID-19 Data Repository by CSSE at JHU, updated to PREVIOUS day fines. for New Caledonia: https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19
Disaster Risk: New Caledonia is a French territory in Oceania, made up of three main islands, Ouvea, Lifou, and Mar and several smaller islands located in the southwest Pacific Ocean approximately 900 miles east of Australia.822 Its population of approximately 290,009, mostly reside in and around the capital of Nouméa.823 New Caledonia has annual equatorial depressions from December to March including frequent tropical cyclones (typhoons) and heavy rains from July to August.824 New Caledonia is also home to Matthew Island and Hunter Islands which are historically active volcanos.825
National organization response New Caledonia issued lockdown orders on 19 March 2020 which went into effect 24 March. An extension of restrictions was announced 11 April and lockdown mandates were lifted on 20 April though cases have stayed under 20 total and there have been 0 deaths.826 After 52 days of no new cases, a person tested positive for coronavirus on 28 May. All COVID-19 cases were found in people coming from overseas, primarily France.827
818 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/414851/new-caledonia-extends-quarantine-for-returnees-to-three-weeks 819 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/french-territory-of-new-caledonia-lifts-restrictions/1811695 820 https://www.france24.com/en/20200423-new-caledonia-the-french-island-where-lockdown-is-already-over 821 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/414019/new-caledonia-extends-covid-19-lockdown 822 https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Caledonia-French-unique-collectivity-Pacific-Ocean/People 823 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nc.html 824 https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Caledonia-French-unique-collectivity-Pacific-Ocean#ref53927 825 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nc.html 826 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/414019/new-caledonia-extends-covid-19-lockdown 827 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/417773/new-caledonia-19th-covid-case-nearly-two-months-after-last
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While the country is no longer on lockdown, and schools, businesses, hotels, restaurants, shops and beaches are open; tourism has not resumed and the only shipments allowed are for emergencies or supplies.828
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society)
The Pacific Humanitarian Pathway on COVID-19 (PHP-C) coordinated 55,000 facial masks and 20,000 protective masks to the Pacific Island Forum member countries including New Caledonia which received 10% of the distribution. PPE was donated from the Jack Ma Foundation.829
The French Red Cross of New Caledonia provided support to the health authorities by checking passengers coming into the Nouméa airport and handling logistics for the quarantine sites for those infected.830 The Red Cross in Your Home operation was also launched providing 1,400 home deliveries of food and supplies to vulnerable and isolated populations. The Red Cross also responded to government requests to provide donations of toys, food and clothing to improve the lives of those quarantined in hotels.831
Country-specific planning considerations
New Caledonia formally annexed from France in 1853 however, per the 1998 Nouméa Agreement, the country arranged to vote for independence in 2018 which ended in a 56.4% to 43% vote to reject splitting from France. Subsequent elections are set to be held every two years and the next vote is scheduled for September 2020. However, Separationists have called for a postponement due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to avoid a conflict with municipal elections.832
Quarantine Centers: Individuals arriving in New Caledonia were quarantined in Nouméa hotels which have space for 850 people.833 The government paid two-week hotel quarantine may be ending.834
Hospitals: New Caledonia has approximately 650 doctors working in the public and private health sectors. There are also 559 nurses per 100,000 population.835 The capital, Nouméa has 1 public hospital and three private clinics and some pharmacists. The smaller islands rely on community clinics for medical care. The main medical facility is the Hôpital Gaston Bourret.836
Security: Lockdown conditions were enforced to require an attestation of essential business to justify movement with violators fine US$800 for a first offense and US$1600 for a second offense. Approximately 3000 people had been fined before restrictions were lifted.837 Return to TOC
828 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/french-territory-of-new-caledonia-lifts-restrictions/1811695 829 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/414837/first-covid-19-supplies-arrive-through-forum-s-pathway-programme 830 https://go.ifrc.org/emergencies/3991#details 831 https://gouv.nc/actualites/18-05-2020/le-bilan-de-la-croix-rouge-durant-la-crise 832 https://www.euronews.com/2020/05/19/coronavirus-new-caledonia-separatists-want-france-independence-vote-postponed-due-to-covid 833 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/414851/new-caledonia-extends-quarantine-for-returnees-to-three-weeks 834 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/417773/new-caledonia-19th-covid-case-nearly-two-months-after-last 835 https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/259920/WPRO-2017-DPM-015-nec-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y 836 https://www.travmed.com/pages/new-caledonia 837 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/414019/new-caledonia-extends-covid-19-lockdown
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NEW ZEALAND Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Considerations Affected State Information Resources Measures/Access
All travelers entering New New Zealand declared it is Government of New Zealand New Zealand COVID-19 Zealand must go into 14-day free of COVID-19 on 8 JUN website: https://www.govt.nz/ managed isolation in a after the last active case Government of New Zealand Total Case Trend government-provided (hotel) recovered, and moved to COVID-19 site: facility or if exhibiting COVID-19 Level 1, lifting all restrictions. https://covid19.govt.nz/ 2,000 symptoms, go to a quarantine But borders remain closed to includes Travel updates, facility (hospital). Individuals foreigners.839 1,800 Alerts, best practices and may not self-isolate at home or 1,600 video & transcripts of daily take a domestic flight until 14- The country went to Level 1 media conferences. 1,400 day period is complete. status two weeks ahead of 1,200 schedule.840 No new COVID- Alert Levels in New Zealand: Foreign nationals in NZ can 19 cases since 21 MAY. The https://covid19.govt.nz/alert- 1,000 travel via air to return to their country’s status was reduced system/covid-19-alert- home country. 841 system/#covid-19-alert-system to Level 2 on 13 MAY. New Scheduled flights available from Zealand had declared a State New Zealand Emergency Auckland, Wellington, of National Emergency on 25 Preparedness Site, ‘GET Christchurch, Dunedin and MAR, which expired on 13 READY’: 22 Deaths – 1,504* confirmed cases as of 15 JUN 842 Nelson. MAY, when the National https://getready.govt.nz/ *No new cases since 21 MAY Transition Period came into 838 https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html ; No ferries are available. force.843 https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19
Disaster Risk: New Zealand’s overall INFORM model risk ranking is 162 out of 191 countries (a lower number indicates higher risk). Disaster risk in the last three years has been stable.844 Cyclone season runs from November to April.845 The country is exposed to natural hazards including volcanoes, earthquakes, damaging winds, tsunamis, floods, snow, landslides, storm surges and coastal erosion.846 Additionally, INFORM has a new COVID-19 Risk Index, which assesses “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” New Zealand is in the “low” COVID risk class, based on its risk score of 2.1/10 (10 being highest risk).847
National organization response On 8 JUN, New Zealand declared it is free of COVID-19 after the last active case recovered, and lifted all restrictions. All of New Zealand moved to Level 1, the lowest of its four-tier alert system. Social distancing is no longer required and there are no limits on public gatherings. However, borders remain closed to foreigners.848 New Zealand and Australia are in talks with Fiji about opening Fiji up to “travel bubble” tourism between the two countries. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on 10 JUN that New Zealand will first re-start travel
838 https://covid19.govt.nz/ 839 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52961539 840 https://www.foxnews.com/world/new-zealand-coronavirus-restrictions-lifted-early 841 https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-system/covid-19-alert-system/ 842 https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-system/state-of-national-emergency/#state-of-national-emergency-expired 843 https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-system/national-transition-period/ 844 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 845 https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/10/new-zealanders-warned-to-prepare-as-cyclone-season-bears-down-on-the-country.html 846 https://www.rnz.co.nz/collections/natural-hazards/natural-hazards-in-new-zealand 847 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 848 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52961539
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tourism with Australia and then the Pacific islands. New Zealand is also in talks with Singapore to include Fiji in special travel arrangements or “Green Lane” (essential travel) with Singapore.849 The National Crisis Management Centre activated a national response to COVID-19 including an Operational Command Centre for day-to-day coordination of response activities across the nation. Additionally, the COVID-19 Ministerial Group (CVD) was established by Cabinet to coordinate and direct the government response to the pandemic. On 25 March the Government declared a State of Emergency and issued an Epidemic Management Notice (COVID-19) 2020, which expired on 13 May. 850 The National Action Plan for COVID-19 response was published 1 April 2020.851 Additionally, the NZ Government announced a $12.1 billion NZ dollar economic package to include $500 million for health, $8.7 billion in support of businesses and jobs and $2.8 billion for income support and boosting consumer spending.852 The Ministry of Health also made provisions for financial medical assistance to individuals and families.853 Additionally, the Civil Defence Emergency Management Group set up a dedicated Healthline for COVID-19 related issues, 0800-358-5453 for those struggling to secure food, medication, and/or supplies. Civil Defense information is at: https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/resources/news-and-events/news/cdem-group-0800-numbers- for-supporting-communities/ The National Emergency Management Agency is the managing body for risk reduction and response.854
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society)
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Zealand Red Cross is providing essential and support services including: delivering 11,000 meals via Meals on Wheels program; delivering medical supplies from pharmacies to vulnerable people advised not to leave their homes; providing daily remote check-ins to over 350 former refugee families across the country; translating the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 messaging into 13 different languages; Assisting health professionals at COVID-19 testing centers; Sharing safety messages with communities as part of a nationwide effort; and providing emotional and social wellbeing support.855 Additionally, The United Nations Children’s Fund New Zealand (UNICEF NZ) and The Salvation Army have collaborated to assist New Zealanders who are facing unemployment due to the COVID-19 Level 4 lock down and may struggle to provide their families with food. The organizations are providing urgent food and hygiene supplies and accepting donations via, The Salvation Army’s Foodbank Project.856
Country-specific planning considerations
New Zealand’s ‘Get Ready’ website details emergency preparation and prevention for all communities, with information regarding all aspects of hazards and available assistance. https://getready.govt.nz/.
Health: As of 3 JUN, New Zealand has consistently reported no new cases since 21 May 2020.857 New Zealand took an aggressive approach early on by closing borders and imposing a month-long lockdown in late March when there were only about 100 confirmed cases in the country.858 New Zealand has 40 public hospitals and (additional private hospitals) providing care for emergency, medical, surgical, and maternity services. The country counts 3,500 general practitioner doctors throughout New Zealand.859
849 https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/fiji-angry-at-second-class-consideration-in-travel-bubble-plan-20200610-p55183; https://www.rawstory.com/2020/06/answered-prayers-fiji-declares-itself-coronavirus-free/; https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Travel-bubble-NZ-PM-says-Australia-first-then-Pacific-Islands-fx54r8 850 https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-system/state-of-national-emergency/#state-of-national-emergency-expired 851 https://covid19.govt.nz/assets/resources/legislation-and-key-documents/COVID-19-national-action-plan-2-issued-1-April.pdf 852 https://shorthand.radionz.co.nz/coronavirus-timeline/index.html 853 https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/409753/people-struggle-to-find-places-to-self-quarantine-amid-coronavirus-outbreak 854 https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/ 855 https://www.redcross.org.nz/what-we-do/in-new-zealand/covid-19/ 856 https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/414145/unicef-teams-with-the-salvation-army-to-support-nz-children-in-need 857 https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 858 https://apnews.com/2aad9ddddce1492f4e2068c092e65fa7 859 https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/living-in-nz/healthcare/healthcare-services
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Quarantine Facilities: Over 150 people were held at the Whangaparaoa Military Training Facility in February for 2 weeks after returning to NZ via airplane after evacuating from Wuhan, China. The military training base located in north Auckland.860 Subsequently, the Government have recommended self-isolation at home or in a hotel for returning travelers or symptomatic persons.
Security: In New Zealand, medical staff are increasingly reporting being spat at by members of the public during the lockdown.861 Return to TOC
860 https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/409831/coronavirus-quarantine-at-whangaparaoa-military-base-ends-for-first-group-of-evacuees 861 http://insecurityinsight.org/
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NORTH KOREA / DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Planning Considerations Affected State Measures/Access Information Case Trend Resources
As of 17 June, North Korea intelligence is difficult to North Korea to reopen all schools and restart COVID-19 North Korea obtain, U.S. and South Korean intelligence cross-border trade with China in early June.865 Confirmed Cases (DPRK) has not have struggled to create an accurate picture of what is happening within its The U.S. State Dept. still categorizes North Korea https://github.c reported any om/CSSEGISand borders.862 at “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory. This is due Data/COVID-19 COVID-19 to the serious risk of arrest and long-term 863 cases. The population is 25 million and the detention of U.S. nationals and the global impact Flight country shares a 930-mile border with of COVID-19.866 Restrictions: China, where the coronavirus emerged. https://travel.st
Flight Restrictions: North Korea shut down its ate.gov/content The country is vulnerable to epidemics border with China (all flights and trains) in January /travel/en/trav
because of the poor public health system and has cancelled flights. eladvisories/tra and the international sanctions imposed veladvisories/n over its nuclear weapons and ballistic DPRK reports 740 coronavirus tests returned orth-korea- https://coronavirus.j missile programs, which make it hard to negative and thousands released from travel- hu.edu/map.html ship aid there.864 quarantine.867 advisory.html
Disaster Risk Overall INFORM model risk ranking for North Korea is 55 out of 191 countries. (Lower number indicates higher risk.)868 Recurrent natural disasters, such as droughts and floods, significantly impacts farming, food production, and affects overall food security. In July-August of 2018, there was a severe heat wave (up to 11 degrees hotter than average) in the provinces considered to be the ‘food basket’ of the country. Typhoons and tropical storms also affect the country although less frequently. In August 2018, Typhoon Soulik brought heavy rains to South Hamgyong and Kangwon provinces, as well as flash floods to North and South Hwanghae provinces.869 In September 2019, Tropical Cyclone Lingling made landfall as a category one cyclone and affected the population.870 According to a new Global Health Security Index, North Korea is among the least prepared states to handle an epidemic or pandemic outbreak.871 Additionally, North Korea’s INFORM COVID-19 risk is 4.7/10 indicating medium risk (10 being the highest).872
National organization response Disaster management in the country is not very transparent and there is no official national response system.873 A Bureau for Disaster Management was created in 2013 under the State Planning Committee. At the same time Departments for Disaster Management (DDM) were established. In 2014 a DPRK Law on Disaster Prevention, Rescue and Rehabilitation, was created. The Bureau for Disaster Management was integrated in the State Committee on Emergencies and Disaster Management (SCDEM), which since then took the lead in overlooking
862 https://www.newsweek.com/who-kim-jong-uns-sister-north-korea-leaders-reported-health-problems-push-kim-yo-jong-focus-1499135 863 https://www.who.int/countries/prk/en/ 864 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/21/world/asia/coronavirus-north-korea-trump-kim.html 865 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/north-korea-to-reopen-schools-trade-with-china-as-coronavirus-threat-recedes/2020/06/02/2f5229f8-a4a3-11ea- 898e-b21b9a83f792_story.html 866 https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/north-korea-travel-advisory.html 867 https://www.foxnews.com/world/north-korea-claims-740-coronavirus-tests-come-back-negative 868 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 869 https://www.undp.org/content/dam/unct/dprk/docs/DPRK_NP_2019_Final.pdf 870 https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-peoples-republic-korea/dpr-korea-needs-and-priorities-2020-issued-april-2020 871 https://www.ghsindex.org/ 872 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 873 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6717143/
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the DRM system at the national level.874 There is a community-based disaster preparedness (CBDP) program in the country which has helped establish early warning systems and evacuation plans.875 Related non- governmental organizations (NGOs), such as the Korea Disaster Safety Network, the Korea Disaster Relief Association, the Community Chest of Korea, and others, have been set up.876 The DPRK Red Cross is a member of the cabinet-level National Disaster Coordinating Commission (NDCC), which oversees the coordinated response in major emergencies, and of the province-level disaster management working groups, working alongside representatives of the government departments. The Red Cross Society of the DPRK has a disaster management mandate in the country as the only non-governmental agency auxiliary to the government in disaster response. In 1998 it established a separate disaster management department to focus on preparing individuals and communities for natural disasters and, where they occur, to reduce their impact. The Red Cross has pre- positioned emergency stocks for 27,000 families in seven warehouses, for immediate deployment in case of disaster.877
North Korea is reopening schools and restarting cross-border trade with China, according to state media on 1 JUN. While universities and final-year high school students had already resumed classes in April, all other schools, kindergartens, day-care centers and nursing homes will now reopen in early June. The reopening signals North Korea’s confidence about infection control, according to Kim Heung-kwang, a North Korean defector running a research group in Seoul, though he states, “North Korea does not have enough medical resources to make sure the virus has been eliminated, especially due to its limited testing capacity.” North Korea instituted one of the earliest and strictest lockdowns, closing its border with China in January, placing foreigners under effective house arrest, and severely restricted domestic travel.878
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) Response to COVID-19: Basic medical equipment and supplies as well as trainings for emergency care providers and surgeons are sorely lacking, and half of the country’s health facilities lack sufficient access to water and sanitation. Since January, the regime reportedly reached out discreetly to China, Russia, NGOs, and UN agencies for equipment to limit COVID-19, and received donations of personal protective equipment, other medical supplies, and 1,500 testing kits from Russia.879 This week, the Red Cross called for a sanctions exemption that would let it transfer money to its office in North Korea.880 The UN Humanitarian Country Team, in conjunction with the Government, has developed a Country Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) for COVID-19 and aims to ensure continual prioritization of food security, nutrition, health, water, sanitation and hygiene interventions, are covered.881 The World Health Organization (WHO) is receiving “weekly updates” from North Korea’s health ministry and reported that the country had the capacity to test coronaviruses in its national reference laboratory in the capital Pyongyang. The WHO has sent supplies of protective equipment.882
Response to Other Health Needs: WHO provides technical guidance and logistical support to strengthen health facilities. UNFPA provides medicines, supplies, equipment, training, and emergency obstetric care to improve reproductive health, including maternal health and newborn survival. UNICEF provides equipment, medicine, vaccines, and capacity building of health facilities to support the Ministry of Public Health in maternal and child health. TGH supports the Korean Federation for Care of the Aged (KFCA) with training and capacity building for improved elder care. Humanity & Inclusion (formerly Handicap International) collaborates with the Korean
874 https://dprkorea.un.org/sites/default/files/2019- 08/unct_kp_FAO%20DRR.Final%20draft_Roadmap_Enhancing%20Institutional%20Capacities%20in%20DRM%20for%20food%20security%20in%20the%20DPRK.010615.pdf 875 https://www.ifrc.org/Global/Publications/disasters/reducing_risks/201300-North-Korea-Case-Study.pdf 876 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6717143/ 877 https://www.ifrc.org/Global/Publications/disasters/reducing_risks/201300-North-Korea-Case-Study.pdf 878 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/north-korea-to-reopen-schools-trade-with-china-as-coronavirus-threat-recedes/2020/06/02/2f5229f8-a4a3-11ea- 898e-b21b9a83f792_story.html 879 https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2020/04/20/how-us-support-for-north-koreas-dire-medical-system-could-help-build-trust/ 880 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/14/world/asia/coronavirus-north-korea-sanctions.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article 881 https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-peoples-republic-korea/dpr-korea-needs-and-priorities-2020-issued-april-2020 882 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-northkorea/north-korea-testing-quarantining-for-covid-19-still-says-no-cases-who-representative-idUSKBN21P3C2
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Federation for the Protection of the Disabled to support 11 health facilities and mobile camps to improve rehabilitation access and conditions for persons with disabilities, and provides assistive devices and training.883
Country-specific planning considerations Health: The construction of the Kim Jong Un-ordered Pyongyang General Hospital, on Munsu Street in the Taedong River district of east Pyongyang, is proceeding to finish ahead of a 10 OCT deadline.884 Despite the presence of health facilities throughout North Korea, there are critical shortages in essential medical equipment and life-saving medicines. The needs analysis estimates 8.7 million people have limited access to quality health services.885 According to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2019 report, almost half of the population is undernourished (47.8 % or 12.2 million people).886 Almost 10 million people do not have access to safe drinking water and 16% of people do not have access to basic sanitation facilities. This enhances the risk of high rates of disease, as well as malnutrition and also places increased pressure on the health system which lacks the essential equipment and medicines to address them.887
Quarantine: North Korea has reported nothing about how many people it may have quarantined or tested for the virus. However, the country has suspended international tourism and extended the quarantine period for people with coronavirus symptoms, from 14 days to 30 days.888 Reports do suggest that North Korea’s leadership has imposed quarantine measures as part of strict prevention measures.889 In response to past crisis like SARS and Ebola, North Korea has utilized quarantine measures to reduce exposure to international public health threats.890 Other reports suggest that there has been COVID-19 positive cases and potential deaths.891
Security: Some reports say that North Korean authorities had drastically stepped up border controls, even ordering guards to fire at those attempting to cross the border illegally.892 The U.S. State Dept. website advises that you do not travel to North Korea due to the serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of U.S. nationals. Individuals cannot use a U.S. passport to travel to, in, or through North Korea without a special validation from the Department of State. The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in North Korea as it does not have diplomatic or consular relations with North Korea. Sweden serves as the protecting power for the U.S. in North Korea, providing limited emergency services. The North Korean government routinely delays or denies Swedish officials’ access to detained U.S. citizens.893
USG: While North Korea reports that there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, the U.S. had greenlit the delivery of certain goods to the largely closed-off country in an effort to ensure the country had access to critical supplies. The U.S. has also expressed alarm, and it encouraged American and international aid groups to help the North counter and contain the virus.894 In March, President Trump sent a letter to North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, expressing his willingness to help the North battle the coronavirus.895 The U.S. also facilitated the approval of assistance from U.S. and international aid and health organizations.896 Return to TOC
883 https://data.humdata.org/dataset/hrp-projects-prk? 884 https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2020/06/02/Kim-Jong-Un-ordered-hospital-is-moving-ahead-state-media-says/9371591093448/ 885 https://reliefweb.int/report/democratic-peoples-republic-korea/dpr-korea-needs-and-priorities-2020-issued-april-2020 886 http://www.fao.org/3/ca5162en/ca5162en.pdf 887 https://www.undp.org/content/dam/unct/dprk/docs/DPRK_NP_2019_Final.pdf 888 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/14/world/asia/coronavirus-north-korea-sanctions.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article 889 https://thediplomat.com/2020/03/north-korea-flies-out-foreign-diplomats-amid-covid-19-concerns/ 890 https://www.cfr.org/blog/north-koreas-coronavirus-quarantine-more-effective-sanctions 891 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/opinion/kim-jong-un-coronavirus-north-korea.html 892 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/14/world/asia/coronavirus-north-korea-sanctions.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article 893 https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/north-korea-travel-advisory.html 894 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/14/world/asia/coronavirus-north-korea-sanctions.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article 895 https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2020/04/20/how-us-support-for-north-koreas-dire-medical-system-could-help-build-trust/ 896 https://www.newsweek.com/us-fast-tracks-humanitarian-aid-help-north-korea-fight-coronavirus-1499032
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PALAU Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Planning Affected State Measures/Access Information Resources Case Trend Considerations
As of 17 June, Palau Typhoon season runs 58 citizens return to Palau the week of 12 Palau government’s COVID-19 twice weekly has no confirmed June 1 – Nov. 30 JUN. 897 situation briefings can be found on the
COVID-19 cases. government’s Facebook page: Dengue outbreak Government strongly discourages large https://www.facebook.com/PalauPresident started Dec 2018. As gatherings of more than 50 people Palau Ministry of Health (links to Daily SitRep): of Sep 2019, 586 between 18 March and 30 May.898 http://www.palauhealth.org/ cases and 2 deaths International passenger flights have been US Embassy in Palau: 899 Small UN and INGO suspended until further notice. https://pw.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ presence; Palau Red Health screening continues at Palau Cross WHO Country Cooperation Strategy 2018-2022: International Airport for chartered and Palau: https://iris.wpro.who.int/handle/10665.1/13952 USG with private aircrafts. Health screening at WHO Western Pacific COVID-19 page USAID/OFDA as lead Malakal seaport continues for incoming https://www.who.int/westernpacific/emergencies/covid-19 likely to be a primary vessels.900 responder COVID-19 Dashboard for the Western Pacific Region Suspected cases being treated at Belau https://worldhealthorg.shinyapps.io/wprocovid19/ USARPAC Pacific National Hospital. Health information systems in the Pacific at a Pathways program Palau had stopped all passenger flights glance 2016: continuing with into the country as of 26 March and https://iris.wpro.who.int/handle/10665.1/13644 https://coronavirus.jhu.e Palauan Security prepared quarantine sites. A weekly cargo du/map.html Forces MOH 24-hour COVID-19 Hotline for public inquiries: & mail flight occurs Thursdays on APA +680-488-0555. (Asia Pacific Airlines).901
Disaster Risk: Overall INFORM model risk ranking is 124 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk). A 3-yr trend indicates stable overall risk. INFORM also has a new COVID Risk Index, which identifies “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Palau is assessed as being in the Medium COVID risk class, based on a COVID risk of 3.9 on a scale of 1-10, where a higher number indicates higher risk. 902
National organization response The National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) is lead DM agency. NEMO acts with the counsel of and in concert with the National Emergency Committee (NEC). The National Disaster Coordinator (NDC) is the coordinator of NEMO and assumes the overall control and coordination responsibilities of the National Emergency Committee (NEC). The Ministry of Health (MOH) is leading the COVID-19 response. The MOH Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activated on 22 January 2020.903 “Presidential Directive No. 20-39 –Imposing a moratorium on government travel to reduce the risk of COVID– 19 infection” was in effect until 30 April. The Directive ordered that no employee of the Executive Branch of the
897 https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2020/06/11/coronavirus-covid-19-guam-united-airlines-palau/5347327002/ 898 https://pw.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 899 https://pw.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 900 http://www.palauhealth.org/2019nCoV_SitRep/MOH-COVID-19%20Daily%20Update.pdf 901 https://pw.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 902 https://data.humdata.org/dataset/inform-covid-analysis-v01 903 http://www.palauhealth.org/2019nCoV_SitRep/MOH-COVID-19%20Daily%20Update.pdf
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National Government shall undertake official international travel between March 18 and April 30, 2020, and that any employee who had traveled overseas should self-quarantine for 14 days upon return.904 The Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs (MCCA), Palau Visitors Authority (PVA), and the Social Security Administration (SSA) have been appointed to launch the 2020 Pandemic Re-employment Program (PREP) “to allow tourism-industry workers who have lost their employment due to COVID-19 to access temporary work improving Palau’s tourism infrastructure.”905 A total of 58 citizens have returned to Palau the week of 12 JUN. A group of Palau citizens flown from Guam, including Palau students attending the University of Guam, arrived in Palau 12 JUN and are now in quarantine. Another flight from Taiwan arrived 10 JUN bringing medical referral patients. Each passenger had to test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours before departing Guam or Taiwan. Taiwan medical referral patients had been in a more controlled environment and do not undergo a 14-day quarantine, but were also tested 72 hours prior to departure.906 Information on DM in Palau is available in CFE-DM’s Palau Disaster Management Reference Handbook: https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=BY6k6Au4FgU%3d&portalid=0
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) WHO—Palau is part of the WHO Western Pacific team. (https://www.who.int/palau) The Taiwan government provided medical supplies and grants to Palau. Onsite testing is available in Palau due to the assistance of Taiwan through test kits, a PCR machine and medical training.907 A team of Taiwan health experts also assisted the country. Health Minister Emais Roberts said Palau was increasing its testing capabilities as more test kits were expected to arrive. "Somewhere along the line, we can test everybody," he said. Palau has a population of around 18,000.908 The COVID-19 Joint Incident Management Team (IMT), coordinated by WHO in the Pacific, and based out of Suva, Fiji. has developed and are implementing a six-month Pacific Action Plan for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness and Response. The WHO Information Network for Epidemics (EPI-WIN) is targeting tailored information for health care, travel and tourism, business, food and agriculture sectors and is planning to expand audiences over the coming weeks. (https://www.epi-win.com/)
Country-specific planning considerations
Health: On-island testing for COVID-19 commenced on 14 April for priority groups. Belau National Hospital (BNH) has reduced non-essential services and clinics and is prepared for critically ill suspected cases. For ventilators, BNH has 26 total capacity – including 18 adult vents (1 in use), 1 portable, 2 pediatric, and 5 in calibration, as of 3 JUN. From 14 APR to 3 JUN, 664 COVID-19 tests were conducted, all negative.909 As of 21 MAY, COVID-19 testing at BNH is offered regardless of a patient’s insurance coverage or ability to pay.910 Dengue fever cases fell below outbreak threshold the week of 9 APR 2020, ending a 15-month outbreak that saw 828 cases reported from December 2018 to March 2020 in Palau.911
Hospitals: Health services are available at the Belau National Hospital, four community centers also known as super dispensaries, and four additional satellite dispensaries. Belau National Hospital is the country’s main health facility. The 80-bed hospital has been upgrading its facilities to mitigate vulnerability to disasters. The four community health centers (CHCs) – Northern CHC in Ngarchelong, Eastern CHC in Melekeok, Western CHC in Ngaremlengui, and
904 https://www.palaugov.pw/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Presidential-Directive-No.-20-39.pdf 905 https://www.facebook.com/PalauPresident 906 https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2020/06/11/coronavirus-covid-19-guam-united-airlines-palau/5347327002/ 907 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/415672/who-s-exclusion-of-taiwan-endangers-covid-19-fight-palau 908 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/415672/who-s-exclusion-of-taiwan-endangers-covid-19-fight-palau 909 http://www.palauhealth.org/2019nCoV_SitRep/MOH-COVID-19%20Daily%20Update.pdf 910 http://www.palauhealth.org/2019nCoV/MOH%20PR%20for%20COVID-19.pdf 911 http://www.palauhealth.org/dengueFiles/MOH%20PR-Dengue%20Outbreak%20Cease-04092020.pdf
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Southern CHC in Peleliu – are overseen by the Division of Primary and Preventive Health Services. As of 2013 Palau was served by 26 physicians, and as of 2010 there were 120 nurses and midwives
USAID/OFDA and FEMA: USAID/OFDA lead USG agency with funding from FEMA. In August 2019, USAID announced it would increase staff in Palau.
DOD: Andersen AFB's 554th RED HORSE and 36th Civil Engineer Squadron Airmen deployed to Palau earlier this year to repair infrastructure and introduce plumbing so residents can have access to fresh water. In addition, medical Airmen from around the Pacific theater deployed to improve the overall health of the Palauans.
Security: No reports of security incidents or unrest at this time. Return to TOC
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PAPUA NEW GUINEA Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Resources Considerations Measures/Access
Cyclone season runs The State of Emergency – which Flight & border restrictions: Papua New Guinea November to April, began 23 MAR and was due to https://pg.usembassy.gov/covid- COVID-19 Total Case Trend though a tropical have ended 2 JUN – has been 19-information/
20 cyclone could form extended by two weeks.912 PNG COVID-19 site: 18 at any time. https://covid19.info.gov.pg/ On 22 MAY, Air Niugini resumed 16 Flight restrictions domestic flights to Buka, but COVID-19 Multi-Sector 14 and curfew in travelers must get clearance and Response Plan, 21 MAY: 913 12 effect. quarantine 14 days on arrival. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefw
10 Quarantine site: Inbound international flights eb.int/files/resources/200521%20 DMT%20COVID-19%20HRP.pdf 8 Bomana restricted 21 MAR. 6 Immigration Centre Quarantine site: Outbound international flights being vetted as https://postcourier.com.pg/boma 4 only conducted by Air Niugini to main quarantine na-detention-centre-mooted-for- 2 Brisbane, Cairns, and Singapore, quarantine-site/ facility. 0 as of 26 MAR. General Safety & General Safety & Security: Nightly curfew in capital lifted as https://www.gov.uk/foreign- Security: of 4 MAY.914 travel-advice/papua-new- Serious crime is guinea/safety-and-security 0 Deaths – 8* confirmed cases as of 17 JUN usually high in the Land border closed to West Port Moresby Papua, Indonesia. Domestic Hotline *No new confirmed cases since 22 APR (capital), Lae, and 1 800 200 https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html Mt. Hagen. Walking Visits of cruise ships and yachts https://www.facebook.com/PNGN after dark is carrying more than 15 passengers DOH/ are banned. particularly COVID-19 Cases Database dangerous in urban The Autonomous Region of https://github.com/CSSEGISandDa centers. Bougainville declared its own ta/COVID-19 state of emergency to 15 June.915
Disaster Risk: The INFORM (Index for Risk Management) ranking for Papua New Guinea (PNG) is 26 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk). Disaster risk in the last three years has been stable.916 The INFORM global risk index annually measures the risk of disasters and humanitarian crises for 191 countries. PNG is highly exposed to earthquake and tsunami hazards, and also significantly exposed to flood hazards.917 INFORM also has a new COVID Risk Index, which identifies “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID- 19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Papua New Guinea is assessed as being in the High COVID risk class, based on a COVID risk of 5.7 on a scale of 1-10, where a higher number indicates higher risk. 918 In South Bougainville’s Bana area, more than 300 families need food aid after flooding, per a 1 MAY report. Extensive flooding two weeks prior took out the community’s gardens.919
912 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/418165/png-extends-state-of-emergency-for-two-weeks 913 https://covid19.info.gov.pg/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Air-Niugini-resumes-flight-to-Buka.jpg 914 https://www.msn.com/en-xl/australasia/top-stories/curfew-lifted-in-png-capital/ar-BB13yXHD 915 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/200521%20DMT%20COVID-19%20HRP.pdf 916 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 917 https://www.unocha.org/asia-and-pacific-roap/papua-new-guinea 918 https://data.humdata.org/dataset/inform-covid-analysis-v01 919 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/415609/hundreds-need-aid-after-floods-in-south-bougainville
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Papua New Guinea COVID-19 Forecast Historical Events: Major events: Feb. 2018: M7.5 earthquake 6 PNG NEW CASE struck the Highlands affecting over 544,000 people.920
5 2017: Violence and political unrest since the 2017 elections.921 4 Nov. 2016: Landslide in the 3 southern highlands leaves at least 40 dead.922
2 Nov. 2000: M8.0 earthquake in New Ireland region; 2 killed.923 1 July 1998: M7.0 earthquake and tsunami leaves at least 0 1,600 dead on the Aitape coast.924 -1 Recent events: Feb 2020 – Present: Flooding -2 and landslides across PNG. March 2020, Dec. 2018: -3 Manam volcano eruptions. The volcano has been active -4 off and on over the past 15 years.925926
2018: Polio outbreak.927
4/2/2020 4/6/2020 5/4/2020 5/8/2020 6/1/2020 6/5/2020 6/9/2020 7/3/2020 7/7/2020 3/21/2020 3/25/2020 3/29/2020 4/10/2020 New4/14/2020 Cases4/18/2020 4/22/2020 4/26/2020 4/30/2020 5/12/2020 5/16/2020 5/20/2020 5/24/2020 5/28/2020 Forecast6/13/2020 6/17/2020 6/21/2020 6/25/2020 6/29/2020 7/11/2020 January 2018: Kadovar volcano eruption.928 Lower Forecast Range Upper Forecast Range INDOPACOM Response: N/A
National organization response Papua New Guinea's parliament has voted to extend for two weeks the country's State of Emergency, which began on 23 MAR and was due to expire 2 JUN.929 Emergency Controller David Manning on 2 JUN revoked the previously-issued emergency orders and issued 13 new ones, following the National Parliament’s 80-2 decision to extend the State of Emergency. The 13 new emergency orders are: No.1 - Revocation of all previous orders; No.2 - Business & Social Final; No.3 - International & Domestic Travel; o.4 - Provincial Coordination; No.5 - Continuance of public utility services; No.6 - Impounding of Aircraft, Vehicle & Vessels; No.7 - Seizure of certain goods; No.8 - Price Regulations; No.9 - Burial of persons; No.10 - Customs Duties; No.11 - COVID-19 Testing; No.12 - COVID-19 Surveillance & testing; No.13 - Deferral of Goroka By-election.930
920 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Hcbz81c1u-4%3d&portalid=0 921 https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/papua-new-guinea 922 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Hcbz81c1u-4%3d&portalid=0 923 https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000a3qq/impact 924 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/day-papua-new-guinea-tsunami-1998 925 https://reliefweb.int/report/papua-new-guinea/papua-new-guinea-manam-volcano-eruption-dg-echo-media-echo-daily-flash-27 926 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Hcbz81c1u-4%3d&portalid=0 927 https://www.who.int/westernpacific/emergencies/papua-new-guinea-poliovirus-outbreak 928 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Hcbz81c1u-4%3d&portalid=0 929 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/418165/png-extends-state-of-emergency-for-two-weeks 930 Accessed 3 JUN 2020. https://www.facebook.com/Covid-19-National-Operations-Centre-106570254319336/
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The National Disaster Centre (NDC) is the lead agency for disaster risk management in Papua New Guinea (PNG).931 Each level of Government is responsible for developing and maintaining a disaster risk management plan, appropriate to their hazard profile and resource capacity. Disaster Management Committees are structured at the national, provincial, district and local levels.932 The NDC Director and the UN Resident Coordinator co-head the PNG Disaster Management Team, which published a revised COVID-19 Multi-Sector Response Plan on 21 MAY, available at: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/200521%20DMT%20COVID-19%20HRP.pdf The Communications Plan for COVID-19 was released 29 April and is available at: https://covid19.info.gov.pg/files/May%202020/01052020/PNG%20COVID- 19%20Communications%20Plan%20(NDOH%20ver04)%202020-04-24.pdf Country DM information can be found in CFE-DM’s Papua New Guinea Disaster Management Reference Handbook: https://www.cfe-dmha.org/DMHA-Resources/Disaster-Management-Reference-Handbooks
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is working with the local authorities and Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society in the Highlands and Bougainville by providing personal protective equipment, handwashing stations, and hygiene and awareness material to health facilities to build capacity.933 The UN Country Team in Papua New Guinea has been supporting national efforts to prepare and respond to COVID-19 through technical and capacity building and delivering essential health supplies. With lead UN coordination by the UN Resident Coordinator (RC), UN agencies, funds and programs supporting the PNG government include the FAO, IOM, OHCHR, UN Women, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNDSS, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNOPS, UN Volunteers, WFP, and WHO.934 On 9 June, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the disbursement of US$363.6 million in emergency funds to assist Papua New Guinea address needs created by COVID-19.935
Country-specific planning considerations 85% of PNG’s estimated 8.5 million people live in rural communities that are hard to reach.936 In Western province, a fall armyworm invasion threatens food crops and is projected to spread across the Southern Region. The Highlands provinces have an African Swine Fever outbreak that has killed hundreds of pigs, threatening widespread socio-economic impacts and increased clan violence in the fragile region.937
Displaced Populations: About 60,000 people in Gulf province have been displaced by floods due to heavy seasonal rains, with many in informal encampments along the main road connecting Gulf and Central provinces. The governor estimates another 25,000 people in highland areas of the province may also be displaced by landslide.938 Rain, landslides and flooding have caused the deaths of at least 20 people.939 Inter-province migration is driven by employment opportunities and displacement due to civil unrest and disasters.940
Quarantine Centers: Work is underway at Mount Hagen Hospital to set up a triage and 12-bed isolation ward, as of 23 APR. The detention facilities of Port Moresby, Highlands and Bougainville are highly vulnerable when it
931 https://pngndc.gov.pg/ 932 https://pngndc.gov.pg/?page_id=100 CFE-DM. https://www.cfe-dmha.org/DMHA-Resources/Disaster-Management-Reference-Handbooks 933 https://reliefweb.int/report/papua-new-guinea/covid-19-icrc-enhances-support-hospitals-and-detention-facilities-papua-new 934 https://papuanewguinea.un.org/en/40513-un-assistance-covid-19-preparedness-and-response-papua-new-guinea 935 https://reliefweb.int/report/papua-new-guinea/imf-executive-board-approves-us3636-million-disbursement-papua-new-guinea 936 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/200521%20DMT%20COVID-19%20HRP.pdf 937 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/200521%20DMT%20COVID-19%20HRP.pdf 938 https://reliefweb.int/report/papua-new-guinea/papua-new-guinea-floods-dg-echo-pmt-echo-daily-flash-14-april-2020 939 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/200521%20DMT%20COVID-19%20HRP.pdf 940 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/200521%20DMT%20COVID-19%20HRP.pdf
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comes to any outbreak.941 In Port Moresby, the Rita Flynn Netball Complex was declared a quarantine center, among other PNG Sport Foundation-run facilities. Bomana Immigration Centre has been inspected with the intent to be used as the main isolation and quarantine facility for the government’s COVID-19 operations. Police Minister Kramer announced on 25 March that World Health Organization (WHO) and PNG government officials visited the Australian-funded detention center, which was initially planned to hold refugees transferred from Manus Processing Centre, to vet the suitability of using the facility for quarantine. The government will decide pending WHO’s recommendation, but Police Minister Kramer stated, “This is a ready-to-go facility.”942
Health: Although PNG has only reported eight confirmed cases of COVID-19, testing has been limited. Samples are sent daily to Brisbane, Australia for testing, due to low test kit stocks in PNG.943The Governor for East Sepik, Allan Bird, cautioned that PNG health authorities may be under-estimating how many people had been infected by COVID-19. He said that doctors who conducted coronavirus anti-body testing in his province in four locations reported that 50 people tested positive out of 1,153 samples, per 3 JUN reporting.944 Populations more vulnerable to a COVID-19 outbreak include the elderly, children, and people with chronic illnesses, particularly HIV and tuberculosis (TB). There are about 50,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in PNG, of which only some 25,000 regularly take medication. There are about 37,000 people living with TB. PNG has high burdens of TB, multidrug-resistant TB and TB/HIV coinfection, raising this population’s risk.945 Papua New Guinea has a weak health system, with 0.5 doctors and 5.3 nurses per 10,000 people, and is facing an aging health work force. Only 45% of people have access to improved drinking water source, and 29% of people have access to improved sanitation facilities.946 There are 500 doctors and around 5,000 hospital beds in the country. Remotely located health facilities have greater resource challenges. The Prime Minister warned, "If we are not aggressive to stop the virus from spreading through stopping people moving around, then our hospitals and health systems don't have the capacity to deal with the outbreak."947
Security: A state of emergency was declared effective 24 March 2020, following the first confirmed case in the country.948 The government of PNG has issued a national "emergency order", enacting a nightly curfew between the hours of 8:00pm and 6:00am except for emergencies, and prohibiting most gatherings.949 Amid the liquor ban instituted as part of COVID-19 emergency regulations, Police Senior Inspector Tovere was killed 10 May when responding to reports of illegal alcohol sales and assaulted by off-duty PNG Defence Force personnel when intervening between them and a beer shop owner. This raised tensions between PNG police and military, and brings increased pressure on Police Commissioner David Manning, who was also under scrutiny for his role managing the COVID-19 crisis as State of Emergency Controller.950 Following the fatal attack, Manning stated that security in the capital was under control.951 On 13 May, the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed briefed the Peacebuilding Commission on the Joint Mission to Papua New Guinea. She emphasized the COVID-19 pandemic increases risks to peace and sustainable development in PNG. She underscored the critical role women’s groups played in resolving conflict in Bougainville and other parts of PNG, while also noting PNG still experiences among the highest levels of violence against women and girls.952 Return to TOC
941 https://reliefweb.int/report/papua-new-guinea/covid-19-icrc-enhances-support-hospitals-and-detention-facilities-papua-new 942 https://postcourier.com.pg/bomana-detention-centre-mooted-for-quarantine-site/ 943 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-17/papua-new-guinea-coronavirus-centre-lockdown-confirmed-covid-19/12156768 944 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/418165/png-extends-state-of-emergency-for-two-weeks 945 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/200521%20DMT%20COVID-19%20HRP.pdf 946 https://reliefweb.int/report/papua-new-guinea/covid-19-multi-sector-response-plan-papua-new-guinea-disaster-management 947 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-17/papua-new-guinea-coronavirus-centre-lockdown-confirmed-covid-19/12156768 948 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/23/papua-new-guinea-declares-state-of-emergency-after-first-coronavirus-case 949 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-17/papua-new-guinea-coronavirus-centre-lockdown-confirmed-covid-19/12156768 950 https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/png-manning-pressure/12237268 951 https://www.msn.com/en-xl/australasia/top-stories/security-in-png-capital-under-control-after-attack/ar-BB13SXqx 952 https://reliefweb.int/report/papua-new-guinea/women-play-key-role-crafting-peaceful-sustainable-future-papua-new-guinea
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PHILIPPINES Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Considerations Measures/Access Resources
TC Vongfong struck Quarantine measures eased 1 Daily SITREPS - Philippines COVID-19 Total Case Trend Eastern Samar 14 JUN nationwide.955 http://www.ndrrmc.gov.ph/ May.953 28,000 President Duterte say schools to OCHA COVID-19 3W Typhoon season is JUN stay closed until there is a COVID- https://data.humdata.org/d 956 27,000 1 – NOV 30. 19 vaccine. ataset/philippines-covid-19- response-who-does-what- 26,000 At least 42 As of 1 May, Internal movement where 25,000 organizations (UN, restrictions were partially lifted in NGOs) supporting the provinces of Sarangani and PHL – Evacuation Centers 24,000 COVID-19 response South Cotabato, with partial https://dromic.dswd.gov.ph 23,000 efforts. transportation allowed, but city /evacuation-centers/ and provincial borders remain 22,000 More than 200K IDPs Dashboard Philippines closed.957 21,000 in Mindanao, from https://www.dashboardphil conflict and Davao airport only accepting ippines.com/ 20,000 earthquake humanitarian and essential PHL DoH COVID-19 Tracker goods. ASEAN AHA Centre https://www.doh.gov.ph/co maintains relief supply Coast Guard and Navy activated vid19tracker depot at Camp to patrol Manila Bay during COVID-19 Response Plan 1,108 Deaths – 27,238 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN Aguinaldo quarantine https://reliefweb.int/report https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html Manila’s Int’l airport Police providing escorts for /philippines/philippines- resumed flights on 11 health workers following attacks. covid-19-response-plan-03- May operating with a april-2020 Ongoing Public Health Emergency cap on passenger of International Concern (PHEIC) COVID-19 Cases Database arrivals and flying on a Polio outbreak in Philippines – https://github.com/CSSEGIS truncated schedule.954 total cases remain at 17. No new andData/COVID-19 cases since February 2020.958
SPECIAL SECTION – Tropical Cyclone (TC) Vongfong (Ambo) Typhoon Vongfong made landfall on 14 May in Eastern Samar province with sustained winds of up to 150km per hour and crossing Northern Samar, Masbate, Quezon province and central Luzon before it weakened due to land interaction. 181,100 people were pre-emptively evacuated and have been returned home. It destroyed 3,000 homes, damaged 16,900 and partially damaged 13,900 homes and caused US$30.8 million in damage to agriculture. 382,700 people were affected and 23 health facilities were damaged. The typhoon did not cross through Government designated coronavirus hotspots and continued efforts were made to maintain minimum health standards in evacuation centers.
953 http://www.ndrrmc.gov.ph/ 954 https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/341506/philippines-modified-enhanced-community-quarantine-to-be-imposed-in-high-risk-areas-from-may-16-update-19 955 https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/06/02/2018065/palace-warns-ecq-may-be-reimposed-if 956 https://www.newsweek.com/philippines-president-says-no-school-until-theres-coronavirus-vaccine-if-no-one-graduates-then-1506620 957 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1101594 958 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/PolioSitRep20_final_May6.pdf
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Philippines COVID-19 Forecast Historical Events: 1,200 Major events: Nov 2013: Typhoon Haiyan left 6,000 dead, 14 million affected. 1,000 Recent events: Jan 2020: eruption of Taal Volcano affected 501,908 people.959 800 Dec 2019: Typhoon Phanfone left 57 people dead. 600 PACOM Response: 400 June 1991: Mount Pinatubo Eruption February 2006: Leyte Landslide 200 June 2008: Typhoon Fengshen September 2009: Tropical Storm Ketsana 0 October 2010: Typhoon Megi December 2012: Typhoon Bopha 3/7/2020 4/4/2020 4/8/2020 5/2/2020 5/6/2020 6/3/2020 6/7/2020 7/1/2020 7/5/2020 7/9/2020 3/11/2020 3/15/2020 3/19/2020 3/23/2020 3/27/2020 3/31/2020 4/12/2020 4/16/2020 4/20/2020 4/24/2020 4/28/2020 5/10/2020 5/14/2020 5/18/2020 5/22/2020 5/26/2020 5/30/2020 6/11/2020 6/15/2020 6/19/2020 6/23/2020 6/27/2020 7/13/2020 7/17/2020 7/21/2020 7/25/2020 7/29/2020 November 2013: New Cases Forecast Lower Forecast Range Typhoon Haiyan Upper Forecast Range Epi Curve December 2014: Typhoon Hagupit960
Disaster Risk: Overall INFORM model risk ranking is 29 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk) for natural disasters. INFORM has a new COVID Risk Index, which assesses “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” The Philippines is assessed in the Medium COVID risk class, based on a COVID risk of 4.7 on a scale of 1-10, where 10 indicates highest risk. 961 The U.S. government is providing US$5.9 million to support the Philippines’ fight against COVID-19 bringing total amount of U.S. aid to US$15.2 million to promote effective crisis management and implement response plans in the hardest hit areas of the country. Funds will support emergency supplies, strengthen capacities and support local business recovery and food supply.962
National organization response: Lockdown measures eased nationwide on 1 JUN. Metro Manila, with a population of over 12 million, shifted from modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to the more lenient general community quarantine (GCQ). Central Luzon and Calabarzon regions, Baguio City, the provinces of Pangasinan and Albay in Luzon, Central Visayas region and Iloilo City in the Visayas, and Zamboanga and Davao cities in Mindanao have also been downgraded to GCQ, while the rest of the country is now under the most lenient modified general
959 https://www.adrc.asia/view_disaster_en.php?NationCode=608&Lang=en&Key=2368 960 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=twwMY081NH8%3d&portalid=0 961 https://data.humdata.org/dataset/inform-covid-analysis-v01 962 https://ph.usembassy.gov/us-provides-php298-million-in-new-covid-19-assistance-to-the-philippines/
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community quarantine (MGCQ). 963 High risk metro areas such as Manila, Cebu City, and Laguna province had been placed under a modified enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from 16 -31 MAY.964 The lifting of lockdown comes as COVID-19 cases increase, with national researchers warning against easing measures. 965 The Philippines saw the highest single-day increase with 1,046 new cases on 29 MAY,966 almost double the 2nd highest daily increase of 539 cases on 28 MAY.967 On 25 MAY, President Duterte said he will not allow students to return to school until there is a vaccine for COVID-19, adding, “If no one graduates, then so be it.” On 26 MAY, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III contradicted this, saying the scheduled resumption of classes on 24 AUG 2020 would be “safe” as long as minimum health standards are observed.968 Schools shut in March, though the school year usually runs June to April for 25 million elementary and secondary students.969 Rising COVID-19 cases led the WHO to urge people to stay home. WHO Western Pacific technical officer Dr. Takeshi Nishijima said, “As we are seeing, the number of newly-reported cases in the Philippines is not rapidly decreasing even after the strict implementation of community quarantine.” He urged people to stay home, observe physical distancing, and do regular proper hand washing.970 The Philippines has a testing capacity of 7,000 a day and the government aims to test 30,000 a day by the end of May.971 The Cotabato Regional Medical Centre (CRMC) was accredited for COVID-19 testing using GeneXpert technology. There are 31 laboratories using PCR and 7 using GeneXpert for testing in the country.972 IOM earlier reported a shortage in the availability of quarantine facilities for returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). WHO reports 26,700 OFW have returned to the Philippines, with at least 45,000 more expected.973 As of 4 May, a total of 394,128 family food packs are stockpiled in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) warehouses nationwide. Clusters locally activated for response to COVID-19 include Health, Law and Order, Food and Non-food items, Governance, and Management of the Dead.974 According to the WHO, 64.5% of cases are reported from the NCR, followed by Central Visayas (14.1%), Calabarzon (10.7%), and Central Luzon (3.5%).975 Who reports all health facilities are regularly reporting to DOH’s DataCollectApp which is showing less than 35% occupancy rate of ward beds, ICU beds and isolation beds for COVID-19 patients.976 An Inter-Agency Task Force has been established with support from Regional Task Forces. DOH, with the University of the Philippines College of Nursing and WHO developed an online course on contact tracing for local government units (LGUs). The online course can be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScu2ujX7uLIrLl_T3EjfkxQW0LQjzjmaxb2OuWeMEUiNNL0SQ/viewform977 The U.S. donated a ton of medical supplies to help Zamboanga fight COVID-19, handing over through the DoD 110 boxes of supplies intended for medical facilities on 22 MAY. This brings U.S. COVID-19 assistance to the Philippines to more than P780 million (nearly US$15.5 million)978
963 https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/06/02/2018065/palace-warns-ecq-may-be-reimposed-if 964 https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/341506/philippines-modified-enhanced-community-quarantine-to-be-imposed-in-high-risk-areas-from-may-16-update-19 965 https://www.interaksyon.com/politics-issues/2020/05/29/169565/a-look-at-the-recommendations-the-national-govt-dismissed-in-its-decision-to-lift-mecq-in-metro-manila/ 966 Accessed 29 MAY 2020. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html 967 https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19/blob/master/csse_covid_19_data/csse_covid_19_time_series/time_series_covid19_confirmed_global.csv 968 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1281004/duque-contradicts-duterte-says-resumption-of-classes-in-august-is-safe 969 https://www.newsweek.com/philippines-president-says-no-school-until-theres-coronavirus-vaccine-if-no-one-graduates-then-1506620 970 https://philnews.ph/2020/05/27/world-health-organization-warning-philippines-coronavirus/ 971 http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-05/11/c_139047840.htm 972 https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-situation-report-34-22-may-2020 973 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WHO%20PHL%20SitRep%2034_COVID-19_22May2020.pdf 974http://www.ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article/4036/sitrep_no35_re_national_task_force_for_coronavirus_disease_2019_issued_5_may_2020_12NN.pdf 975 https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-situation-report-34-22-may-2020 976 https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-situation-report-34-22-may-2020 977 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WHO%20PHL%20SitRep%2034_COVID-19_22May2020.pdf 978 https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/05/23/2016053/us-government-donates-medical-supplies-help-zamboanga-fight-covid-19
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The China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), said on 29 May it approved a $750 million loan to the Philippines to help the country cope with the coronavirus pandemic.979 Information on disaster management in the Philippines can be found in CFE-DM’s Philippines DM Reference Handbook: https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=TAbF2w1Kghw%3d&portalid=0
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) There are at least 42 organizations supporting COVID-19 response efforts; however, many of these activities are limited to community engagement activities. There are only a handful of organizations that appear to have significant operations related to COVID-19. These include NGOs such as Action Against Hunger, World Vision, OXFAM, and International Medical Corps (IMC). UNICEF is one of the few UN agencies with robust COVID-19 operations. Several other organizations are performing other more traditional humanitarian operations but are limited operationally due to travel restrictions and other government-implemented measures (curfews, etc). The Philippines National Red Cross Society is an exception and have been highly active performing COVID-19 operations. Across all countries in Asia, Red Cross/Red Crescent national societies have been among the most active aid organizations in response to the COVID-19 crisis. If a large-scale natural disaster would occur, international organizations would be handicapped in their ability to send additional supplies and personnel to the Philippines unless travel and other quarantine restrictions are relaxed. Same would be true for ASEAN’s AHA Centre (Jakarta), though there are many AHA- trained Emergency Response Assessment Team (ERAT) members that live in the Philippines. UNICEF reached an estimated 2.8 million young people in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with sermons on COVID19, written by Regional Darul Iftah with UNICEF support. Muslim religious leaders in Mindanao are using radio and small group Friday prayers to disseminate key messages on COVID-19, UNICEF reports.980 UNICEF has so far trained 3,433 health and community workers with its online trainings.981 Samaritan’s Purse is providing risk communication services on COVID-19. The group also donated 1,300 sets of PPE to Manila City.982 UNHCR provided technical assistance to the Philippines in drafting a governmental memorandum regarding the inclusion of refugees in the local response and programs related to COVID-19, as of 9 JUN.983 The USAID-funded Medicines, Technologies and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) program trained 5424 hospitals workers on IPC, 1730 on health care waste management, and 283 on supply chain management.984
Country-specific planning considerations
Displaced Populations: Since the COVID-19 outbreak, 26,300 individuals (5,300 families) have been displaced across Mindanao due to intercommunal fighting.985 These displacements and tensions are potentially straining the country’s capacity to manage the coronavirus outbreak. There is still a significant number of displaced people (more than 200,000) in the Mindanao region affected by conflict since 2017, as well as a recent earthquake. Many of these IDPs are living with host communities/relatives, but nearly 30,000 are living in evacuation centers. Humanitarian organizations have limited access to this area.
Evacuation Centers: Philippines has a pre-determined list of evacuation centers in case of internal displacement during disasters. This list is managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, but at the field level they are managed by local government units. (https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1097774)
979 https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/05/29/world/asia/28reuters-health-coronavirus-aiib-philippines.html 980 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WHO%20PHL%20SitRep%2034_COVID-19_22May2020.pdf 981 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WHO%20PHL%20SitRep%2034_COVID-19_22May2020.pdf 982 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WHO%20PHL%20SitRep%2034_COVID-19_22May2020.pdf 983 http://reporting.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/09062020_UNHCR%20Global%20COVID-19%20Emergency%20Response.pdf 984 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WHO%20PHL%20SitRep%2034_COVID-19_22May2020.pdf 985 https://www.globalprotectioncluster.org/2020/04/29/covid-19-protection-risks-responses-situation-report-no-4-as-of-29-april-2020/
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Quarantine: 3,125 quarantine control points are operated by the Philippines National Police; 2,605 operated by Joint Task Force Shield; 126 at airports; and 362 at seaports, as of 4 May 2020.986 The city of Pampanga will use five public schools as temporary patient care centers for confirmed/suspected coronavirus cases.987 ICRC and BJMP opened a COVID-19 isolation center in the Quezon Province District Jail with a capacity of 80 beds, as a preventative measure for a possible outbreak in detention facilities in Region IVA.988 Samaritan’s Purse also constructed one 16-bed emergency quarantine facility in Caloocan City, two 22-bed facilities at Tondo National High School in Manila City, and one 12-bed facility with Triage Center in Novaliches in Quezon City.989
Health: 1,224 Hospitals / 2,587 rural health centers / 64% of hospitals are Level 1 with average capacity of 41 beds / 10% are Level 3 medical centers with average capacity of 318 beds. There are 23 licensed RT-PCR laboratories in country for COVID-19 testing as of 5 May.990Over 5,200 hospital workers and community health workers have been trained online in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). The Department of Health warns against stigmatizing healthcare workers.991 Movement restrictions to contain COVID-19 are inadvertently interrupting polio and measles vaccinations, tuberculosis treatment, and health and nutrition services for children.992 According to WHO, there has been an average decrease of 40% in routine immunization coverage across all diseases, comparing the number of children vaccinated in March 2019 with March 2020. Active and passive case finding for tuberculosis in community health facilities have also reduced significantly.993
Security: Philippine Supreme Court announced an order releasing approximately 10,000 inmates from country’s 7 national prisons and 900 local jails to contain spread of virus in crowded penal system which is reportedly at over 450% over occupancy. Approximately 330 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.994 The Communist Party of the Philippines ordered its armed wing, the New People’s Army, to observe a ceasefire aimed at “fighting the COVID-19 pandemic”. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte also declared his own unilateral ceasefire.995 On 30 APR, the ceasefire expired with the Community Party saying it would resume “an offensive posture.”996 Additionally, the Philippines has one of the highest incidences of poverty in ASEAN and social distancing and teleworking are luxuries for a small elite and middle class leaving many struggling in poverty in overcrowded areas, lost daily income and erratic delivery of government assistance. President Duterte threatened to shoot demonstrators demanding food on 1 APR.997
USG: The U.S. Government has spent approximately US$15.5 million in aid to the Philippines to combat the coronavirus pandemic. On 20 May, U.S. military working in collaboration with the Philippine Coast Guard, army, marines, and air force delivered approximately US$203,000 of medical supplies and PPE to frontlines for COVID- 19 across the country.998 Return to TOC
986http://www.ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article/4036/sitrep_no35_re_national_task_force_for_coronavirus_disease_2019_issued_5_may_2020_12NN.pdf 987 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1102076 988 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WHO%20PHL%20SitRep%2034_COVID-19_22May2020.pdf 989 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WHO%20PHL%20SitRep%2034_COVID-19_22May2020.pdf 990 https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/beat-covid-19-today-philippines-situationer-issue-9-06-may-2020 991 https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-situation-report-27-4-may-2020 992 https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2020/05/07/coronavirus-humanitarian-aid- response?utm_source=The+New+Humanitarian&utm_campaign=4014b09a5b- EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_05_7_2020_DAILY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d842d98289-4014b09a5b-75574133#philippines 993 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ROAP_Snapshot_200526.pdf 994 https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/05/850513762/as-covid-19-fears-grow-10-000-prisoners-are-freed-from- overcrowded-philippine-ja 995 https://cpp.ph/statement/ceasefire-order-00-00h-of-26-march-2020-to-23-59h-of-15-april-2020/ 996 https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2020/05/07/coronavirus-humanitarian-aid- response?utm_source=The+New+Humanitarian&utm_campaign=4014b09a5b- EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_05_7_2020_DAILY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d842d98289-4014b09a5b-75574133#philippines 997 https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3083119/dutertes-shoot-them-all-approach-covid-19-threatens-his-legacy 998 https://www.army-technology.com/news/covid-19-us-ppe-medical-supplies-philippines/
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REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Planning Affected State Measures/Access Information Resources Case Trend Considerations
As of 17 June, RMI Typhoon season runs RMI extended suspension of international Ministry of Health and Human Services: has no confirmed June 1 – Nov. 30 passenger arrivals until 5 June.999 Facebook (posts COVID SitReps): COVID-19 cases. https://www.facebook.com/rmimoh/ All domestic passenger air travel between USG with USAID/OFDA Email: [email protected] as lead likely to be a Kwajalein and Majuro is suspended on WHO Marshall Islands: primary responder international airlines. Air travel between Kwajalein and Majuro is only permitted on Air https://www.who.int/marshallislands
1000 Marshall Island Red Marshall Islands. WHO Western Pacific COVID-19 page Cross likely to be a https://www.who.int/westernpacific/emergen lead agency in All cruise ships and yachts are suspended cies/covid-19 response until further notice; fishing vessels that have COVID-19 Dashboard for the Western Pacific transited through or departed COVID-19 Region Ongoing dengue infected countries are suspended from entering ports. All passengers arriving and https://worldhealthorg.shinyapps.io/wprocovi outbreak, AmeriCares residents departing RMI must show proof of d19/ https://coronavirus.jh and Team Rubicon 1001 u.edu/map.html assisting. measles vaccination. COVID-19 Cases Database https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19
Disaster Risk: Overall INFORM model risk ranking for the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is 60 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk). A 3-yr trend indicates stable overall risk. INFORM also has a new COVID Risk Index, which identifies “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” The Republic of the Marshall Islands is assessed as being in the High COVID risk class, based on a COVID risk of 5.4 on a scale of 1-10, where 10 indicates highest risk. 1002
Typhoon season runs June 1 – Nov. 30.
National organization response The National Disaster Committee (NDC) is the lead national disaster management organization. The National Disaster Response Plan (2016) defines the measures to be taken at all government levels to ensure that effective disaster preparedness, response, relief and recovery are carried out. Ongoing dengue (serotype-3) outbreak in RMI, which began in May 2019 in Ebeye. As of 6 May, there have been 3,368 dengue-like cases of which 1,562 were laboratory confirmed. Two deaths were reported since June 2019. The MOH is monitoring the situation through active surveillance.1003
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The World Bank provided a US$2.5 million COVID-19 Emergency Response Project Grant to prevent and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness.1004
999 https://mh.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 1000 https://mh.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 1001 https://mh.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 1002 https://data.humdata.org/dataset/inform-covid-analysis-v01 1003 https://reliefweb.int/report/marshall-islands/pacific-syndromic-surveillance-system-weekly-bulletin-syst-me-de-5 1004 https://reliefweb.int/report/marshall-islands/marshall-islands-covid-19-emergency-response-project
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To assist with the Dengue outbreak, an AmeriCares medical team of one doctor and several nurses arrived to work at Majuro hospital in February. Earlier, a Team Rubicon group arrived in November to assist at the hospital. Taiwan and other donors have been assisting by providing medical supplies to help resupply the hospital. According to Radio New Zealand, an influenza outbreak had hit in November and December, further burdening the health system.10051006 Pacific Humanitarian Team will lead any regional response. RMI is working with the World Health Organization on guidance and support for COVID-19 response. Marshall Islands Red Cross Society likely to play a major role in response.
Country-specific planning considerations Quarantine Centers: RMI government announced on 15 February the construction of a new eight-bed isolation unit.1007
Displaced Populations: None
Health: There are two hospitals in RMI, one in Majuro, the capital, and one in Ebeye. RMI has a Ministry of Health and Human Services that runs the health care system. The Deputy Secretary for Health located in Ebeye is the national government representative for health care in Ebeye and is in charge of the Ebeye Hospital. Ventilators: As of 29 April, Majuro has 3 in use. Ebeye has 2 in; received 10 new ventilators but need air compressors – two will be shipped to Ebeye.1008
USAID/OFDA and FEMA: Developed an Operational Blueprint to provide a framework for USG disaster response and reconstruction in FSM and RMI, under which USAID maintains FEMA’s previous commitment to supplement host government disaster response efforts in the aftermath of significant disasters. USAID/OFDA collaborates closely with FEMA, as well as with USAID/Philippines and USAID’s Asia Bureau, to provide humanitarian assistance in FSM and RMI. USAID/OFDA assisted with drought (funding) in March 2016. NOAA, the University of Hawaiʻi, and the National Weather Service had been assisting RMI with climate change and health issues.
Security: No reports of security incidents or unrest at this time Return to TOC
1005 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/408749/marshalls-gets-us-medical-team-support-with-dengue-treatment 1006 https://reliefweb.int/report/marshall-islands/team-rubicon-launching-mission-assist-republic-marshall-islands-dengue-fever 1007 https://mh.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 1008 RMI MOHHS SitRep 17. https://www.facebook.com/rmimoh/photos/pb.454228858072832.-2207520000../1554906328005074/?type=3&theater
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SAMOA Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Planning Considerations Affected State Measures/Access Information Resources Trend
As of 17 June, Samoa Recent measles outbreak with Measles State Amended State of Emergency orders were Government of Samoa website: has no confirmed of Emergency ending Dec. 28; Ongoing published 3 JUN. International travel www.samoagovt.ws situation being monitored. remains restricted, with a few exceptions Twitter: @samoagovt COVID-19 cases. including returning residents who must Regional foreign ministers agreed to establish quarantine.1012 On 4 MAY, the Samoa Official government website for a “Pacific Humanitarian Pathway on COVID-19 government had extended the State of COVID-19: (PHP-C),” a mechanism for regional Emergency by another 4 weeks. Schools re- http://www.samoagovt.ws/cate 1009 1013 cooperation for response. opened on 4 MAY. gory/novel-coronavirus-covid- 19/ Interruption of supply chains raise concern for On 15 April, Samoa eased some restrictions the region’s food security. including reopening inter-island travel, Ministry of Health (MOH): public transport, and restaurants1014 https://www.health.gov.ws/ Travelers from countries with cases of the coronavirus are required to get medical International travel to/from Samoa by plane Ministry of Health Facebook clearance within 3 days before traveling to are mostly halted, with some exceptions. On Page: Samoa.1010 A 14-day quarantine before 1 May, the government supported the https://www.facebook.com/pub visiting Samoa and an additional 14-day opening of 1 AirNZ flight from Auckland- lichealthsamoa/?ref=py_c quarantine after arriving in Samoa has been Apia-Auckland for transport of supplies and 1011 https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/ added to amended orders. to repatriate New Zealanders that were in Health Emergency Operations 1015 map.html Samoa. Call Centre: 800-6440
Ship access to port of Apia is limited.1016
Disaster risk: Overall INFORM model risk ranking is 124 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk). A 3-yr trend indicates stable risk.1017 Additionally, Samoa’s INFORM COVID-19 risk is 3.3/10 (higher number indicates higher risk) and its COVID-19 risk class is “low.”1018
National organization response: Amended State of Emergency orders were published 3 JUN. International travel remains restricted, with a few exceptions including returning residents who must quarantine.1019 Details of the amended order are at: https://www.samoagovt.ws/2020/06/amended-state-of-emergency-orders-for-coronavirs-covid-19-03rd-june- 2020/ On 4 MAY, the Samoa government had extended the State of Emergency by another 4 weeks. Schools re- opened on 4 MAY.1020
1009 https://reliefweb.int/report/world/pacific-islands-forum-foreign-ministers-agree-establish-pacific-humanitarian-pathway 1010 https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/samoa 1011 https://www.samoagovt.ws/2020/05/amended-state-of-emergency-orders-for-coronavirus-covid-19-1-may-2020/ 1012 https://www.samoagovt.ws/2020/06/amended-state-of-emergency-orders-for-coronavirs-covid-19-03rd-june-2020/ 1013 https://www.samoagovt.ws/ 1014 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/414255/samoa-eases-some-state-of-emergency-restrictions 1015 https://www.samoagovt.ws/ 1016 http://www.samoagovt.ws/2020/03/amended-state-of-emergency-orders-for-coronavirus-covid-19-26th-march-2020/ 1017 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index 1018 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 1019 https://www.samoagovt.ws/2020/06/amended-state-of-emergency-orders-for-coronavirs-covid-19-03rd-june-2020/ 1020 https://www.samoagovt.ws/
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The Disaster Management Office – Samoa (DMO), within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, is the national disaster management organization for Samoa. (Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DMOSamoa/) According to the DMO, the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) has been activated for the Coronavirus response. On 23 April, government teams offloaded supplies from an Air New Zealand cargo plane bringing COVID- 19 preparation and response supplies. Emergency response teams under the NEOC were present which included personnel from the Ministry of Health, Ministry for Customs and Revenue, Airport Authority, Fire and Emergency Services Authority, Ministry of Finance, Audit Office, Quarantine Division and the NEOC Logistics and Public Information Management teams.1021 Measles: A recent measles outbreak, attributed to low vaccination rates, started in October of last year. A mass vaccination campaign ensued, and the government officially declared an end to the Measles State of Emergency at the end of December. The outbreak caused a significant impact on the population and strained the public health system. As of Feb. 1, 2020, there were 5,707 total cases and 83 deaths.1022 COVID-19: The Health Emergency Operations Committee (HEOC) has shifted focus from measles to COVID-19. The HEOC is a 40-plus member multidisciplinary team chaired by the Ministry of Health (MOH), which has put in place several prevention measures. This includes screening at all ports of entry, tracing movements from affected countries and providing prevention advice.1023 Active surveillance for early detection of COVID-19 cases in Samoa is ongoing and the public will be updated regularly.1024 New Zealand Defence Force Joint Intelligence Fusion Centre Product on Samoa: https://www.cfe-dmha.org/DMHA-Resources/Disaster-Management-Reference-Handbooks Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) World Bank has approved funding of US$3.4 million to further support Samoa’s efforts. The funds are in addition to US$5.1 million approved earlier.1025 The ADB has given a $US2.9 million grant.1026 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved US$22.03 million in emergency financing for Samoa due to the COVID-19 crisis. According to the IMF, the emergency financing was granted since Samoa suffered from a measles outbreak in late 2019 which resulted in a much larger economic contraction than past disasters. The pandemic has exacerbated the economic downturn as Samoa depends heavily on tourism and remittances.1027 WHO continues to support Samoa with preparations for COVID-19 (WHO Samoa website: https://www.who.int/samoa/our-work) Through the COVID-19 Pacific Joint Incident Management Team (JIMT), WHO is coordinating with partners to bring together resources and assist readiness.1028 The Pacific Community (SPC) and WHO to provide webinar training for health professionals.1029 The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Pacific Humanitarian Pathway on COVID-19 (PHP-C), is the region’s mechanism between member countries in preparing for and responding to COVID-19.1030
1021https://twitter.com/samoagovt/status/1253603819918745600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Eprofile%3Asa moagovt%7Ctwcon%5Etimelinechrome&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samoagovt.ws%2F 1022 https://reliefweb.int/report/american-samoa/no-new-confirmed-cases-measles-american-samoa 1023 https://reliefweb.int/report/samoa/who-helps-samoa-and-tokelau-prepare-covid-19 1024 https://www.health.gov.ws/ 1025 https://reliefweb.int/report/samoa/world-bank-provides-additional-34-million-samoa-s-fight-against-covid-19 1026 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/414679/adb-boosts-covid-19-response-in-tonga-and-samoa 1027 https://reliefweb.int/report/samoa/imf-executive-board-approves-us2203-million-disbursement-samoa-address-covid-19 1028 https://www.who.int/westernpacific/emergencies/covid-19/pacific 1029 https://www.policyforum.net/covid-19-the-pacific-response-15-april/ 1030 https://www.un.int/tuvalu/news/pacific-islands-forum-agrees-establish-pacific-humanitarian-pathway-covid-19
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The Samoa Red Cross Society is promoting hygiene and health communication.1031 The World Bank Asia-Pacific supported the government with the recent construction of the new “climate-resilient” Mali’oli’o Bridge and access road on Savai'i Island which is described as a vital connection for thousands. Before the completion, the crossing has been described as frequently impassable for up to 12 hours, and after a major weather event or tropical cyclone, has been impassable for days. According to the WB “the new bridge will provide safer and more reliable access, particularly during severe weather events.” The government intends to keep the existing crossing as a back-up.1032
Country-specific planning considerations Evacuation Centers: A number of hotels in Apia are being used as quarantine facilities.1033 Displaced Populations: No significant displaced populations. Hospitals: There are two major hospitals supported by district hospitals and health centers. Samoa’s national hospital, the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital, is located at Motootua, in Apia.1034 The other major hospital is the Malietoa Tanumafili II Hospital at Tuasivi on Savaii.1035 Health: According to the WHO, the dangers of emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases, including dengue, chikungunya, measles and Zika, calls attention to an ongoing vulnerability to outbreaks. Security: Close to 300 people have been arrested and charged in Samoa for breaches of the Emergency Orders which came into effect 21 March. Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil has warned there will be more if people don't heed the orders. Most of the arrests have been in Apia.1036 Return to TOC
1031 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/MDR00005OU2.pdf 1032 https://www.facebook.com/worldbankpacific/posts/1586647098168055 1033 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/08/coronavirus-in-the-pacific-weekly-briefing 1034 http://www.commonwealthhealth.org/pacific/samoa/health_systems_in_samoa/ 1035 https://ws.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/doctors/ 1036 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/414619/close-to-300-arrested-in-samoa-for-breaking-covid-19-orders
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SINGAPORE Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Considerations Measures/Access Resources
Singapore had seen a On 2 JUN, banks will slowly return Singapore Singapore COVID-19 Total Case Trend dramatic spike in new some employees to work, as part of government COVID- 1040 19 website: 42,000 cases primarily among Singapore’s phased reopening. https://www.gov.sg/ar foreign workers in This follows ‘Circuit Breaker’ ticle/covid-19-cases-in- 40,000 1041 dormitories. New cases restrictions implemented 7 APR. singapore
38,000 have now decreased to Anyone going outside must wear a an average of 4/day.1037 Ministry of Health 36,000 mask, else face a 300SGD (212USD) https://www.moh.gov. Singapore initially closed fine for first offense.1042 sg/ 34,000 its borders to short-term Entry restrictions: U.S. Embassy in 32,000 visitors on 23 March.1038 Singapore residents and pass- Singapore 30,000 Official postponement of holders will be quarantined or https://sg.usembassy.g ov/ 900 Singaporean asked to self-isolate for 14 days. pilgrims’ plans to travel Singapore closed its borders to COVID-19 Cases to Mecca for Haj; moved short term visitors on 23 March. Database 26 Deaths – 41,216 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN 1039 https://github.com/CSS to 2021. EGISandData/COVID-19 https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
Disaster Risk: The INFORM (Index for Risk Management) ranking for Singapore is 191 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk) marking Singapore as the lowest risk of all countries. Disaster risk has remained stable in the last three years. Singapore is an island city-state with extremely low exposure to natural hazards. INFORM also has a new COVID Risk Index, which identifies “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Singapore is assessed as being in the Low COVID risk class, based on a COVID risk of 2.4 on a scale of 1-10, where a higher number indicates higher risk. 1043
National organization response On 2 JUN, Singapore continues a slow phased reopening of the economy as banks return some employees to work. Staff on site is limited to 25%, masks and clear plastic shields are to be worn, and permission is needed to meetings with clients.1044 While new COVID-19 cases are still increasing by hundreds per day, there are no new cases outside migrant worker dormitories.1045 On 1 JUN, the number of new daily cases in the local Singaporean community outside migrant worker dormitories dropped to zero for the first time since a partial lockdown was implemented in early April. But as of 1 JUN, there were 408 new infections among foreign workers in dormitories.1046 Singapore is rapidly creating additional housing for about 60,000 migrant workers by
1037 https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/1-275-more-cases-discharged-793-new-cases-of-covid-19-infection-confirmed 1038 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/singapore-closes-borders-virus-bay-shutdown- 200322061359901.html?utm_source=website&utm_medium=article_page&utm_campaign=read_more_links 1039 https://www.muis.gov.sg/Media/Media-Releases/15-May-20-Media-Release-on-Deferment-of-Haj-2020-for-Singaporean-Pilgrims 1040 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-01/bankers-in-face-shields-are-part-of-singapore-s-cautious-return 1041 https://www.gov.sg/article/how-will-businesses-gradually-resume-activities-after-1-june-2020 1042 https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/coronavirus-asia-asean-live-updates-by-country/ 1043 https://data.humdata.org/dataset/inform-covid-analysis-v01 1044 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-01/bankers-in-face-shields-are-part-of-singapore-s-cautious-return 1045 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-01/singapore-virus-infections-outside-of-worker-dorms-drop-to-zero 1046 https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/767-more-cases-discharged-408-new-cases-of-covid-19-infection-confirmed
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the end of this year, using temporary modular structures to reduce the density in dormitories which have seen mass outbreaks of the coronavirus infection.1047 Singapore will not attend the Hajj in Saudi Arabia this year. The pilgrimage is expected to start 30 JUL.1048 New Zealand is in talks with Singapore to include Fiji in special travel arrangements or “Green Lane” (essential travel) with Singapore.1049 Despite almost 800 current COVID-19 cases, the vast majority among foreign workers living in dormitories, the government says transmission in the local community has dropped as it commences with a phased reopening of the economy.1050 The Inter-agency Task Force has initiated the safe and gradual resumption of business activities and testing and clearing 60,000 migrant workers (20% of all dormitory residents) living in the dormitories. To ensure residents are healthy and prepared to resume work, ‘Safe Living’ protocols will be implemented to keep workplaces ‘COVID-Safe’ and continue to reduce the spread or risk subsequent waves of disease. A ‘Requirements for Safe Management Measures at the workplace’ guideline has been published. Rooms and dorm blocks set aside for recovered workers are being cleaned and prepared and by 18 May they aim to have 5,400 beds available for workers. Entry and exit controls, and intermingling restrictions will be implemented to maintain safety measures for residents.1051 The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is the primary authority responsible at the strategic level for disaster management, emergency preparedness and civil defense in Singapore.1052 The Ministry of Trade and Industry released Guidelines for gradual resumption of business operations on 6 May: https://www.mti.gov.sg/-/media/MTI/Newsroom/Press-Releases/2020/05/UPDATED-Press-Statement--- Guidelines-for-gradual-resumption-of-business-operations-v2.pdf
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) is providing relief domestically in the COVID-19 outbreak, including customized care packages and psychosocial support calls for seniors living alone. On 3 April, SRC announced it would contribute more than S$800,000 (US$560,000) in relief to Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, North Korea and Iran.1053 In February, SRC launched a public appeal and donated $2.26 million (US$1.58 million) to China, including medical and protective equipment for Hubei province, where Wuhan is the capital.1054 Singapore non-governmental organizations that work with foreign migrants, including Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) and Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME),1055 had earlier raised concerns about that population’s vulnerability to COVID-19.1056 Singapore is a regular resource contributor to UN agencies, especially UNDP, which established the newest of its six UNDP Global Policy Centres in Singapore as a joint initiative with the government.1057
Country-specific planning considerations
1047 https://news.yahoo.com/singapore-rushes-build-homes-60-121022332.html 1048 https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/covid-19-four-countries-wont-attend-hajj-this-year/ar-BB15pf8x 1049 https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/fiji-angry-at-second-class-consideration-in-travel-bubble-plan-20200610-p55183; https://www.rawstory.com/2020/06/answered-prayers-fiji-declares-itself-coronavirus-free/; https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Travel-bubble-NZ-PM-says-Australia-first-then-Pacific-Islands-fx54r8 1050 https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/1-275-more-cases-discharged-793-new-cases-of-covid-19-infection-confirmed 1051 https://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/2020/0515-safe-working-and-safe-living 1052 https://www.adrc.asia/countryreport/SGP/SGPeng98/ ; https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/disaster-mgmt-ref-hdbk-singapore.pdf 1053 https://www.redcross.sg/media-centre/press-releases/841-covid-19-singapore-red-cross-rolls-out-more-support-for-communities-in-singapore-and- the-asia-pacific.html 1054 https://www.redcross.sg/media-centre/press-releases/832-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-singapore-red-cross-relief-operations-in-china- commences-expected-to-reach-100-000-healthcare-workers-and-residents.html 1055 http://twc2.org.sg/ ; https://www.home.org.sg/ ; 1056 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/surge-coronavirus-cases-singapore-forces-lockdown-extension-200422060906200.html 1057 https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/funding/core-donors/Singapore.html
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Displaced Populations: As of 2016, Singapore had 1,411 stateless persons living there, the majority of whom migrated to Singapore though many were also born in the city-state.1058 Although not displaced, foreign migrant workers number almost 1 million people, out of a total population of 5.7 million in Singapore.1059 About 95% of Singapore’s new COVID-19 cases are among foreign workers.
Health: As of 13 May, the Ministry of Health confirmed an additional 675 cases of COVID-19, of whom 671 were foreign Work Permit holders residing in dormitories, and 4 were among the Singaporean community.1060 Singapore announced plans on 12 May to test all 323,000 migrant workers living in dormitories, where the majority of confirmed COVID-19 cases are. Some 32,000 foreign workers in dormitories have been tested, and it will take several weeks to test all.1061 The first migrant worker case was recorded in early February.1062
Security: Seven Western foreigners who flouted Singapore’s circuit breaker to gather for drinks face US$7,000 fine or jail.1063 Return to TOC
1058 https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/1411-stateless-people-living-singapore-mha?cid=h3_referral_inarticlelinks_03092019_todayonline 1059 https://www.singstat.gov.sg/modules/infographics/population 1060 https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/958-more-cases-discharged-675-new-cases-of-covid-19-infection-confirmed 1061 https://news.yahoo.com/singapores-health-ministry-confirms-884-071741067.html 1062 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-21/how-singapore-flipped-from-virus-hero-to-cautionary-tale 1063 https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3087230/expats-who-flouted-singapores-circuit-breaker-gather
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SOLOMON ISLANDS Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Considerations Affected State Information Resources Measures/Access
As of 17 June, the Solomon TC Harold made landfall on 4 State of Emergency declared TC Harold SITREP: Islands had no confirmed April causing flooding resulting in on 25 March; extended to July Details of damage affecting Solomon COVID-19 cases. 0 deaths. to prevent disease from Islands: https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/tro reaching the country. Strict flight restrictions banning pical-cyclone-harold-challenges-disaster- entry of any person from Country’s Emergency Powers and-public-health-management
countries with confirmed cases of Act gives authorizes 1064 Situation Report – 15 April 2020: coronavirus. Government actions regarding Heavy rain causing flash flooding in COVID-19 but does not Government guidance requiring resulted in evacuation of over 600 people to return to their villages require “total lock down” of students, and causing a landslide 1067 highlights necessity of the country. resulting in a village totally buried and 8 confirmed deaths. information sharing and access to Limited health care resources rural/village populations.1065 http://www.ndmo.gov.sb/index.php/situ could make a COVID-19 ation-report/278-wx420-situation-report-
outbreak could severely affect 1-bad-weather-2 Cyclone Season runs November the country.1068 1066 to April. COVID-19 Cases Database https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COV https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html ID-19
SPECIAL SECTION – Tropical Cyclone Harold Despite weather warnings, 27 people seeking refuge from fear of COVID-19 outbreak boarded a ferry to their home villages and were washed overboard and drowned amid rough seas caused by Category 1 Cyclone Harold, on 4 April 2020.1069 Impacts to the cyclone included heavy rains, river flooding, coastal flooding and storm surges but no other deaths were caused as a direct result of the cyclone. Humanitarian supplies donated by Australia are being distributed in the Solomon Islands in response to TC Harold and to mitigate against COVID-19 risk, according to the Australian High Commissioner who met with partners on 22 April. The NDMO and Oxfam are distributing 450 kitchen kits – including pots, pans, bowls and cutlery – as part of the TC Harold response to affected communities in western Guadalcanal. The supplies also include 150 hygiene kits – including buckets, water purification tablets, antibacterial soap and detergent – which the NDMO and Live and Learn are distributing in Honiara to boost community preparedness for COVID-19.1070
Disaster Risk: Overall INFORM model risk ranking is 49 out of 191 countries. (Lower number indicates higher risk.) Disaster risk in last three years has been stable.1071 Additionally, its INFORM COVID-19 risk index is 5.6/10 indicating high risk (10 being highest risk).1072
1064 http://www.ndmo.gov.sb/index.php/disaster-alerts-warnings/276-solomon-islands-travel-advisory-3-for-coronavirus-2019 1065 https://devpolicy.org/covid-19-and-solomon-islands-the-first-casualties-and-possible-ramifications-20200409/ 1066 https://www.met.gov.sb/solomon-islands-climate-in-brief 1067 https://www.solomontimes.com/news/governor-general-declare-state-of-public-emergency-in-solomon-islands/9655 1068 http://www.solomonislandsinfocus.com/the-si-national-health-strategic-plan-2016-20.html 1069 https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/hawaii/articles/2020-04-08/27-dead-on-solomon-islands-ferry-did-it-follow-virus-order 1070 https://www.solomontimes.com/news/australian-humanitarian-aid-reaches-communities/9762 1071 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 1072 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic
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National organization response The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO: http://www.ndmo.gov.sb/) handles natural disasters and oversees disaster and climate risk reduction. A Joint Travel Advisory dated 13 March 2020 including the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) restricted travel to the country to limit exposure to COVID-19. The MHMS is responsible for providing public, maternal and child health services, family planning, school-based outreach, dental, mental and vaccination and immunization.1073 The NDMO has a Disaster Alert portal at (http://www.ndmo.gov.sb/index.php/disaster-operations) which carries news and information including alerts, warnings, Situation Reports, and Hazard Monitors for COVID-19 and other emergency situations. The National Emergency Operations Centers (NEOC) provide coordinated support to the Provincial Disaster Committee (PDC) to access damage assessments in country. The Asian Development Bank provided US$6 million to support COVID-19 response efforts and economic impact.1074 China Harbour Engineering (SI) Company donated COVID-19 kits comprised of 10,000 daily protective masks, 100 N95 masks and 500 gloves to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. Yao Ming, China’s Acting Ambassador to the Solomon Islands, donated the gift on behalf of the company.1075
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The WHO in the Western Pacific is based in Manila, with a country office in the Solomon Islands.1076 The WHO in the Pacific coordinates the COVID-19 Joint Incident Management Team (IMT), which developed and is implementing a six-month Pacific Action Plan for COVID-19 Preparedness and Response.1077 NGOs and faith based organizations provide significant funding and service contributions in Solomon Islands. The Solomon Islands Red Cross Society is located in the capital, Honiara. Information about services is available at: https://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/where-we-work/asia-pacific/solomon-islands-red-cross/ The ICRC donated eleven mobile phones to the Corrections Service of the Solomon Islands (CSSI) for its six facilities and will continue to pay costs of weekly calls between detainees and their loved ones and lawyers, throughout the crisis. The ICRC also donated a tent to the CSSI which is set up at the entrance of Rowe Correctional Institution in Honiara to screen incoming detainees and prison staff for symptoms of COVID-19.1078
Country-specific planning considerations Evacuation Centers: None. The Chief of Lilisiana urged authorities on 15 April to build evacuation centers, after a tsunami warning led many in Auki Township to spend the night unsheltered on higher ground.1079
Hospitals: 8 out of 9 provinces have access to a public hospital and most have access to a health network including health centers and workers. The National Referral Hospital in the capital, Honiara is the largest with 300-400 beds and specialized departments. Remaining provincial hospitals have between 25 and 150 beds.1080
Quarantine Facilities: As of 24 April, the two COVID-19 isolation centers at National Referral Hospital (NRH) are almost fully equipped, with the delivery of medical supplies and equipment worth more than SBD$400,000 (US$47,200) by the WHO with support from the Australian Government. Isolation Facility 1, at the former diabetes clinic, was opened by the Prime Minister on 20 April. The TB Isolation Ward, built by the WHO last year, was repurposed and refurbished by the New Zealand government as the second isolation facility.1081 Return to TOC
1073 https://apps.searo.who.int/PDS_DOCS/B5322.pdf 1074 https://www.adb.org/news/adb-provides-6-million-assistance-solomon-islands-covid-19-response 1075 https://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/23473-china-harbour-donates-medical-kits 1076 https://www.who.int/solomonislands/our-work 1077 https://www.who.int/westernpacific/about/how-we-work/pacific-support/news/detail/21-02-2020-pacific-steps-up-preparedness-against-covid-19 1078 https://www.icrc.org/en/document/covid-19-detainees-solomon-islands-can-now-call-their-loved-ones 1079 http://www.solomonstarnews.com/index.php/news/national/item/12139-call-for-evacuation-centers 1080 https://apps.searo.who.int/PDS_DOCS/B5322.pdf 1081 https://www.solomontimes.com/news/who-supports-hospital-isolation-centres/9764
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SOUTH KOREA Return to TOC COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Resources Considerations Measures/Access Korea Air expects to Schools in South Korea fully reopened Republic of Korea Official resume some flights to on 8 JUN.1085 On 29 MAY, hundreds of website: North America, Europe schools that had reopened 27 MAY http://www.korea.net/ SOUTH KOREA COVID-19 and Asia in June.1082 closed again, and 838 schools slated to Korean government official open 29 MAY remained physically Total Case Trend April 1, the Republic of website on COVID-19: closed.1086 Korea (ROK) http://ncov.mohw.go.kr/en 12,400 implemented mandatory Social distancing rules relaxed on 6 May Flattening the Curve on 14-day quarantine on allowing phased re-opening of 12,200 COVID-19 The Korean short term travel at businesses. New guidance to stay home Experience: 12,000 government designated 3-4 days if feeling unwell and remain http://www.korea.net/korean 11,800 facility at own expense. arm’s length in public spaces.1087 et/fileDownload?fileUrl=pdfda 11,600 South Korean health Smartphone apps flagging infection hot ta/2020/04/Flattening_the_cu 11,400 authorities require all spots with text and alerting population rve_on_COVID-19.pdf inbound travelers to to risk and response reduced U.S. Forces Korea website: 11,200 download and respond community spread.1088 https://www.usfk.mil/ 11,000 to daily questions via South Korea’s experience with Middle Self-Diagnosis Mobile The Arirang TV website East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in App for 14 days. provides live streaming twice 2015 guided quick response to COVID- Violators may be subject daily press briefings re: COVID- 19. Tracing, testing and quarantining to fine, arrest, or 19 (www.arirang.com) 1083 approximately 17,000 people over the 2 280 Deaths – 12,257 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN deportation. months, ultimately flattened the curve. Korea Center for Disease United States Forces ROK utilizing a similar strategy for Control and Prevention https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html Korea (USFK) and Korea COVID-19. Privacy laws implemented to treatment hotline: 1339 or http://ncov.mohw.go.kr/en CDC overseeing contact allow data gathering in case of national 1345(English). tracing to detect emergency. Koreans receive individuals who may notifications on cell phones advising of COVID-19 Case Database have been exposed to possible contact with infected persons. https://github.com/CSSEGISan infected personnel.1084 dData/COVID-19
Disaster Risk
The Republic of Korea has an overall INFORM model risk ranking of 169 out of 191 countries (a lower number indicates higher risk) and shows decreasing risk in the last three years.1089 Additionally, its INFORM COVID-19 risk index is 2.9/10 indicating low risk (10 being highest risk).1090 The country is prone to earthquakes and occasional typhoons that bring high winds and flooding.1091 Previous disasters such as the Gyeongju earthquake
1082 https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/coronavirus-asia-asean-live-updates-by-country/ 1083 https://kr.usembassy.gov/022420-covid-19-information/ 1084 https://www.armytimes.com/news/coronavirus/2020/03/24/us-contractor-at-camp-humphreys-tests-positive-for-covid-19-after-visiting-base-starbucks-golf-course-restaurant/ 1085 https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/asia-today-zealand-succeeds-eradicating-coronavirus-71126119 1086 https://www.yahoo.com/news/hundreds-schools-south-korea-reopened-202748143.html 1087 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-southkorea/south-korea-to-relax-social-distancing-rules-further-starting-may-6- idUSKBN22F06C 1088 http://www.korea.net/koreanet/fileDownload?fileUrl=pdfdata/2020/04/Flattening_the_curve_on_COVID-19.pdf 1089 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 1090 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 1091 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html
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(2016) and the Gangneung forest fire (2017) sharpened emergency alert system strategies utilized during the current COVID-19 response.1092
National organization response
On 30 January, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced an Epidemic Prevention Budget of $20.8 billion KRW to ensure preemptive epidemic prevention.1093 On 23 February, the ROK government raised the country’s infectious disease alert level to (Highest) and assembled the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCHQ) to bolster government response to COVID-19.1094
ROK’s success containing COVID-19 included an early and expansive testing program and extensive efforts to isolate infected people, and trace and quarantine their contacts. The country has tested over 270,000 people to date. In 2017, the Korean government, under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act (IDCP Act), introduced the Advancement of Smart Quarantine Information System which utilizes overseas roaming data to conduct investigation on possible infectious disease outbreak to quickly identify transmission routes and places infected persons visited using real time analysis of data such as GPS, mobile information, and credit card transaction history. From these multiple data points, the system can detect incidents of cluster infection and show the source of transmission. The system protects privacy and provides only relevant data to users. This technology became the Self-quarantine Safety Application App currently used to track and collect data on the infected, exposed, and quarantined and monitor their symptoms and compliance to quarantine rules.1095
Dozens of new COVID-19 cases were linked to nightclubs, with 102 infections confirmed as of 13 May in the cluster from a club patron testing positive 6 May.1096 More than 36% of the new cases are asymptomatic, stated Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.1097 Some 8,500 police officers have been deployed to trace potential contacts of newly confirmed COVID-19 patients.1098 South Korea had responded to an exponential rise in new cases in February to March of hundreds per day, bringing the number of new daily cases down to the single digits, until the nightclub-related cluster.
Schools in South Korea fully reopened on 8 JUN, with the last grades returning to classes in the final phase of the reopening. The government is urging people to stay home, but is reluctant to enforce stronger social distancing for fear of further hurting the economy.1099 On 29 MAY, hundreds of schools that had reopened two days earlier closed again, and 838 schools slated to open 29 MAY remained physically closed, opting to continue with remote learning.1100 Millions of children had returned to school on 27 MAY, however, COVID-19 cases continue to increase.1101 It is increasingly difficult for health workers to track the spread of COVID-19 amid warmer weather and eased attitudes on distancing. “We will do our best to trace contacts and implement preventive
1092 http://www.korea.net/koreanet/fileDownload?fileUrl=pdfdata/2020/04/Flattening_the_curve_on_COVID-19.pdf 1093 https://www.csis.org/analysis/timeline-south-koreas-response-covid-19 1094http://ncov.mohw.go.kr/en/baroView.do?brdId=11&brdGubun=111&dataGubun=&ncvContSeq=&contSeq=&board_id= 1095 https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/coronavirus-cases-have-dropped-sharply-south-korea-whats-secret-its-success 1096 https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/12/854407305/south-korea-delays-reopening-schools-as-coronavirus-cases-resurge 1097 https://www.newsweek.com/south-korea-coronavirus-second-wave-hits-over-100-cases-country-struggles-contain-new-outbreak-1503475 1098 https://qz.com/1855878/8000-police-in-south-korea-mobilized-to-quash-itaewon-covid-19-cluster/?utm_source=YPL&yptr=yahoo 1099 https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/asia-today-zealand-succeeds-eradicating-coronavirus-71126119 1100 https://www.yahoo.com/news/hundreds-schools-south-korea-reopened-202748143.html 1101 https://www.marketwatch.com/story/lesson-for-america-after-south-korea-reopened-it-saw-a-spike-in-coronavirus-cases-2020-05-27
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measures, but there’s a limit to such efforts,” said Jeong Eun-Kyeong, director of South Korea’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.1102
United States Forces Korea (USFK)
USFK, comprised of approximately 28,500 American troops, went on high alert and imposed restrictions and guidance including DoD travel restrictions. The Daegu Army Garrison comprising a population of 9,000 over several installations went on high alert due and largely closed facilities, confining U.S. military families and civilian employees in the battles to keep virus off-post.1103 Only one US service member has been confirmed to have the virus in South Korea.1104
Country-specific planning considerations
Health: Cancer is the main cause of mortality at 153 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by heart disease at 58.2/100k, and cerebrovascular disease (ie. stroke) at 45.8/100k.1105 Some local authorities have installed Artificial Intelligence (AI) devices at medical sites to relieve the burden of health care workers and improve the efficiency of diagnosis.1106 The country’s public health system is being reviewed for expansion in response to inadequate relevant equipment and isolation units available in private hospitals which make up 90% of available hospital beds.1107
Hospitals: There are 635 designated screening clinics (602 centers able to directly collect and test specimens) and 43 drive through stations. Walk-thru testing is also available and allows quick collection of samples and minimal contact. Diagnosis is carried out in 118 clinics and daily testing capacity has increased to 15,000 as of March 2020.1108 A list of hospitals/clinics is available here: (https://www.mohw.go.kr/react/popup_200128.html).
Quarantine Centers: Individuals with moderate symptoms are sent to quarantine centers for basic medical support and observation. Those with minimal or no symptoms have monitored self-quarantine for 2 weeks.1109
Security: Quarantine violators face up to $3 million won fines. A new bill was introduced to increase fine to $10 million won and up to 1 year in jail.1110 Return to TOC
1102 https://www.marketwatch.com/story/lesson-for-america-after-south-korea-reopened-it-saw-a-spike-in-coronavirus-cases-2020-05-27 1103 https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/us-military-community-gets-creative-in-coping-with-coronavirus-fears-in-south-korea-1.621042 1104 https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/us-forces-korea-confirms-another-coronavirus-case-on-camp-humphreys-for-overall-total-of-11-1.623753 1105 https://www.mohw.go.kr/eng/hs/hs0102.jsp?PAR_MENU_ID=1006&MENU_ID=100602 1106 http://www.korea.net/koreanet/fileDownload?fileUrl=pdfdata/2020/04/Flattening_the_curve_on_COVID-19.pdf 1107 https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/how-south-korea-stopped-covid19-early-by-myoung-hee-kim-2020-04 1108 http://english.seoul.go.kr/covid/countermeasures/ 1109 http://www.korea.net/koreanet/fileDownload?fileUrl=pdfdata/2020/04/Flattening_the_curve_on_COVID-19.pdf 1110 https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/coronavirus-cases-have-dropped-sharply-south-korea-whats-secret-its-success
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SRI LANKA Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Considerations Affected State Information Resources Measures/Access
Sri Lanka has two international On 8 JUN, Sri Lanka resumed SL MOH Epidemiology Unit: Sri Lanka airports, Bandaranaike normal bus and train services.1113 http://www.epid.gov.lk/web/i COVID-19 Total Case Trend International Airport Colombo ndex.php?lang=en Sri Lanka reimposed selective 2,000 located in Katunayake and lockdown restrictions 31 MAY to Mattala Rajapaksha Airport in MOH daily sit reps (cases by restrict large gatherings after 1,950 Hambantota. district): large daily surge in COVID-19 http://www.epid.gov.lk/web/i 1,900 Sri Lanka has two monsoon cases.1114 ndex.php?option=com_conten seasons: the southeastern t&view=article&id=225&lang=e On 17 March the government 1,850 monsoon between May-Sept.; n announced that all international and, The northeastern monsoon airports in Sri Lanka will be closed 1,800 from Oct.-Jan. Inter-monsoonal MOH Quarantine Unit to arriving international period during October and the Facebook: passenger flights. Departing 1,750 first half of November, with rain https://www.facebook.com/pa passengers are still allowed to and thunderstorms. ges/category/Health--- 1,700 travel. Wellness-Website/Quarantine- Dengue fever is widespread in Sri Unit-Ministry-of-Health-Sri- Any passenger with symptoms Lanka’s Western Province, where Lanka-108503734050398/ will be transported to a local Colombo is located.1111 hospital and held in isolation for WHO Sri Lanka website: 11 Deaths–1,924 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN Demonstrations in Colombo are further screening.1115 https://www.who.int/srilanka normal. Most are peaceful, 1112 On April 5, the government WHO-Sri Lanka annual report: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html however, some are violent. extended the suggested https://apps.who.int/iris/handl Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks quarantine period from 2 to 4 e/10665/272610 on 21 April 2019. weeks.1116
Disaster risk:
Overall INFORM model risk ranking is 97 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk). A 3-yr trend indicates stable overall risk.1117 The most common natural hazards to affect Sri Lanka include floods, landslides, cyclones, droughts, wind storms, tsunamis, and sea surges. Additionally, Sri Lanka’s INFORM COVID-19 risk is 4.3/10 indicating medium risk (10 being the highest).1118
National organization response On 8 JUN, Sri Lankan authorities resumed normal bus and train services.1119 Sri Lanka reimposed selective lockdown restrictions 31 MAY to restrict large gatherings after large daily surge in COVID-19 cases. The health ministry said that out of 460 Sri Lankans who returned from Kuwait that week, some
1111 https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/SriLanka.html#_blank 1112 https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/SriLanka.html#_blank 1113 https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/asia-today-zealand-succeeds-eradicating-coronavirus-71126119 1114 https://news.yahoo.com/sri-lanka-reimpose-selective-lockdown-virus-cases-spike-101550470.html 1115 https://lk.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 1116 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/sri-lanka-quarantine-four-weeks-positive-covid-19-coronavirus-12612286 1117 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index 1118 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 1119 https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/asia-today-zealand-succeeds-eradicating-coronavirus-71126119
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252 had tested positive for coronavirus, all of whom were quarantined.1120 On 26 MAY, Sri Lanka had lifted a shutdown on the capital and a neighboring district, after partially reopening much of the country on 11 MAY.1121 Sri Lanka had been on continuous lockdown since 20 March, a week after the first local COVID-19 case was reported. All restaurants, places of entertainment and schools will continue to be shut.1122 The Colombo Stock Exchange briefly opened 11 May for the first time since the 52-day shutdown, but shut 38 seconds after opening, following a plunge in share prices triggering a circuit breaker. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy was struggling to recover from deadly Easter Sunday bombings in April 2019.1123
The national disaster management organization for Sri Lanka is the National Council for Disaster Management (NCDM). It is chaired by the President and vice-chaired by the Prime Minister and is composed of different ministries involved in disaster management. The Council’s main implementing body is the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights. The Ministry houses the Disaster Management Centre, which is the secretariat of the Disaster Management Council.1124 For more information see CFE-DM handbook: https://www.cfe- dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=EKlBTfSZHdc%3d&portalid=0
Sri Lanka, using WHO guidance, implemented a Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan.1125 The Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services (MOH) in collaboration with the WHO Country Office, is closely monitoring the situation and strengthening preparedness.1126
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) On 11 May, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said Sri Lanka is on the right track to contain COVID-19 through increased tracking, testing, isolation, and treatment strategy. On 5 May, the WHO delivered a donation of essential laboratory equipment, hospital equipment, and personal protective equipment.1127
The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) is assisting the government with an ongoing disinfection program.1128 The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Sri Lanka is supporting national authorities in efforts to protect the public and detainee population against the spread of COVID-19.1129 Organizations that work with Sri Lanka to build health capacity include the WHO, UNICEF, WFP, ILO, IOM, UNDP, UNFPA, World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and foreign aid agencies.
The Australian government provided the MOH with a contribution to work with WHO to support preparedness and response efforts for COVID-19.1130 World Bank approved a US$128.6 million Sri Lanka COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project.1131 ADB provided a US$100,000 grant for emergency medical supplies purchased through UNICEF.1132 USAID committed an additional US$4.5 million in COVID-19 assistance to Sri Lanka on 6 May, bringing the US contribution to US$5.8 million.1133 India handed over to Sri
1120 https://news.yahoo.com/sri-lanka-reimpose-selective-lockdown-virus-cases-spike-101550470.html 1121 https://news.yahoo.com/sri-lanka-reimpose-selective-lockdown-virus-cases-spike-101550470.html 1122 https://www.india.com/news/world/coronavirus-sri-lanka-prepares-to-end-lockdown-with-partial-opening-4025287/ 1123 https://www.msn.com/en-xl/asia/srilanka/sri-lanka-trading-halted-soon-after-reopen-from-lockdown/ar-BB13TU1R 1124 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=EKlBTfSZHdc%3d&portalid=0 1125 https://www.who.int/srilanka/news/detail/20-03-2020-government-of-australia-and-who-partner-to-support-covid-19-preparedness-and-response-in-sri-lanka 1126 https://www.who.int/srilanka/covid-19 1127 https://www.gulf-times.com/story/663025/Lanka-on-right-track-to-contain-Covid-19-WHO 1128 https://www.facebook.com/srilankaredcross/ 1129 https://www.icrc.org/en/document/sri-lanka-supporting-authorities-protect-detainees-and-public-health-during-covid-19 1130 https://www.who.int/srilanka/news/detail/20-03-2020-government-of-australia-and-who-partner-to-support-covid-19-preparedness-and-response-in-sri-lanka 1131 https://reliefweb.int/report/sri-lanka/world-bank-fast-tracks-128-million-covid-19-coronavirus-support-sri-lanka 1132 https://reliefweb.int/report/sri-lanka/adb-unicef-join-forces-supply-emergency-medical-equipment-support-sri-lanka-s-covid 1133 https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/us-commits-2458-million-in-covid-19-assistance-to-sri-lanka/ar-BB13H4O5
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Lanka the fourth consignment of COVID-19 medical supplies, as India’s High Commissioner-designate flew to Colombo on 8 May with the 12.5 tons of supplies.1134
Oxfam announced on 20 May it will end its operations in Sri Lanka and 17 other countries.1135 With finances “seriously impacted” by the COVID-19 pandemic, Oxfam will globally lay off 1,450 personnel – almost one-third of its program staff – affecting 700 of its 1,900 partner organizations, and reducing its physical presence to 48 countries.1136
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) received a CDN$400,000 (US$298,035) grant from Canada on 4 JUN to strengthen Government of Sri Lanka’s response to COVID-19. In consultation with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and Social Security, the funding will enhance the capacity of hospital care centers to support survivors of domestic violence, combat gender-based violence with a media campaign, procure medical equipment for maternal health, and analyze the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and girls.1137
Country-specific planning considerations
Quarantine Centers: There are 50 quarantine centers of which 35 are operational.1138 Quarantined individuals are also placed in local hospitals and the Army manages several facilities.1139
Displaced Populations: Some 35,000 in camps awaiting resettlement.1140 Many of the country’s civil war displaced have already been resettled.
Health: The primary causes of mortality and morbidity in Sri Lanka are cardiovascular disease, suicide, and cancer. There is a high risk of infection and transmission of communicable diseases, including HIV/AIDS, Dengue Fever, Tuberculosis and Leprosy. Sri Lanka has a network of public health units and hospitals across the country, managed by the MOH.1141 There are six large hospitals in the Colombo area, including four with emergency trauma service: Asiri Surgical Hospital; Lanka Hospital; Central Hospital; and the government-run National Hospital. Facilities outside Colombo are limited. The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of health care facilities and physicians available: https://photos.state.gov/libraries/sri-lanka/5/pdfs/Doctor_s_List_2013.pdf1142 The ratio of doctors is 1 for every 3,000 people; the ratio for hospitals is 9 for every 3,000 people.1143
Security: In Kalwanchikudy town in Batticaloa district, rioters attacked an ambulance and tried to disrupt the transportation of patients with COVID-19. On 2 April, local residents protested at Mulleriyawa town in Kolonnawa, Colombo district, over the funeral of an infected person.1144 The government and international NGOs continue to locate and dispose of landmines in the north, but some areas remain mined.1145 Return to TOC
1134 https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-s-envoy-designate-to-sri-lanka-flies-to-colombo-with-medical-supplies/story-A7revOj3aiCsuRWPhh2lOP.html 1135 https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/oxfam-accelerates-new-strategic-changes-its-global-operations 1136 https://www.devex.com/news/exclusive-oxfam-to-lay-off-1-450-staff-and-withdraw-from-18-countries-97286#.XsV3XIZDCRY.twitter 1137 https://reliefweb.int/report/sri-lanka/canada-grants-cdn400000-unfpa-strengthen-government-response-covid19-pandemic-sri 1138 https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/04/21/more-than-1000-residents-of-bandaranayake-mawatha-to-be-sent-for-quarantine/ 1139 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/sri-lanka-quarantine-four-weeks-positive-covid-19-coronavirus-12612286 1140 https://www.state.gov/clearing-the-path-for-displaced-peoples-in-sri-lanka-a-decade-after-civil-war/ 1141 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=EKlBTfSZHdc%3d&portalid=0 1142 https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/SriLanka.html#_blank 1143 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=EKlBTfSZHdc%3d&portalid=0 1144 http://insecurityinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Bulletin-2-Aid-Security-and-COVID-19-.pdf 1145 https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/SriLanka.html#_blank
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TAIWAN / REPUBLIC OF CHINA Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Considerations Affected State Information Resources Measures/Access
Flight restrictions. Taiwan to loosen social See footnotes for all. Taiwan COVID-19 Total Case Trend distancing restrictions Movement restrictions. on 7 JUN, increasing Restrictions: 470 numbers allowed a https://www.boca.gov.tw/ mp-2.html 460 Typhoon (tropical cyclone) 1146 public gatherings. 450 season is June to October. https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En 440 Most foreign nationals /Bulletin/Detail/_usu_p9uy Taiwan is not 430 barred from entering 9pWaRNNj8cLnw?typeid=1 diplomatically recognized Taiwan as of 19 March. 58 420 by most nations. It is not a 410 member-state of the Other inbound Taiwan Centers for Disease 400 United Nations, thus is not travelers from high-risk Control https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En a member of the UN World areas will be / Health Organization quarantined. 7 Deaths – 445* confirmed cases as of 17 JUN (WHO), which has affected COVID-19 Cases Database information sharing. Masks are required in https://github.com/CSSEGIS *No new confirmed cases since 1 JUN. most public facilities. andData/COVID-19 https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
Disaster Risk:
The INFORM (Index for Risk Management) Global Risk Index does not include Taiwan.1147 From 1980-2010, natural disasters caused 4,056 deaths, and affected 3.8 million people.1148 The five major natural hazards confronting Taiwan are: typhoons, earthquakes, landslides, floods, and debris flow. About 73% of Taiwan’s land and population is exposed to three or more hazards.1149
National organization response
Taiwan will loosen social distancing restrictions on 7 JUN, raising the number of people allowed at public gatherings, including cultural and leisure events, while social distancing seating arrangements on trains, cinemas, concert halls, and baseball stadiums will also be removed, though attendees and travelers will still need to wear masks. As of the week of 5 JUN, Taiwan now allows masks to be purchased on the open market. The sale of masks had been rationed since January, when the government tasked military to produce surgical masks. Taiwan’s daily mask production now exceeds 20 million, allowing the government to donate millions of masks to other countries. On 1 JUN, Taiwan offered to share globally the technology used in mobile apps to help combat COVID-19.1150 On 28 MAY, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said it will help local companies export micro surgical face mask factories as a package amid the rising need for face masks.1151 Taiwan restricted non-
1146 https://thediplomat.com/2020/06/taiwan-to-loosen-covid-social-distancing-restrictions-announces-global-assistance-measures/ 1147 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 1148 https://www.jef.or.jp/journal/pdf/185th_cover03.pdf 1149 https://training.fema.gov/hiedu/downloads/compemmgmtbookproject/comparative%20em%20book%20-%20em%20in%20taiwan.pdf 1150 https://thediplomat.com/2020/06/taiwan-to-loosen-covid-social-distancing-restrictions-announces-global-assistance-measures/ 1151 https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202005280020
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residents from entering in March, and those restrictions remain in place. However, Taiwan has never had to institute lockdown or mass civilian quarantine measures, despite its proximity to China, due to the government’s early and proactive efforts to address COVID-19.1152
The Office of Disaster Management (ODM), under Disaster Prevention & Response Communities (DPRCM), now oversees emergency management policies and actions across Taiwan. Typhoon Morakot in 2009 significantly impacted Taiwan and prompted reconsideration of disaster management.1153 The Republic of China Armed Forces, or Taiwanese military, are also a key domestic responder in larger-scale disasters.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau has a cell-phone based early warning system, which sends earthquake, thunderstorm, typhoon, and tsunami alerts.1154
As part of the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) has been key to Taiwan responding early and proactively to COVID-19. The CECC Response Team was set up on 2 January. On 20 January the CECC declared Level 3 to respond to COVID-19 by integrating government, academic, medical, and private sector resources, with the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control Dr. Jih-Haw Chou serving as commander. On 23 January, CECC moved up to Level 2 following the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Taiwan. On 27 February, the CECC established Level 1 in response to the epidemic spreading globally. Minister of Health and Welfare Dr. Shih-Chung Chen was designated the commander to coordinate cross-ministry resources.1155 The CECC organogram is available at: https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En/Category/Page/wqRG3hQfWKFdAu-haoOIAQ
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society)
As Taiwan is not a UN member-state, UN agencies do not have a working presence in Taiwan.
The Red Cross Society of the Republic of China (Taiwan Red Cross) was established in 1904, and though it is not officially recognized by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) there are some cooperative interactions.1156 The Taiwan Red Cross (TRC) has been active in the domestic COVID-19 response by procuring and delivering personal protective equipment to fire departments and hospitals across Taiwan, as well as and delivering soap and food parcels to disadvantaged families, nursing homes, and children’s homes in partnership with the Andrew Charity Foundation NGO.1157 The TRC has responded internationally by providing medical devices to the Italian Red Cross.1158
Taiwan’s largest NGO is the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation. Tzu Chi donated 4,000 masks to the Vatican.1159 Tzu Chi is the largest Taiwan-based relief organization with offices in 47 countries.1160 Another large NGO, Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps, has been conducting medical missions domestically.1161
1152 https://www.jhsph.edu/covid-19/news-and-events/events/april-24.html 1153 https://training.fema.gov/hiedu/downloads/compemmgmtbookproject/comparative%20em%20book%20-%20em%20in%20taiwan.pdf 1154 https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3297115 1155 https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En/Category/Page/wqRG3hQfWKFdAu-haoOIAQ 1156 http://www.redcross.org.tw/english/index.jsp IFRC https://www.ifrc.org/Docs/ExcelExport/NS_Directory.pdf 1157 http://www.redcross.org.tw/english/home.jsp?pageno=201402140002 1158 http://www.redcross.org.tw/english/home.jsp?pageno=201402140002&acttype=view&dataserno=202003300003 1159 https://cruxnow.com/church-in-asia/2020/04/taiwan-donates-food-medical-supplies-to-vatican-amid-virus-outbreak/ 1160 https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/taiwans-humanitarian-aiddisaster-relief-wither-or-prosper/ 1161 http://taiwanroot.org/?l=en#
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Country-specific planning considerations
Most foreign nationals are barred from entering Taiwan as of 19 March.1162 Inbound travelers will be quarantined if in last 14 days they have passed through high-risk, which will include Europe and the Americas starting 18 April.1163 Masks are required to be worn in most public facilities, including public transportation systems and post offices, with banks to be included starting 20 April. People not wearing a mask on public transport can be fined NT$3,000-15,000 (US$100-500).1164
Quarantine: Taiwan quarantined 700 navy officers, servicemen and cadets for testing, following 24 members testing positive for COVID-19.1165
Health: Taiwan has 483 hospitals, as of 2018,1166 with an estimated population of 23.7 million people. Per the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, 73,225 people have been tested for COVID-19, of whom 443 were confirmed positive, 7 died, and 429 recovered, as of 5 JUN.1167 Taiwan has one of the lowest rates of COVID-19 cases per capita, especially notable as it did not shut down its economy as other countries did. Taiwan has 18.6 confirmed COVID-19 cases per million (CPM) people, compared to 58 CPM in Mongolia and China, 62 CPM in Bhutan, 135 CPM in Japan, 228 CPM in South Korea, 239 CPM in New Zealand, and 847 CPM as the global average, as of 5 JUN.1168 Return to TOC
1162 https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-220-5081-c06dc-2.html 1163 https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En/Bulletin/Detail/_usu_p9uy9pWaRNNj8cLnw?typeid=158 1164 https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3916612 1165 https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/04/19/2003734882 1166 https://www.statista.com/statistics/934717/taiwan-number-of-hospitals/ 1167 https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En 1168 https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/total-covid-cases-deaths-per-million?time=2020-03-13..
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THAILAND Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Considerations Measures/Access Resources
U-Tapao Airfield a critical On 15 JUN, Thailand lifted Department of Disease Thailand COVID-19 Total Case Trend Intermediate Staging Base for nationwide curfew after Control Dashboard nearly every DoD FDR two months, with no http://covid19.th-stat.com/en 3,200 operation in Indo-Pacific locally-transmitted cases in 3,180 Thailand – ReliefWeb 21 days.1170 3,160 USARPAC Pathways program Country Page 3,140 has concluded. U.S. troops Temporary closure of all (9) https://reliefweb.int/country/ 3,120 remain in country awaiting tha#disasters border checkpoints 3,100 redeployment Thailand Health Facilities 3,080 The ban on incoming 3,060 ≈ U.S. troops billeted in U- international flights https://data.humdata.org/dat 3,040 aset/thailand-healthsites Tapao area as Logistics/C2 remains in effect. 3,020 3,000 element coordinating the Repatriation and inbound Thai Ministry of Public retrograde official military/state flights Health - allowed http://covid19.th-stat.com/en More than 90K refugees in 9 camps bordering Myanmar Domestic travel is allowed, US Embassy in Thailand 58 Deaths – 3,135 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN but trains and buses can https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s- Phuket Airport to reopen to only be at 70% capacity.1171 citizen-services/covid-19- https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html ; domestic flights on 15 information/ https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 JUN.1169
Disaster Risk: Overall INFORM model risk ranking is 79 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk) for natural disasters. INFORM also has a new COVID Risk Index, which identifies “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Thailand is assessed as being in the Medium COVID risk class, based on a COVID risk of 3.8 on a scale of 1-10, where a higher number indicates higher risk.1172 Since January’s outbreak of coronavirus 2,747 patients have recovered and 187 are still hospitalized.1173
National organization response On 15 JUN, Thailand lifted the nationwide curfew after two months, with no locally-transmitted cases reported in 21 days. All new cases in the past three weeks have been found in quarantine among Thais returning from abroad. Schools with less than 120 students may reopen. Some businesses may also reopen, and restaurants that reopened two weeks ago with social distancing may now serve alcohol. Pubs, bars and karaoke outlets will remain closed. Officials credited early widespread wearing of masks, border closures, shuttering of businesses and the nationwide curfew as successful mitigation measures.1174 On 28 MAY the government had announced that non-Thai nationals who possess a valid work permit or have already been granted permission from a Thai government agency to work in the Kingdom can apply for permission to enter the Kingdom.1175
1169 https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1928316/phuket-airport-to-reopen-to-domestic-flights-on-june-15 1170 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-thailand/thailand-ends-curfew-marks-21-days-with-no-local-coronavirus-cases-idUSKBN23M0G8 1171 https://www.hpr2.org/post/asia-minute-thailand-s-gradual-opening-still-doesn-t-include-international-travel#stream/0 1172 https://data.humdata.org/dataset/inform-covid-analysis-v01 1173 https://news.yahoo.com/thailand-reports-one-coronavirus-case-052821992.html 1174 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-thailand/thailand-ends-curfew-marks-21-days-with-no-local-coronavirus-cases-idUSKBN23M0G8 1175 https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/
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As of 15 JUN, international flights remain restricted, with no timetable for resuming. Domestic travel is permitted, but trains and buses can only be at 70% capacity.1176 Phuket opened to domestic travelers 13-14 JUN for the first time since April.1177 Phuket Airport to reopen to domestic flights on 15 JUN,1178 the provincial communicable disease committee announced on 2 JUN, saying the permission was granted since the provincial authority had been effective in containing the spread of COVID-19. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) had banned domestic flights to and from Phuket since 10 APR due to the COVID-19 pandemic.1179
Thailand COVID-19 Forecast Historical Events: Major events: Dec 2004: Indian 285 Ocean earthquake and tsunami left 8,221 people dead and around 58,550 people 235 were affected.
July 2011: Flooding left around 19,000 185 houses destroyed and around 1.9 million affected.1180
135 Recent events: Aug 2019: Following Tropical Storm PODUL and Tropical 85 Depression KAJIKI, 35 people were killed and 1.68 million people were affected.1181 35 y = -1.01 PACOM Response: December 2004: -15 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami.
4/4/2020 4/8/2020 5/2/2020 5/6/2020 6/3/2020 6/7/2020 7/1/2020 7/5/2020 7/9/2020 October 2011: Floods
3/11/2020 3/15/2020 3/19/2020 3/23/2020 3/27/2020 3/31/2020 4/12/2020 4/16/2020 4/20/2020 4/24/2020 4/28/2020 5/10/2020 5/14/2020 5/18/2020 5/22/2020 5/26/2020 5/30/2020 6/11/2020 6/15/2020 6/19/2020 6/23/2020 6/27/2020 7/13/2020 7/17/2020 7/21/2020 7/25/2020 7/29/2020 New Cases Forecast June 2018: Cave 1182 Rescue Projections: The slope/test positivity rate (TPR) for Thailand is less than 1, which indicates a manageable or resolving COVID-19 situation.
National organization response (continued): Several provinces have restricted entry into or travel through their provinces. These restrictions may be implemented with little or no advance notice and can include a thorough inspection of travelers, mandatory quarantines, or outright prohibition on entry for non-residents.
1176 https://www.hpr2.org/post/asia-minute-thailand-s-gradual-opening-still-doesn-t-include-international-travel#stream/0 1177 https://www.hpr2.org/post/asia-minute-thailand-s-gradual-opening-still-doesn-t-include-international-travel#stream/0 1178 https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1928316/phuket-airport-to-reopen-to-domestic-flights-on-june-15 1179 https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1928316/phuket-airport-to-reopen-to-domestic-flights-on-june-15 1180 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=twwMY081NH8%3d&portalid=0 1181 https://www.adrc.asia/view_disaster_en.php?NationCode=764&Lang=en&Key=2349 1182 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=twwMY081NH8%3d&portalid=0
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Effective 1 April, the Royal Thai Government expanded the ban on foreign nationals entering Thailand to include transiting passengers at international airports. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand confirmed the previous exemption for most transit passengers expired on March 31 and would not be extended. Very limited transit exemptions remain in place for foreign cargo carriers, crew, and pilots, provided they promptly depart Thailand after fulfilling their duties. Thailand has highest suicide per capita rate in Southeast Asia and COVID-19 lockdown and job loss related attempts since the end of March have numbered 38 and actual deaths 28. Concerns that suicides will eclipse the number of COVID-19 deaths which number 56 are mounting with Health Officials reported unprecedented number of calls (600 compared to just 20 and 40 respectively in previous months).1183 The Government has approved more than 4 Billion Baht for the National Health Security Office to support the costs of prevention, treatment and compensation for COVID-19 patients. These funds will help provide support for free laboratory screening tests for all Thai people who meet the surveillance criteria. The funds will also be used to purchase protective equipment for ambulance services and healthcare workers. Thailand DM handbook: https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=PByJshZKjc4%3d&portalid=0 Additionally, the Government of Thailand issued a third stimulus package of $US58 billion to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak for businesses, households, and the financial services sector. Two previous packages were released in March providing small and medium business relief and tax incentives.1184
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) WHO Thailand remains in frequent direct contact with the Royal Thai Government through the Ministry of Public Health, sharing information on key developments, guidelines and scientific updates. ASEAN countries will collaborate on joint investment in COVID-19 vaccine research and development.1185 Oxfam announced 20 May it will end operations in Thailand and 17 other countries.1186 With finances “seriously impacted” by the COVID-19 pandemic, Oxfam will globally lay off 1,450 personnel – almost one-third of its program staff – affecting 700 of 1,900 partner organizations and reducing physical presence to 48 countries.1187
Country-specific planning considerations Hospitals: 823 hospitals / 7,115 ICU beds
Quarantine Centers: 85 cases have been detected in people held in local/state quarantine facilities and 60 additional cases were confirmed among immigrants being held in the Songkhla immigration detention center.1188
Security: Insurgents resumed attacks on 3 MAY in Thailand’s ethnic-Malay dominated southern border region, following security forces killing three members of the main separatist group Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) on 30 APR. This ended the ceasefire BRN unilaterally called on 3 APR, citing a need to focus on the COVID-19 outbreak.1189 Regionally, the COVID-19 related ceasefire in the Philippines was also short-lived. In Bang Bon neighborhood, Bangkok city, Central Thailand region, protestors demanded the removal of COVID-19 patients from a local hospital, citing health concerns.1190 USARPAC Pacific Pathways exercise temporarily halted after the U.S. Defense Department issued a stop- movement order, slated to end June 30. U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville said soldiers will soon return to train with partners in the Indo-Pacific region.1191 Return to TOC
1183 https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/thailand-the-coronavirus-suicides/ 1184 https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/thailand-issues-third-covid-19-stimulus-package/ 1185 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/2020-05-07-tha-sitrep-74-covid19-final.pdf 1186 https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/oxfam-accelerates-new-strategic-changes-its-global-operations 1187 https://www.devex.com/news/exclusive-oxfam-to-lay-off-1-450-staff-and-withdraw-from-18-countries-97286#.XsV3XIZDCRY.twitter 1188 https://reliefweb.int/report/thailand/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-who-thailand-situation-report-6-may-2020 1189 https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/thailand-killings-insurgents-ends-southern-separatist-ceasefire 1190 http://insecurityinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Bulletin-2-Aid-Security-and-COVID-19-.pdf 1191 https://www.army.mil/article/235906/chief_of_staff_foresees_greater_army_commitment_in_indo_pacific
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TIMOR-LESTE Return to TOC
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WHO working closely State of Emergency extended to Timor-Leste Ministry of Timor-Leste COVID-19 Total Case Trend with TL Ministry of 26 JUN.1192 Health (MOH) Facebook Health (MoH) page: F-FDTL, PNTL, and MOH officials https://www.facebook.com/Min 40 TL confirmed its first have established check points to isteriodaSaudeTL?_rdc=1&_rdr 35 case on March 21 enforce travel restrictions and social distancing policies.1193 WHO Timor-Leste site: 30 Flight and movement https://www.who.int/timorleste restrictions Public transportation services / 25 are suspended. FRANZ partners likely WHO COVID-19 Situation 20 to provide primary Meetings or demonstrations of Reports for Timor-Leste 15 disaster response more than five people are https://www.who.int/timorleste prohibited /emergencies/novel- 10 Foreigners are no coronavirus-2019/novel- longer authorized to Schools suspended March 22 coronavirus-(2019-ncov)- 5 enter TL, with situation-reports International arrivals banned, 0 exceptions including 14-day mandatory quarantine WHO Timor-Leste Facebook: transport of goods for returnees https://www.facebook.com/WH Authorizations, OTL/?_rdc=1&_rdr Vera Cruz Community Health including visas granted Centre (CHC) is the one The MoH has established a to foreigners, will 0 Deaths – 24* confirmed cases as of 17 JUN operational isolation center; 30 hotline number – 119 – for remain valid for as long other sites identified.1194 people to get any COVID-19 *No new confirmed cases since 25 APR as the State of related information. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html Emergency
Disaster risk: The INFORM (Index for Risk Management) risk assessment ranking (lower number indicates higher risk) for Timor-Leste is 60 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk) for disasters and humanitarian crises, with a 3-year disaster risk trend indicating decreasing risk.1195 Additionally INFORM has a separate COVID-19 Risk Index, which assesses “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Timor Leste’s COVID-19 risk is 5.5/10 (10 indicating highest risk), giving it a “High” COVID-19 risk class.1196 Common natural hazards include cyclones, earthquakes, tsunami, flooding.
National organization response The state of emergency was extended to 26 JUN,1197 after being renewed on 28 MAY. It was first declared 28 MAR, one week after the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in country, and first renewed on 24 APR. The latest extension comes with more flexible measures, including allowing school activities, while strengthening border control, particularly along the border with Indonesia.1198
1192 https://www.macaubusiness.com/east-timor-parliament-approves-extension-of-state-of-emergency-to-26-june/ 1193 https://tl.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 1194 https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/searo/timor-leste/13-04-2020-tls-sitrep-24-ncov-eng.pdf?sfvrsn=d3b99de6_2 1195 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Portals/0/InfoRM/2019/Inform%202019%20WEB%20spreads%20(3).pdf?ver=2019-02-07-113610-123 1196 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 1197 https://www.macaubusiness.com/east-timor-parliament-approves-extension-of-state-of-emergency-to-26-june/ 1198 https://thediplomat.com/2020/06/timor-lestes-covid-19-response/
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Timor-Leste COVID-19 Forecast Historical Events: Major events: TIMOR LESTE NEW CASE 2015 – 2017: Severe drought 14 due to El Niño.1199
2014: Dengue outbreak in Dili.1200 12 Feb 2008: 2-month state of emergency after 10 assassination attempts on PM and President.1201
2007-2008: Flooding and 8 landslides across the country.1202
2007: Continued civil unrest 6 leaves 10,000 displaced.1203
April 2006: Civil unrest leaves 100,000 displaced.1204 4 1999: Independence referendum leads to violence. Up to 2,000 killed and 70% of 2 infrastructure destroyed.1205
Recent Events: Dec. 2019: Drought affected 0 36 percent (210,000 ha) of crops.1206
May 2019: Flooding due to 4/2/2020 4/5/2020 4/8/2020 5/2/2020 5/5/2020 5/8/2020 6/1/2020 6/4/2020 6/7/2020 7/1/2020 7/4/2020 7/7/2020 3/21/2020 3/24/2020 3/27/2020 3/30/2020 4/11/2020 4/14/2020 4/17/2020 4/20/2020 4/23/2020 4/26/2020 4/29/2020 5/11/2020 5/14/2020 5/17/2020 5/20/2020 5/23/2020 5/26/2020 5/29/2020 6/10/2020 6/13/2020 6/16/2020 6/19/2020 6/22/2020 6/25/2020 6/28/2020 7/10/2020 7/13/2020 Cyclone Lili.1207 New Cases Forecast Lower Forecast Range Upper Forecast Range INDOPACOM Response: N/A
The Ministries of Interior and of Social Solidarity have joint responsibility for disaster response. The Ministry of Social Solidarity (MSS) is responsible for coordinating preparation and response.1208 A joint Ministry of Health (MoH) and WHO team along with partners provided support to improve health facility preparedness and response. Official external partners of MoH include the WHO and UNICEF. A dedicated surveillance hub has been established to expand contact tracing capability. WHO and MoH developed an online tool for contact tracing, which provides real time information.1209 Suspected cases are referred to the COVID-19 Isolation Centre in Dili, where patients are tested and isolated pending test results; and contacts are traced and isolated. A working group of doctors, nurses, and midwives from the MOH and NGOs has designed a screening and triage framework.1210
1199 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=XZGcUuRhJG4%3d&portalid=0 1200 https://reliefweb.int/report/timor-leste/timor-leste-dengue-outbreak-dref-operation-n-mdrtp003-update-no-1 1201 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/0F2096467870CA66C12575A6003A5E73-Full_Report.pdf 1202 https://reliefweb.int/report/timor-leste/timor-leste-flooding-and-landslides-dref-operation-no-mdrtp002-final-report 1203 https://reliefweb.int/report/timor-leste/timor-leste-flooding-and-landslides-dref-operation-no-mdrtp002-final-report 1204 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/EB7BA347846D3BB44925744C0002EDDC-Full_Report.pdf 1205 https://www.timorleste.tl/east-timor/about/history/ 1206 https://reliefweb.int/report/timor-leste/wfp-timor-leste-country-brief-december-2019 1207 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=XZGcUuRhJG4%3d&portalid=0 1208 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=XZGcUuRhJG4%3d&portalid=0 1209 https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/searo/timor-leste/13-04-2020-tls-sitrep-24-ncov-eng.pdf?sfvrsn=d3b99de6_2 1210 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30183-1/fulltext
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People not in isolation, do not have a job, or exempted from working must remain in their residence; Persons leaving their residence must travel alone, maintain a distance of one meter, and avoid gatherings. Everyone must wash or sanitize their hands before entering commercial establishments and wear a mask. Additionally, individuals will be prevented from entering a premise if they have a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above, and the establishment is required to report any such individuals to health authorities.1211 TL reported its first health care worker confirmed to have COVID-19. The positive test was confirmed by a laboratory in Darwin, Australia, which has been conducting some virus tests on behalf of TL.1212 CFE-DM Disaster Management Reference Handbook on Timor-Leste: https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=XZGcUuRhJG4%3d&portalid=0
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) A Cuban medical team is assisting TL in the fight against COVID-19.1213 Australian doctors from the Menzies School of Health Research, based in Darwin, are assisting TL. The Australian Federal Police have also helped establish temporary police stations at quarantine facilities.1214 The WHO strategy to combat COVID-19 in Timor-Leste is to: • Prevent local transmission. Currently there is no reported local transmission. • Train and equip health workers and health facilities to manage large number of cases. • Communicate risk and event information to all communities and counter misinformation. • Minimize social and economic impact through multi-sectoral partnerships1215
Country-specific planning considerations There are 24 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Timor-Leste as of 5 JUN, with no new cases since 25 APR.1216 The first case in Timor-Leste was confirmed on 21 MAR. Timor-Leste has relied on early intervention and a mandatory quarantine, with attention focused on Timorese returning from overseas. Quarantining returning Timorese enabled health authorities to monitor and prevent COVID-19 transmission in the wider community. There is nationwide recognition that the existing health system could not cope with a public health emergency.1217 Evacuation Centers: The Vera Cruz Community Health Centre (CHC) is now functional as an isolation facility; 30 other facilities have been identified by the MoH for quarantining people returning to TL.1218 Displaced Populations: No current significant displaced populations. Hospitals: There are 12 hospitals in TL. Guido Valadares National Hospital Located in Bidau, appears to be the main hospital and has Emergency Room services and basic medical imaging. Health: Widespread poverty and high malnutrition rates increase the population’s susceptibility to other diseases. Prevalent health challenges include high maternal and child mortality rates, malnutrition, malaria, tuberculosis, dengue, and parasitic infections. Mountainous terrain and lack of transport pose challenges.1219 Security: Timor-Leste Defense Force (F-FDTL), Police (PNTL), and MOH officials have established check points across the country to enforce travel restrictions and social distancing policies. PNTL is also enforcing social distancing rules at checkpoints within Dili.1220 The Asia Foundation warns that TL has some of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world and the COVID-19 crisis, with restrictions on movement, could affect vulnerable women and children.1221 Return to TOC
1211 https://tl.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 1212 https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-timor/east-timor-has-first-medical-worker-infected-with-covid-19-idUSL3N2CC2OG 1213 https://www.plenglish.com/index.php?o=rn&id=54949&SEO=cuban-doctors-fight-covid-19-in-timor-leste 1214 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-16/australian-doctors-help-stop-covid-timor-leste/12147180 1215 https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/searo/timor-leste/13-04-2020-tls-sitrep-24-ncov-eng.pdf?sfvrsn=d3b99de6_2 1216 https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 1217 https://thediplomat.com/2020/06/timor-lestes-covid-19-response/ 1218 https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/searo/timor-leste/13-04-2020-tls-sitrep-24-ncov-eng.pdf?sfvrsn=d3b99de6_2 1219 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=XZGcUuRhJG4%3d&portalid=0 1220 https://tl.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ 1221 https://reliefweb.int/report/timor-leste/timor-leste-dangers-staying-home
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TONGA Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Planning Considerations Affected State Information Resources Case Trend Measures/Access
As of 17 June, Flight Restrictions: Tonga has National COVID-19 Government of Tonga: Tonga has no announced entry restrictions restrictions were extended Ministry of Health: confirmed requiring international travelers on 29 MAY through 11 JUN. http://www.health.gov.to/ (except Tongan citizens, Prime Minister’s Office: http://pmo.gov.to/ COVID-19 Nightly curfew 11pm- permanent residents, and cases. 5am.1222 immediate family members) who COVID-19 Confirmed Cases: https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID- either traveled from or through a Tropical Cyclone Harold specific list of countries to spend 19 struck Tonga on 9. Over 323 at least 14 days in self-quarantine Flight Restrictions: evacuees had sheltered in 17 in a country free of coronavirus https://fj.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid- evacuation centers. All but 1 https://coronavirus.j prior to entering Tonga. 19-information/
hu.edu/map.html family returned to their http://www.health.gov.to/drupal/sites/default/file Cyclone season is NOV to APR. homes (13 APR).1223 s/COVID-19%20TRAVEL%20ADVISORY%20NO.5.pdf
SPECIAL SECTION – Tropical Cyclone Harold Two days after Tropical Cyclone (TC) Harold hit the Vanuatu island of Santo as a category 5 cyclone on 7 April, and one day after striking Fiji as a category 4 cyclone on 8 April, TC Harold then moved towards Tonga, entering Tongan waters on 9 April 2020. The category 4 cyclone impacted the whole of Tonga. There was no reported loss of life, but 429 houses were damaged or destroyed and coastal areas were inundated affecting wharves and coastal roads. Two days prior to the cyclone striking Tonga waters, the Fua’amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (FTCWC) activated a ‘Tropical Cyclone Advisory’ to trigger preparedness and response, and the Government of Tonga declared a ‘State of Emergency’ the next day on 8 April.1224 The National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) started distributing relief items to TC Harold affected communities on 15 April. Together with its partners – Mainstreaming of Rural Development Innovation Tonga (MORDI), Caritas and Tonga National Youth Council (TNYC) – NEMO distributed relief to the districts of Hihifo, Vaheloto, Vahe Vaini, Vahe Tatakamotonga, Kolomotu’a and Kolofo’ou, and planned to complete distribution in Vahe Hahake on 22 April. Relief included tents, tarpaulin covers, hygiene kits, shelter kits, jerry cans, solar lights and kitchen sets. Relief items including shelter kits were also shipped to ‘Eua on 13 April 2020 on the VOEA Neiafu, and on 15 April on the VOEA Ngahau Koula. 1225 The worst damage seemed to be inflicted by an up to three metre sea surge which had inundated a lot of coastal areas in both Tongatapu and 'Eua. More than 900 houses were damaged.1226 Response operations included road clearance by the His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) and Tonga Police. NEMO with Tonga Police and Tonga Geology distributed 4 tents, 4 Hygiene kits, 8 Water container (Jerry- cans) and 12 solar lights to ‘Atataa and Pangaimotu village in Tongatapu. The Relief Team arrived in ‘Eua on 13 April with relief items (400 litres fuel, 20 pack drinking water, 40 Hygiene kits, 30 containers etc.). The Tonga Red Cross, Tonga National Youth Congress and Caritas are also providing relief items to the damaged houses as per need identified by IDA.1227
1222 http://www.health.gov.to/en/renewal-national-lockdown-notice-29-may-2020 1223 https://reliefweb.int/report/tonga/tc-harold-situation-report-3 1224 http://www.gov.to/press-release/tc-harold-sit-rep-no-1/ 1225 http://www.gov.to/press-release/distribution-of-relief-items-from-tropical-cyclonetc-harold-damage/ 1226 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/415062/cyclone-harold-said-to-cost-tonga-more-than-us111m 1227 https://reliefweb.int/report/tonga/tc-harold-situation-report-3
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Australia provided immediate assistance of AUD 100,000 to support Tonga’s National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) with procurement of essential supplies for those impacted by TC Harold. Through the FRANZ trilateral disaster relief arrangement, Australia is also working with New Zealand and France to support relief efforts to affected countries.1228
Disaster Risk: Overall INFORM model risk ranking is 97 out of 191 countries. (Lower number indicates higher risk.) Disaster risk in last three years has been stable.1229 Additionally, Tonga’s INFORM COVID-19 risk is 4.0/10 indicating medium risk (10 being the highest).1230
National organization response National COVID-19 restrictions were extended on 29 MAY through 11 JUN.1231 The National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) has the specific responsibility for the co- ordination of resources during a disaster or emergency situation. This function will be performed in conjunction with Central Control Group (CCG) deliberations, with the coordinator located within the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC).1232 The NEOC was activated on 20th March, 2020 as a result of Tonga’s declaration of ‘State of Emergency’ for COVID 19, and on 8 April the Government of Tonga declared a ‘State of Emergency’ for the preparedness and response to TC Harold.1233 The Ministry of Health (http://www.health.gov.to) posts news and information on the COVID-19 situation including travel advisories and diversion orders.1234 On 20 MAY, China’s ambassador to Tonga handed over donated medical equipment and supplies,1235 and Australia donated 10.4 million Tongan pa’anga ($US 4.5 million) with some 15% for COVID preparedness.1236
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The WHO in the Pacific is based in Suva, Fiji, and coordinates the COVID-19 Joint Incident Management Team, which has developed and is implementing a six-month Pacific Action Plan for 2019 COVID-19.1237
Country-specific planning considerations Health Facilities: Health services are provided by a network of 34 maternal and child health clinics, 14 health centers, three district hospitals (Prince Wellington Ngu Hospital in ‘Eu with 16 beds; Niu’ui Hospital in Ha’apai with 28 beds, and Niu’eki Hospital in ‘Eua with 16 beds), and the tertiary referral hospital, Vaiola Hospital located in the capital city of Nuku’alofa with 191 beds.1238 There are 2.6 hospital beds per 1,000 population.1239 Isolation Facilities: There are no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Tonga as of 15 April 2020; however, a quarantine site at the HMAF Taliai Army Camp in Fua'amotu had already been used for several suspected cases.1240 Tests are currently being sent to Australia, but the Tonga Ministry of Health has placed an order for a machine and CoViD-19 test kits so that they can test in Tonga.1241 Security: A curfew is in effect from 9:00pm to 5:00am.1242 Return to TOC
1228 https://reliefweb.int/report/tonga/australia-s-immediate-response-tonga-following-tropical-cyclone-harold 1229 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 1230 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 1231 http://www.health.gov.to/en/renewal-national-lockdown-notice-29-may-2020 1232 https://logcluster.org/sites/default/files/documents/national_disaster_management_plan_and_emergency_procedures 1233 http://www.gov.to/press-release/national-emergency-management-committee-and-national-task-force-emergency-response-covid-19-and-tc-harold/ 1234 http://www.health.gov.to/ 1235 http://mic.gov.to/news-today/press-releases 1236 http://www.health.gov.to/en/australia-supports-government-tonga-top-104-million 1237 https://www.who.int/westernpacific/about/how-we-work/pacific-support/news/detail/21-02-2020-pacific-steps-up-preparedness-against-covid-19 1238 https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/208225 1239 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tn.html 1240 https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/03/25/1099153/pacific-story-template 1241 https://matangitonga.to/2020/03/27/negative-covid-19-tests-good-news-tonga-critical-time 1242 http://pmo.gov.to/index.php/2020/04/17/national-covid-19-restrictions-notice/
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TUVALU Return to TOC
COVID-19 Planning Considerations Affected State Measures/Access Information Resources Total Case Trend As of 17 June, Flight Restrictions: The The Tuvalu Government convened a Flight and Movement Restrictions: Tuvalu has no Government of Tuvalu COVID-19 Health Taskforce in late https://fj.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid- 19-information/ confirmed announced specific January. In March, the government restrictions prohibiting COVID-19 declared a State of Emergency. https://devpolicy.org/how-is-tuvalu-securing- entry to Tuvalu. Health cases. Tuvalu passed emergency against-covid-19-20200406/ screening will be conducted at Funafuti airport and regulations which saw borders Demographic information: seaport and may also be closed to all flights and vessels, https://iris.wpro.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665. conducted at Nausori (Fiji) except where exempted for essential 1/13958/WPRO-2017-DPM-024-tuv-eng.pdf Airport and Tarawa supplies of food, medicine, fuel, (Kiribati) Airport. cargo, or humanitarian assistance. Tropical Cyclone Tino: https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific- Cyclone season runs from Tuvalu is recovering from Tropical news/408085/tuvalu-to-declare-state-of- emergency-after-cyclone-tino November to mid-May, Cyclone Tino which tore through the
though most occur from country on 17 January 2020. Half of COVID-19 Confirmed Cases late December to early the population of 11,000 people https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 https://coronavirus. April. jhu.edu/map.html were affected.
SPECIAL SECTION – Tropical Cyclone Tino Tropical Cyclone Tino hit Tuvalu on 17 January 2020 as a category 3 cyclone. A state of emergency was issued on 24 January 2020. The country’s disaster management office reported that few of the country’s 14 islands were spared damage. Two hundred people were evacuated on the main island of Funafuti alone, and there is significant damage to infrastructure.1243 According to the Government, half of the country's population of 11,000 people was severely affected. Plantations on most of the islands were badly damaged and as a result, food security remains a major concern.1244 Recovery work will include rebuilding of homes and buildings, and lifeline infrastructure including power, communications and water facilities. Supplies including food rations have been distributed using boats while the patrol boats were utilized by the assessment teams.1245
Disaster Risk – Tuvalu’s overall INFORM model risk ranking is 101 out of 191 countries. (Lower number indicates higher risk.)1246 Due to Tuvalu’s low elevation, the island nation is vulnerable to tropical cyclones, flooding and rising sea levels. It is also vulnerable to drought conditions. The population of approximately 11,000 are spread out over a number of small islands and due to this geographic isolation even small disasters can overwhelm the countries local response capability. It is likely that Tuvalu is able to minimize loss of life and infrastructure, due to the disaster management organizations and warning systems in place; however, Tuvalu is almost entirely dependent on external assistance during a disaster.1247 Additionally, Tuvalu’s INFORM COVID-19 risk is 5.1/10 indicating medium risk (10 being the highest).1248
1243 https://reliefweb.int/report/tuvalu/adb-provides-3-million-tuvalu-cyclone-relief 1244 https://reliefweb.int/report/tuvalu/tuvalu-state-emergency-following-cyclone-tino-dg-echo-media-echo-daily-flash-3 1245 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/2018733024/tuvalu-tino-recovery-gets-dollarus6m-boost 1246 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/Results-and-data/INFORM-2019-Results-and-data 1247 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/DMHA-Resources/Disaster-Management-Reference-Handbooks 1248 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic
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National organization response for disaster: The National Disaster Committee is coordinated by the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) which is housed in the Office of the Prime Minister. The Minister responsible to Government on all disaster related matters ensures that all government agencies have taken adequate measures to mitigate, prepare, respond to and recover from disasters, and fosters the participation of non-government agencies (NGOs) in disaster risk management and arrangements taken by government.1249
National organization response for COVID-19: The Tuvalu Government convened a COVID-19 Health Taskforce in late January, and in March risk management measures were tightened again, with the declaration of a State of Emergency triggered by the first case of COVID-19 being confirmed in Fiji, the main point of departure for Tuvalu’s incoming flights and boats. The country passed emergency regulations closing all flights and vessels, except where exempted for essential supplies of food, medicine, fuel, cargo, or humanitarian assistance. Enforced are mandatory medical checks and two-week quarantine for any arrivals, and restrictions were placed on public gatherings, including church services. Schools have been closed. If a case is confirmed, the government intends to introduce a complete lockdown and implement martial law, as well as seek external assistance. Border control is being strengthened by new initiatives, such as involving the police force in border operations. 1250 The Ministry of Health of Tuvalu is the point of contact for medical response to COVID-19. It puts out travel restrictions to include the one posted on 24 February 2020.1251
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) The WHO in the Pacific is based in Suva, Fiji, and coordinates the COVID-19 Joint Incident Management Team, which has developed and is implementing a six-month Pacific Action Plan for COVID-19.1252 The Tuvalu Red Cross Society has branches on each of the country’s islands. They provide health services and training regarding climate change and disaster management through resilience projects.1253
Country-specific planning considerations Health Facilities: Tuvalu has one hospital located on the main island of Funafuti; two health clinics on Funafuti; and eight health centers covering outer islands.1254 The health system is preparing for a possible outbreak, with new initiatives such as the establishment of quarantine areas, surveillance, public health communication, and mobilization of volunteers to help address nursing shortages, being organized.1255 Isolation Facilities: N/A due to no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Tuvalu. Security: Tuvalu has no military, although it has a small police force which is spread out over the islands. The police are first to respond and they are largely reliant on international assistance during times of crisis. The total strength of the Tuvaluan police force is 56 members. 1256 Return to TOC
1249 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/DMHA-Resources/Disaster-Management-Reference-Handbooks 1250 https://devpolicy.org/how-is-tuvalu-securing-against-covid-19-20200406/ 1251 https://tuvalu.highcommission.gov.au/files/FNFU/TUVALU%20Revised%20Travel%20Advisory_24%20February%20(3).pdf 1252 https://www.who.int/westernpacific/about/how-we-work/pacific-support/news/detail/21-02-2020-pacific-steps-up-preparedness-against-covid-19 1253 https://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/news-stories/asia-pacific/tuvalu/building-resilience-in-vulnerable-communities-in-tuvalu-73924/ 1254 https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/136914/ccsbrief_tuv_en.pdf;jsessionid=8F011606E424E2BBABF1C6CE9E5A2141?sequence=1 1255 https://devpolicy.org/how-is-tuvalu-securing-against-covid-19-20200406/ 1256 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/DMHA-Resources/Disaster-Management-Reference-Handbooks
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VANUATU Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Planning Considerations Affected State Measures/Access Information Resources Case Trend
As of 17 June, Vanuatu hit by Cyclone Harold The State of Emergency regarding COVID-19 and Tropical COVID-19 Pacific Situation Vanuatu has no on April 6; Extensive damage Cyclone Harold was extended on 11 MAY for an additional 30- Reports: reported—Sanma is the worst day period. It was first enacted 26 MAR for COVID-19.1258 https://www.who.int/westernpaci confirmed affected province fic/emergencies/covid- COVID-19 cases. Vanuatu’s ports of entry are closed and there are no 19/pacific/situation-reports Access a challenge with not all international commercial air routes into our out of the country. airports and ports fully COVID-19 in the Pacific: operational; roads in many Following TC Harold striking 6 April, Vanuatu requested https://www.who.int/westernpaci areas not accessible international assistance fic/emergencies/covid-19/pacific
Communities cut off because Any personnel wanting to enter Vanuatu, needs to go into 14- WHO Vanuatu site: of flooding and road damage day quarantine.1259 https://www.who.int/countries/vu t/en/ Due to COVID-19 concerns, International borders remain closed except for aid deliveries; foreign personnel not allowed Most deliveries to main airport at Port Vila WHO health country profile: into Vanuatu except to unload https://www.who.int/gho/countri relief Supplies arriving in Vanuatu are subject to stringent measures: es/vut/country_profiles/en/ all imported goods must enter via Bauerfield Airport, in Port A NZ MFAT flight carrying relief Vila; once removed from the plane, all items are unpacked and Vanuatu Ministry of Health: items and a helicopter arrived in disinfected; items are stored in containers for three days https://covid19.gov.vu/ Port Vila on 11 April; Australia before onward journey.1260 has also delivered relief; China COVID-19 Cases Database has delivered medical supplies To facilitate the movement of aid, the Government has eased https://github.com/CSSEGISandDa for COVID-19 response in-country travel restrictions and lifted restrictions on domestic ta/COVID-19 air and sea operations A new Government was formed https://coronavirus.j on 20 April, with a number of Total evacuation centers unclear but some schools are being hu.edu/map.html changes to ministerial used. portfolios.1257
SPECIAL SECTION – Tropical Cyclone Harold As of 14 May, 3,648 households had received shelter assistance. However, many more remain in need, as only 20% of households in severely damaged or destroyed categories have now received assistance.1261 Coronavirus restrictions and strict quarantines have slowed aid and equipment deployment. The Government of Vanuatu is not granting entry to foreigners, and mandating humanitarian cargo undergo strict health protocols that delay offloading by days.1262
1257 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/pacific-humanitarian-team-tropical-cyclone-harold-situation-report-9-21-april-2020 1258 https://covid19.gov.vu/ 1259 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/pacific-humanitarian-team-tropical-cyclone-harold-situation-report-9-21-april-2020 1260 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/pacific-humanitarian-team-tropical-cyclone-harold-situation-report-12-final-7-may 1261 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/shelter-cluster-vanuatu-tc-harold-situation-report-no-7-14-may-2020 1262 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/pacific-islands-tropical-cyclone-harold-humanitarian-situation-report-no-3-reporting ; https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2020/05/21/coronavirus-humanitarian-aid-response#cyclone-amphan
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TC Harold made landfall in Vanuatu on 6 APR on the island of Espiritu Santo, before affecting the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Tonga. Local media reported 2 people killed.1263 The northern province of Sanma was most affected, where 80-90% of the population has lost their homes due to the cyclone.1264 15 Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) had been deployed across Sanma, Penama and Malampa Provinces to provide basic health care and – together with the Food and Nutrition Cluster – to assess the nutrition situation and distribute nutrition supplements.1265 The Directors of the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) say immediate priorities are Communication/ETC, Shelter, Food Security and WASH, while the biggest challenge are COVID-19 restrictions on movement.1266 The NDMO has organized 12 shipments of food and non-food items to affected areas since 10 April.1267 The Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) reports response by all sectors is ongoing throughout the most affected areas. However, due to coordination and logistical challenges, a comprehensive assessment of needs and gaps needs to be established. PHT estimates that only some 10 – 15% of people in need in Priority 1 areas have received assistance.1268 Radio New Zealand reports that around 18,000 people are still being housed in 272 evacuation centers.1269 The government says there are enough ships available to bring items to most affected areas in- country and to distribute relief, however, the importing of relief items is taking longer due to COVID-19. The government says the biggest challenge to this is the lack of testing capacity. The Director of the NDMO clarified that the National Disaster Committee defines the policy directions, the NDMO is the implementing body for relief, while MFA controls international assistance.1270 Rehabilitation efforts are continuing, according to the Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT). In Luganville, the second biggest town in Vanuatu, water access has been restored in some areas, electricity has been partially restored (some 60%), and telecommunications reestablished.1271 The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) has created eight on site Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) within the affected provinces to support the NEOC in Port Vila.1272 The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), is currently coordinating response to two other disaster events, the Tanna Ash Fall, and Teouma Flooding. Tanna Yasur Volcano ashfall: The NDMO has sent a first shipment of food supplies to the island of Tanna. The area has experienced ash fall as an ongoing disaster over the past fifteen years. Over 28,000 people are affected. The Tanna Yasur Volcano is currently at Alert Level 2 according to the Vanuatu Meteorological and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD).1273 Teouma Flooding: Heavy rainfall over the last weekend caused flooding and affected the livelihood of people around Teouma Valley.1274
Disaster risk:
1263 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vanuatu-australia-china/australia-aid-plane-to-vanuatu-delayed-as-chinese-plane-was-parked-at-port-vila-airport- idUSKCN21W10Q 1264 https://reliefweb.int/report/fiji/tropical-cyclone-harold-and-covid-19-double-blow-pacific-islands 1265 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ROAP_Snapshot_200428.pdf 1266 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/pacific-humanitarian-team-tropical-cyclone-harold-situation-report-9-21-april-2020 1267 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/pacific-humanitarian-team-tropical-cyclone-harold-situation-report-12-final-7-may 1268 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/pacific-humanitarian-team-tropical-cyclone-harold-situation-report-12-final-7-may 1269 https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/416040/thousands-of-cyclone-victims-still-in-evacuation-centres-in-vanuatu 1270 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/pacific-humanitarian-team-tropical-cyclone-harold-situation-report-9-21-april-2020 1271 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/pacific-humanitarian-team-tropical-cyclone-harold-situation-report-9-21-april-2020 1272 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/ndmo-creates-site-emergency-operation-centers-eocs-assist-response-tc-harold 1273 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/ndmo-sends-first-shipment-food-supplies-tanna-ash-fall-victims 1274 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/pacific-humanitarian-team-tropical-cyclone-harold-situation-report-9-21-april-2020
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The overall INFORM model risk ranking is 79 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk), with the three-year trend indicating Vanuatu’s risk has remained stable with natural disasters. Vanuatu is particularly exposed to cyclones, earthquakes, tsunami, and flooding.1275 Additionally, INFORM has released a new COVID Risk Index, which identifies “countries at risk from health and humanitarian impacts of COVID-19 that could overwhelm current national response capacity.” Vanuatu is assessed as being in the “high” COVID risk class, based on a COVID-19 risk of 5.2 on a scale of 1-10, where a higher number indicates higher risk.1276
National organization response Vanuatu’s National Disaster Management Office (NDMO): https://ndmo.gov.vu/ The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) is lead on the coordination of the COVID19-response while the Health Cluster leads the medical aspects of the operation.1277 New Zealand Joint Intelligence Fusion Center (JIFC) Contingency Summary on Vanuatu is accessible with a CAC: https://www.cfe-dmha.org/DMHA-Resources/Disaster-Management-Reference-Handbooks
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) As of 28 April, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is appealing for US$4 million to respond to urgent needs in Vanuatu in the aftermath of Category 5 TC Harold, which directly impacted over half of the country’s 272,000 residents.1278 The UN released US$2.5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to aid the countries affected by TC Harold, including Vanuatu.1279 UNICEF provided two 6,000 liter water bladders, two 1,500 water bladders, 1,800 collapsible water containers, dignity kits for 500 households, as well as 11 rolls of tarpaulin; $40,000 funds and deployed a WASH engineer.1280 World Vision is in-country and expressing concerns that donations to Vanuatu for cyclone relief will decrease due to worldwide situation regarding the pandemic. Foreign Response: A New Zealand MFAT flight carrying relief supplies and a helicopter arrived on April 11 in Port Vila, followed by a plane from China, carrying medical equipment, including rapid test kits, donated by Guangdong province. A Royal Australian Air Force plane arrived on April 13, delivering relief supplies, as part of a US$2.6 million package.1281
Country-specific planning considerations
Evacuation Centers: Unclear how many at this time. Some schools are being utilized, but with many damaged, it is not clear what other structures could be used as evacuation centers in affected areas and how these would be managed with additional COVID-19 concerns. Schools used as evacuation centers may require additional support, including messaging and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), according to the PHT. GoV’s evacuation center guidelines can be found here: https://ndmo.gov.vu/resources/downloads/category/17-evacuation-centre-guidelines
Displaced Populations: An estimated 80,000 people have been displaced in Vanuatu.1282 Initial findings from an assessment by the Provincial Emergency Operation Center of Sanma Province indicate that an estimated 80 –
1275 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 1276 https://data.humdata.org/organization/inform 1277 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/pacific-humanitarian-team-tropical-cyclone-harold-situation-report-9-21-april-2020 1278 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/iom-supports-vanuatu-response-dual-challenge-category-5-cyclone-covid-19 1279 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/un-emergency-funding-released-response-tropical-cyclone-harold 1280 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/pacific-humanitarian-team-tropical-cyclone-harold-situation-report-6-13-april-2020 1281 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vanuatu-australia-china/australia-aid-plane-to-vanuatu-delayed-as-chinese-plane-was-parked-at-port-vila-airport- idUSKCN21W10Q 1282 https://www.internal-displacement.org/expert-opinion/tropical-cyclone-harold-and-covid-19-a-double-blow-to-the-pacific-islands
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90% of the population lost their houses, and some 60% of schools and 20% of health centers may be damaged.1283 IOM will utilize its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) to collect critical information on demographics and living conditions of displaced households, in order to prioritize assistance to the most vulnerable – children, the elderly, disabled people, and female-headed households.1284
Hospitals: 5 public hospitals. About 25 percent of health centers damaged from Harold, according to the UN. No bed information for hospitals, however, older WHO information shows 1.70 beds per 1,000. Extrapolated to the current population of 276,244 = approximately 470 beds.
Health: Small community-based system with mostly primary and preventative care. TC Harold: Medical teams have been deployed to perform assessments, conduct repairs of health centers and provide assistance. Teams have been deployed to Malo and inland Santo. Four Integrated Emergency Health kits (IEHK)-basic (1 kit for 1,000 people) and four midwifery kits have been distributed to Santo, Pentecost and Ambrym.1285 There are still risks of outbreaks of malaria and dengue as it is currently mosquito breeding season. COVID-19: Capacity for laboratory testing for COVID-19 has been established at Vila Central Hospital. The first lot of Gene Xpert test cartridges (320) was received on 16 May 2020. Remote video-conference training was provided by the manufacturer in Sweden with support by SPC and WHO, and positive and negative controls were successfully run at VCH confirming correct sample preparation and testing. Further cartridges are expected contingent upon flights to Vanuatu.1286
Security: According to the Pacific Humanitarian Team, there are concerns over the risk of domestic violence, theft, and lack of lighting in bathrooms to provide security to women and children in evacuation centers. Overcrowding in shelters and homes increases the risk of domestic violence. Additionally, Gender-based violence and sexual reproductive health services in/around evacuation centers should be conducted in gender segregation rooms for privacy. There is a need for female health staff. Return to TOC
1283 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/PHT%20Sitrep%206_TC%20Harold_13042020.pdf 1284 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/iom-supports-vanuatu-response-dual-challenge-category-5-cyclone-covid-19 1285 https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/pacific-humanitarian-team-tropical-cyclone-harold-situation-report-6-13-april-2020 1286 https://covid19.gov.vu/images/Situation-reports/Vanuatu_COVID19_NHEOC_SitRep17_25052020.pdf
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VIETNAM Return to TOC
COVID-19 Total Case Trend Planning Affected State Information Considerations Measures/Access Resources
Monsoon season is from Social isolation measures lifted 22 MOH COVID-19 web Vietnam COVID-19 Total Case Trend May to October. April with continued precautions site: (masks, limited # gatherings). https://ncov.moh.gov.v 350 Vietnam has experience Businesses/Public buses n/ dealing with SARS in resume.1289 Immigration offices 345 2003. opened 23 April. UNICEF Vietnam: 340 https://www.unicef.org 335 As of March 22, the The Prime Minister issued /vietnam/covid-19 330 government suspended Directive No. 19 on April 25 on entry to foreigners; Health Cooperation 325 measures to cope with COVID- Travelers who arrived 19.1290 Program for 2018-2019 320 prior have been subjected https://apps.who.int/iri 315 to 14-day quarantine. Schools reopened 4 May.1291 s/bitstream/handle/106 310 65/180224/ccsbrief_vn As of March 7, a health m_en.pdf;jsessionid=C0 305 Ho Chi Minh City allowed gyms to declaration is mandatory B6C45E103388FBC7C5F 300 reopen. The public gathering limit for all passengers was raised from 20 to 30 people. 6A6A83E4C41?sequenc entering; Government Schools in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh e=1 began testing for all City are expected to gradually people who have arrived WHO Vietnam resume classes from May 4.1292 0 Deaths – 335 confirmed cases as of 17 JUN from outside the country https://www.who.int/vi
since March 8.1287 etnam https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html High-risk localities consist of 12 All people in Vietnam provinces and cities: Ha Noi, Lao WHO Vietnam health
must wear face masks in Cai, Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, Ninh profile public places and on Binh, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Binh https://www.who.int/c public transportation. 1288 Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Ho Chi Minh ountries/vnm/en/ City and Tay Ninh, and Ha Tinh.1293
Disaster risk: Overall INFORM model risk ranking is 91 out of 191 countries (lower number indicates higher risk). A 3-yr trend indicates stable risk. Additionally, Vietnam’s INFORM COVID-19 risk is 3.8/10 (higher number indicates higher risk) and its COVID-19 risk class is “medium.”1294 Common natural hazards include flooding, landslides, droughts, typhoons, volcanoes, and earthquakes.1295 Since 22 April 2020, heavy rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms have been affecting north and central Vietnam, triggering floods. 3 people have died, 13 have been injured, and about 6,000 houses have been damaged, with Ha Giang Province being the worst-affected.1296 Since late 2019, severe drought and saltwater intrusion conditions have significantly affected people in the Mekong Delta region.1297
1287 https://vn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/ 1288 https://vn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/ 1289 https://www.vietnam-briefing.com/news/how-vietnam-sucessfully-contained-covid-19.html/ 1290 https://vn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/ 1291 https://finance.yahoo.com/news/asia-today-no-cases-n-023134743.html 1292 https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/coronavirus-asia-asean-live-updates-by-country/ 1293 http://news.chinhphu.vn/Home/Govt-extends-social-distancing-for-at-least-one-week-in-28-localities/20204/39735.vgp 1294 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index/INFORM-Epidemic 1295 https://drmkc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/inform-index 1296 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ROAP_Snapshot_200428.pdf 1297 https://reliefweb.int/report/viet-nam/viet-nam-drought-and-saltwater-intrusion-office-resident-coordinator-flash-update-1
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National organization response Ha Noi ended 28 day lock down on 6 May to contain transmission of resident confirmed positive. The country has reported zero new transmission cases for past 20 days.1298 The Ministry of Health (MOH) has positioned 90,000 doctors (existing and retired) and 125,000 nurses for the COVID-19 response. Up to 3,000 ventilators have been equipped at medical facilities across the nation.1299 The government has also called upon 1,800 final year medical university students to assist.1300
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) is the lead Disaster Management Agency and presides over the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA). MARD is the Chairman of the Central Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control (CCNDPC). The National Committee for Incident, Disaster Response, Search and Rescue (VINASARCOM) is responsible to conduct Search and Rescue (SAR) operations and is the Military Unit in Vietnam for Incident Command in the event that the disaster requires military support.1301
On 1 April, Vietnam’s PM declared a national pandemic and launched a nation-wide social distancing campaign. On 15 April, the social distancing was extended for another week in 12 cities and provinces categorized as high- risk. While social distancing measures have been loosened in other localities, all residents are still required to wear masks, avoid mass gathering and practice strict hygiene standards.1302
Schools reopened 4 May, with students required to wear masks and have their temperatures checked before entry.1303 Total confirmed COVID-19 cases have held relatively steady in the 268-271 range since 16 April.1304 Additionally, public beaches in several cities and provinces reopened with social distancing restrictions and some tourism activities have resumed.1305 On 7 May, the health ministry reported 17 new cases, all of which were imported with repatriating Vietnamese citizens.1306
The U.S. has provided an aid package to combat COVID-19 of US$9.5 million.1307
CFE-DM Vietnam Disaster Management Reference Handbook: https://www.cfe- dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=A_0GcYgID20%3d&portalid=0
Humanitarian community response (UN, NGOs, IFRC/Red Cross National Society) UNICEF coordinates closely with WHO and other UN agencies in planning and implementation of the UNCT COVID-19 Support Plan. UNICEF also is also reaching out to international multilateral agencies including the World Bank, IMF and ADB for joint work on the rapid assessment, monitoring surveillance and sectoral responses.1308 On 3 APR, UN Population Fund (UNFPA) delivered supplies, including 7,000 bottles of sanitizers, to the MOH, which health officials distributed in Hanoi.1309 The WHO provided an outbreak investigation tool for field
1298 http://news.chinhphu.vn/Home/Ha-Noi-lifts-lockdown-on-COVID19-hotspot/20205/39998.vgp 1299 http://news.chinhphu.vn/Home/Health-sector-mobilizes-all-medical-staffs-for-COVID19-combat/20203/39323.vgp 1300 https://reliefweb.int/report/viet-nam/novartis-contributes-275000-usaid-s-improving-access-curriculum-and-teaching-medical 1301 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=A_0GcYgID20%3d&portalid=0 1302 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/UNICEF%20Viet%20Nam%20COVID-19%20Situation%20Report%20No.2%20-%206- 22%20April%202020.pdf 1303 https://finance.yahoo.com/news/asia-today-no-cases-n-023134743.html 1304 https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 1305 https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/coronavirus-asia-asean-live-updates-by-country/ 1306 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vietnam-idUSKBN22J1RG 1307 https://vovworld.vn/en-US/news/us-grants-vietnam-95-million-usd-to-combat-covid19-855524.vov 1308 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/UNICEF%20Viet%20Nam%20COVID-19%20Situation%20Report%20No.2%20-%206- 22%20April%202020.pdf 1309 https://reliefweb.int/report/viet-nam/infection-control-supplies-delivered-viet-nam-maternal-health-facilities-amid-covid
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data collection during outbreaks of infectious diseases;1310 launched two eLearning courses on the management of coronavirus;1311 and provided laboratory supplies required to detect COVID-19.1312 UNICEF Viet Nam (VCO) has developed a cross-sectoral preparedness and response plan to support the Government which covers 5 priority areas.1313 Viet Nam Red Cross (VNRC): Partnering with government and business to raise funds to purchase health equipment for doctors and policemen.1314USAID through WHO recently contributed new resources for laboratory strengthening, allowing more than 20 laboratories the capability of testing COVID-19 specimens.1315 As of 13 MAY, VNRC has raised 30 billion VND (1.27 million USD) for COVID-19 response, and distributed over 2,479,555 medical masks, 362,815 soaps and hand sanitizers, 5,540 PPE clothing and cash to 8,912 people.1316
Country-specific planning considerations
Evacuation Centers: Exact numbers and locations are unknown. Military-run centers across the country host tens of thousands of returnees. Those with symptoms are sent to hospitals, others are required to stay in the centers for 14 days. Foreigners are quarantined in state-run facilities or hotels.13171318 Vietnam’s military is expanding its facilities to house 60,000 people. Ho Chi Minh City is converting dormitories at Vietnam National University into a 20,000-bed quarantine zone, which will increase the municipality’s capacity to 23,800 people, including 1,500 beds at two facilities under the military.1319
Displaced Populations: No current data available. In 2017, 633,000 were displaced by disasters.1320
Hospitals: US Embassy list of clinics and hospitals in Hanoi: https://vn.usembassy.gov/wp- content/uploads/sites/40/LIST-OF-HOSPITALS.pdf; List of clinics and hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City: https://vn.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/List-of-Clinics-and-Hospitals.pdf National Hospital for Tropical Diseases: http://benhnhietdoi.vn/
Health: On 14 MAY, Vietnam reported 24 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 312. All the new cases were imported, involving Vietnamese citizens returning from Russia, who were placed in quarantine. As of 14 MAY, Vietnam has gone 29 days with no domestically transmitted infections, per the health ministry.1321 On 13 MAY, Vietnam had reported 252 of its COVID-19 patients had recovered with no deaths.1322 The healthcare system has a mixture of public and private services. Private hospitals are increasing and they provide more than 60% of outpatient services. Healthcare facilities in Vietnam are divided into four levels: Level I hospitals include central hospitals owned by the MOH and city hospitals owned by municipalities. Level II, III, and IV hospitals are owned by local provincial governments.1323 Vietnam battles vaccine preventable diseases such as measles, diphtheria, pertussis, and hepatitis B. Epidemic surveillance and response systems need improvement. Vietnam is also affected by dengue, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis.1324 Return to TOC
1310 https://www.who.int/vietnam/news/detail/23-03-2020-viet-nam-adopts-who-outbreak-investigation-tool-for-covid-19-other-infectious-diseases 1311 https://www.who.int/vietnam/news/detail/20-03-2020-who-offers-free-online-covid-19-courses-in-vietnamese 1312 https://www.who.int/vietnam/news/detail/25-02-2020-who-backs-viet-nam-s-laboratory-resources-for-covid-19-detection 1313 https://reliefweb.int/report/viet-nam/unicef-viet-nam-country-office-covid-19-situation-report-no-1-reporting-period-1 1314 https://www.vir.com.vn/sendo-and-vietnam-red-cross-join-hands-to-beat-covid-19-75408.html 1315 https://reliefweb.int/report/viet-nam/usaid-s-sustained-support-enables-covid-19-ready-public-health-laboratories-vietnam 1316 https://reliefweb.int/report/viet-nam/vietnam-red-cross-covid-19-response-weekly-update-6-13-may-2020 1317 https://theaseanpost.com/article/tourists-quarantined-vietnam-virus-spreads 1318 https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3076734/coronavirus-life-inside-vietnams-army-run-quarantine 1319 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-19/vietnam-is-increasing-quarantine-capacity-to-house-60-000-people 1320 https://www.refworld.org/topic,50ffbce526e,50ffbce5274,5b28b7392,0,,,VNM.html 1321 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vietnam-idUSKBN22R03R 1322 https://reliefweb.int/report/viet-nam/vietnam-red-cross-covid-19-response-weekly-update-6-13-may-2020 1323 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=A_0GcYgID20%3d&portalid=0 1324 https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=A_0GcYgID20%3d&portalid=0
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General Planning Considerations Return to TOC
COVID-19 has added another layer of complexity and threatens to exacerbate current humanitarian situations:
• South-East Asia is approaching hurricane season. Usually persons affected by hurricanes would flee to overcrowded temporary shelters, community centers and schools -- which would contradict social distancing and lockdowns under COVID-19, leaving response weakened and making early warning systems vital. • Travel restrictions, humanitarian staff downsizing, and worries over duty of care (there are no medevac guarantees), make responding to “a sudden-onset emergency a real concern” for humanitarian actors. • Local NGOs and informal groups of citizens are taking action and supporting their communities. Humanitarians are working to track rumors in various contexts, this is being done to ensure understanding on how the virus is being understood within communities and develop messaging to tackle misinformation that can put communities at harm. • Many governments are closing air and land borders to all but military personnel and cargo. The suspension of both commercial and cargo flights to and from the countries is likely to impact humanitarian operations. • Confinement and administrative barriers to movement to limit the spread of COVID-19 has in several operations stigmatized foreign aid workers to be perceived as virus transmitters. • Armed groups are taking advantage of COVID-19 and scaling up attacks, forcing people to flee and critically reducing humanitarian access. Several operations are reporting fears that temporary measures to respond to the virus are being, or could be, used to restrict humanitarian access. • Cyber attacks on COVID-19 medical facilities have started and could continue. Attacks on medical staff have been noted in India and the Philippines. • Applying basic COVID-19 precautions in internal displacement camps and sites is proving very challenging due to overcrowding, makeshift shelters, lack of adequate health, water, sanitation and difficulty in implementing physical distancing. Moreover, management of isolation and shielding centers, in line with the health and shelter guidelines, is proving to be a major challenge in many operations. • One challenge is how to avoid stigmatization and discrimination affecting those being tested or admitted to the centers. The risk of children being separated from their parents in relation to isolation processes. • Some donors and supporters have been quick to reinforce their sustained support and commitment to enabling the work of NGOs and other actors. • Banned public transport nationwide and restrictions on travel to and from towns and cities with confirmed cases have also been introduced, leaving aid groups unsure how they are going to access people in need. • Limited and discriminatory access to services, including health, is reported across several operations, as well as stigmatization of people and communities accused of carrying the virus. • Many operations reported that women and children continue to face risks of physical and domestic violence due to lockdowns and curfews.
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Return to TOC
• The UN World Food Programme (WFP) warns that COVID-19 could almost double the number of people facing hunger in the world. The socio-economic impact of COVID-19 could push an additional 130 million people into crisis levels of hunger. That would be in addition to 135 million who are already facing crisis levels of hunger due to droughts, flooding and violence limiting their access to food. • Strategic communication is critical for any DOD or other USG assistance efforts. The U.S. faces some challenging optics in providing COVID-19 assistance internationally:
o More than two dozen international aid organizations signed a letter dated 4 JUN informing USAID they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no US humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic. It warns the delay is “devastating” and warns the opportunity is diminishing for the US to help mitigate the worst impacts of the pandemic around the world. The US has committed more than $US1 billion to help the global COVID-19 response, per USAID COVID-19 task force leader Kenneth Staley. However, the aid has been obstructed by “uncharacteristic delays,” which “stands in stark contrast to our experience in crises where (the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance) is known to turn around funding in a matter of weeks, if not days,” the letter stated. Signatories included Save the Children, Mercy Corps, World Vision and other NGOs.1325
o Using a new clause in its grant agreements, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will require aid agencies to get prior approval to buy key items of personal protective equipment (PPE) or ventilators, according to a 29 April report.1326
Logistical Considerations
Access Diplomatic Clearances? – J43 to expedite with US Embassy Expedited customs processes? – RFI to J43 for assistance Are there any port (sea or air) operational limitations due to manning or facility operating statuses? (Fuel ops, MHE, daylight/nighttime ops, etc.) Do U.S. forces need to provide own support? – K-Loaders, generators, light sets, CL IV barrier material for security.
Logistics Approved ports of entry – air and sea Prioritize or designate purpose if more than one What capability exists at ports of entry: Storage (Covered, refrigerated and/or controlled (CL VIII) medical supplies, and open cargo yard) Security of space provided Material Handling Equipment (MHE) – what and how much is available? Operational status if available. Are there competing requirements for this equipment? Recommend MHE be prioritized in first lifts – to support movement and organization of throughput. Lighting Power – both generated and available (transformer requirements)
1325 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/aid-groups-alarmed-by-little-us-coronavirus-assistance/ar-BB15nU4m 1326 https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2020/04/29/USAID-bans-masks-and-gloves-NGO- grants?utm_source=The+New+Humanitarian&utm_campaign=ca37d3bd90- EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_04_29_2020_DAILY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d842d98289-ca37d3bd90-75574133
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Communication CL III Bulk and packaged – are facilities operational? What capacity and percentage of availability? Disaster remains pouches – are they needed? Refrigerated containers (existing or built) for expeditionary morgue requirements? Ground movement support routes – from ports to key operational sites. Security requirements? Operational Contract Support (OCS) requirements – the INDOPACOM OCS Working Group (BRWG event) – is it operational? Need to leverage them. Life Support Requirements – base ops at air and seaports. LSA requirements – tents, cots, water, wastewater management, electricity, security, field sanitation, etc. (to include dis-infecting LSA and workspaces). Engineer requirements. Is the Joint Engineer Working Group (JEWG) operational? What is the guidance for HAZWASTE management? Disposition instructions for property book equipment that is contaminated and cannot be effectively sanitized/cleaned. SDDC – port access, capacity, and status. Joint Port Opening (JPO) – is it needed or available – sea and/or port ops.
Refer to the Logistics Cluster website for latest updates from UN and NGOs (https://logcluster.org/COVID-19)
CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice: Widespread ongoing transmission with entry restrictions to the U.S. CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to the following destinations. Most foreign nationals who have been in one of these countries during the previous 14 days will not be allowed to enter the U.S.
WHO definition: Hospital beds include inpatient beds available in public, private, general, and specialized hospitals and rehabilitation centers. In most cases beds for both acute and chronic care are included. WHO has little information on the “capability” of these beds. A “bed” by the U.S. standard is not the same by international standards.
General References • COVID-19 case trends source data: https://github.com/CSSEGISandData/COVID-19 • IATA global travel restrictions: • https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm • Coronavirus: Travel restrictions, border shutdowns by country – Al Jazeera listing: • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/coronavirus-travel-restrictions-border-shutdowns-country- 200318091505922.html • UN WFP travel restrictions dashboard: • http://unwfp.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/db5b5df309ac4f10bfd36145a6f8880e • Agility global shipping restriction updates: https://www.agility.com/insights/COVID19/homepage/ • Operational Considerations for Managing COVID-19 Cases or Outbreak in Aviation: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331488/WHO-2019-nCoV-Aviation-2020.1-eng.pdf • COVID-19 Live Global Case Tracker: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ • PDC Global COVID-19 Dashboard: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5a1a5e640d844571a29f346f0ae0eefa • CFE-DM case study on Medical diplomacy: US Military medicine in HADR: • https://www.cfe-dmha.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=JvsqZxzkdMo%3d&portalid=0
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