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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Thank Solo for the update. Really appreciated <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Faafetai and stay safe guys. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Pacificcbidnetwork [mailto:pacificcbidnetwork-bounces@lists.pacificdisability.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Soloveni Vitoso<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, March 16, 2020 2:02 PM<br><b>To:</b> pdflist@lists.pacificdisability.org; pacificcbidnetwork@lists.pacificdisability.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [Pacificcbidnetwork] Covid-19 Makes Headlines around the Pacific as of 10am today - 16 March, 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div id=divtagdefaultwrapper><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Pacific News as of 10am this morning, 16, March, 2020;<br><br></span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt;background:white'><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black;text-decoration:none'><a href="file:///C:\Users\soloveniv\Desktop\PACNEWS%20ONE,%2016%20MARCH%202020.doc#i1">1. GUAM --- Guam has three confirmed cases of Covid-19</a></span></b></span><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'><br><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='color:black;text-decoration:none'><a href="file:///C:\Users\soloveniv\Desktop\PACNEWS%20ONE,%2016%20MARCH%202020.doc#i2">2. CNMI --- Torres announces CNMI government shutdown</a></span></b></span><br><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='color:black;text-decoration:none'><a href="file:///C:\Users\soloveniv\Desktop\PACNEWS%20ONE,%2016%20MARCH%202020.doc#i3">3. SAMOA --- Entry requirements tightened as Samoa Government ups risk</a></span></b></span><br><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='color:black;text-decoration:none'><a href="file:///C:\Users\soloveniv\Desktop\PACNEWS%20ONE,%2016%20MARCH%202020.doc#i4">4. FIJI --- COVID-19: Fiji bans cruise ships from today</a></span></b></span><br><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='color:black;text-decoration:none'><a href="file:///C:\Users\soloveniv\Desktop\PACNEWS%20ONE,%2016%20MARCH%202020.doc#i5">5. UN--- New WHO fund, UN Chief Guterres calls for ‘prudence, not panic’</a></span></b></span><br><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='color:black;text-decoration:none'><a href="file:///C:\Users\soloveniv\Desktop\PACNEWS%20ONE,%2016%20MARCH%202020.doc#i6">6. A/SAMOA --- Covid-19: American Samoa governor self-isolates as a precaution</a></span></b></span><br><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='color:black;text-decoration:none'><a href="file:///C:\Users\soloveniv\Desktop\PACNEWS%20ONE,%2016%20MARCH%202020.doc#i7">7. SOL --- Still no confirmed Covid-19 case in Solomon Islands</a></span></b></span><br><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='color:black;text-decoration:none'><a href="file:///C:\Users\soloveniv\Desktop\PACNEWS%20ONE,%2016%20MARCH%202020.doc#i8">8. PNG --- PNG's preparedness on COVID 19 step up</a></span></b></span><br><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='color:black;text-decoration:none'><a href="file:///C:\Users\soloveniv\Desktop\PACNEWS%20ONE,%2016%20MARCH%202020.doc#i9">9. NZ --- Jacinda Ardern's plan to protect Pacific Islands from COVID-19</a></span></b></span><br><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='color:black;text-decoration:none'><a href="file:///C:\Users\soloveniv\Desktop\PACNEWS%20ONE,%2016%20MARCH%202020.doc#i10">10. AUST --- Coronavirus: People not complying with new Australian self-isolation rules could face fines</a></span></b></span><br><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='color:black;text-decoration:none'><a href="file:///C:\Users\soloveniv\Desktop\PACNEWS%20ONE,%2016%20MARCH%202020.doc#i13">11. Coronavirus: Airlines face meltdown as global travel bans multiply</a></span></b></span></span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><a name=i1></a><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>GUAM - HEALTH: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><b><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Guam has three confirmed cases of Covid-19</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>HAGATNA, 16 MARCH 2020 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES)---Guam has three confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection as of Sunday, Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero said, warning that more cases are anticipated. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The first two patients, who are related, traveled to the Philippines and came back to Guam on a United Airlines flight on 02 March, while the third patient has no known travel history, with a family member who recently traveled to Japan, the governor said. They were tested on Saturday and the results came back on Sunday. The three are currently in isolation at the Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH),'s Skilled Nursing Unit in Barrigada Heights, the designated isolation facility for Covid-19. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Leon Guerrero said she is confident GMH is capable of handling the situation. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Guerrero said the Department of Public Health and Social Service, the Guam Homeland Security and Guam Customs and Quarantine have begun investigating and tracing passengers who were on the same fight and searching for people who may have been in contact with the infected patients. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“If you were on this flight and have flu-like symptoms, stay home and contact your doctors,” the governor said at a hastily-called press conference at the GHS office. “This is what we have prepared for. While we must expect more cases, everything that can be done is being done.” </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>While Guam does not have the authority to impose a travel ban, the governor urged residents to avoid travel to the Philippines and other affected areas. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“If you travel to Manila, I urge you to self-quarantine for no less than 14 days,” Guerrero said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The governor also mandates the cancellations of community events and social gatherings with more than 100 people. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Guerrero is scheduled to meet with public and private school administrators on Monday to discuss how to proceed. “The community will be updated if there is a change in guidance,” JIC said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The three confirmed cases were among the five samples tested at the Guam Public Health Laboratory in Tamuning tested on Sunday. Two met the Persons Under Investigation criteria and three were Surveillance Cases. Three tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, according to a press release from Joint Information Center. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>A total of 14 tests have been performed at the Tamuning last since 12 March. Eleven patients were tested negative for the virus. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“DPHSS, along with the Guam Memorial Hospital, is working as rapidly as possible to identify close contacts of the cases. Close contacts may include family members and co-workers who will be quarantined and actively monitored by Public Health for 14 days after their last contact with the case. DPHSS will release additional information as it becomes available,” homeland security officials said in a release. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Due to professional development, there are no classes for all Guam Department of Education schools on Monday. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The governor also mandates the cancellations of community events and social gatherings with more than 100 people. During her special address on Saturday, the governor ordered the closure of public senior centers by close of business Wednesday, noting that the elderly are most susceptible to the viral infection. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“We have been preparing for this and we are ready to respond. Let’s not surrender to fear and panic. Stay calm, stay informed, and do your part to protect yourself and others as we address this public health issue together,” Guerrero said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“We have been preparing for this and we are ready to respond. Let’s not surrender to fear and panic. Stay calm, stay informed, and do your part to protect yourself and others as we address this public health issue together,” Guerrero said</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><a name=i2></a><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>CNMI - HEALTH: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><b><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Torres announces CNMI government shutdown</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>SAIPAN, 16 MARCH 2020 (PACIFIC ISLANND TIMES)---CNMI Governor Ralph Torres on Sunday announced a temporary shutdown of the government amid the unabated threat of Covid-19 pandemic, which has hit Guam. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“All non-essential employees of the Commonwealth’s departments and agencies are asked to stay home until further notice. We will provide additional updates on the government tomorrow. Please stay tuned to media partners and your department and agency heads for updates,” Torres said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Guam Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero on Sunday disclosed that three people have tested positive for Covid-19, the first cases in the region. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“Now, we understand that there are questions and concerns about banning United flights from Guam to Saipan,” Torre said. “As I have stated in February, I have no authority as Governor to stop the flights from Guam, nor do I have the authority to stop any flights to the CNMI for that matter.” </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Any decision on banning flights within in U.S. jurisdictions is under the Federal Aviation Administration’s purview </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“Just like we did in January with the China flights, I will be directing the Commonwealth Ports Authority to consult with the FAA on the Guam United flights, and we will notify you once we receive an update,” Torres said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Torres said he will meet with Commonwealth Heath Center CEO Esther Muna and the CNMI’s Covod-9 Task Force on Monday to push forward the next steps of the pandemic plan. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“As COVID-19 moves around the world and gets closer to our beautiful shores, your government is doing everything it can to contain this virus by working with the White House, federal partners, and global health officials,” Torres said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“We will be asking individuals, regardless of travel history, who were off-island for work or travel to self-quarantine themselves for at least 14 days. We will be working with department heads and private sector partners in implementing this immediately.” </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The governor said the CNMI government will begin implementing social distancing protocols within the community. “Our manamko and our loved ones with preexisting illnesses are the most vulnerable to COVID-19, and we will prioritize their safety. We ask that our family and friends, who are in this group to stay home,” he said. “If you feel sick, please stay home and contact your doctor or our hospital. We will formalise these protocols tomorrow. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The Marianas Visitors Authority Board of Directors has officially postponed the Tagaman triathlon this Saturday, while the Public School System will be suspending classes from Monday to Wednesday, which is their next Board of Education meeting. “From there, they will then make a board decision on class schedules moving forward,” </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The Northern Marianas College is suspending all face-to-face classes through 17 March, 2020. Transition of a majority of face-to-face courses to online platforms will occur on Wednesday 18 March, 2020 while the remaining classes will transition by 23 March. A complete schedule will be provided tomorrow. NMC classes which are conducted entirely online will continue as scheduled. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>"Let me be clear," Torres said. "We know this is getting serious now more than ever. As Governor, I will continue to do everything I can, beside the good leaders in our islands, to protect you and your families. We were the first state or territory in the country to implement surveillance measures and health screening of all inbound passengers." </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>He noted that information will continue to change, and urged te community to get their information from CHCC, the World Health Organisation (WHO), or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>"As a strong island community, we have remained resilient in the face of the worst storms and economic downturns, and we emerged stronger because we chose to work together. When it comes to this, we have no time for politics or grandstanding. My administration and I will work with our health experts. Now is the time for vigilance, not fear or panic. Let’s work together to stay informed and help each other out," Torres said</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><a name=i3></a><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>SAMOA - HEALTH: SAMOA OBSERVER </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><b><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Entry requirements tightened as Samoa Government ups risk</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>APIA, 16 MARCH 2020 (SAMOA OBSERVER)---The Government is ramping up its monitoring of all points of entry into Samoa with the addition of more requirements for travellers in a bid to keep coronavirus (COVID-19) at bay. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The Ministry of Health (MOH), in a travel advisory issued late Saturday, said due to the spread of the COVID-19 and the recent declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of a global pandemic, they will now have to scale up their efforts as the risks to Samoa is now “very high”. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>As part of the new measures, effective immediately all travellers (including returning residents) to Samoa are required to undergo medical examination by a registered medical practitioner, within three days before arriving in Samoa. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>A medical clearance report is now mandatory for check-in before a passing pass is issued. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Airline and sea vessel crew are also required to get renewed medical reports 14 days after their last medical check. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Samoan passport holders who are permanent residents of American Samoa are also required to undergo medical examination within three days before entering Samoa, with a physician and the American Samoa Director of Public Health, Motusa Tuileama Nua to countersign the medical report. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Samoan nationals and permanent residents returning to American Samoa are now required to undergo medical examination within three days before entering with proof of the MMR/MR vaccination. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“In the event your travel is less than 3 days; medical examination issued in Samoa will suffice for your return.” </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>For countries that have already had reported cases including deaths from COVID-19, travellers from the 33 nations will now have to provide proof of coronavirus test results done within five days, states the latest MOH travel advisory. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>According to the MOH, all travellers who test positive to COVID-19 will now be denied entry into Samoa, and all travellers originating from the 33 states are now required to self quarantine themselves for 14 days at the country of last port, and should have in their possession a medical clearance certificate within three days of arriving in Samoa. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“In the event you arrive and have not satisfied the above three requirements, you will be returned to the country of last port, before arrival into Samoa,” states the MOH travel advisory. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Charter flights as well as cruise ships who plan to visit Samoa will be refused entry until further notice and all sea port entries will be screened at the quarantine buoy before the vessel is allowed to dock. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The 33 countries that travellers originate from or transit through include: China; Hong Kong; Macau; Japan; Singapore; Thailand; South Korea; Italy; Iran; Kuwait; Taiwan; Germany; Spain; France; Bahrain; Australia; Belgium; Canada; Malaysia; Denmark; Chechia Republic; Greece; Iceland; Luxembourg; Netherlands; Norway; Qatar; Sweden; Switzerland; United States of America; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; and Australia.</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><a name=i4></a><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>FIJI - HEALTH: FIJI TIMES </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><b><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>COVID-19: Fiji bans cruise ships from today</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>SUVA, 16 MARCH 2020 (FIJI TIMES)---No cruise ships will be allowed entry into Fiji from today – Monday,16 March , 2020. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama made the announcement in a statement, after neighbouring countries Australia and New Zealand announced the ban on cruise liners from also entering their ports to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“Also from tomorrow (Monday), international events will not be allowed in Fiji and local events will be closed to all guests coming in from overseas,” Bainimarama said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Ministers, civil servants, permanent secretaries and staff of statutory bodies have also been restricted from travelling overseas, barring exceptionally-critical circumstances. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“We also highly discourage all Fijians from travelling overseas. If you do choose to travel anywhere outside of Fiji, you may be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon your return to Fiji, even if you are not displaying symptoms of COVID-19. This, of course, is already mandated for Fijians arriving home from nations on our restricted travel list.” </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Bainimarama said those measures would all be subject to review as the global situation evolved. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“We already have secure isolation facilities up and running throughout Fiji, with the Central Division being served by Navua Hospital, the Western Division served by the Nadi Hospital, and Labasa Hospital serving the Northern Division. As we monitor the situation, more isolation unitswill be established as the need arises in accordance with our expansion plan. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“As of the 15th of March, at 5pm, Fiji remains coronavirus – free –– and it is on that basis that we’ve developed these measures. If and when we see our first case, far more stringent measures will immediately come into effect to aggressively prevent the spread of the disease, as other nations have done, such as bans on local gatherings. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>While the steps we can take as individuals are critical, to be effective, the preparations for COVID-19 must be society-wide, said Bainimarama. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“We need everyone aware of the risks and actively participating in our nationwide response. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“Because the sobering reality is that, while we have yet to see a case in our country, our population is already vulnerable to coronavirus. Those with preexisting conditions and NCDs –– like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer –– are at a higher risk of death by COVID-19. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“So, I encourage all Fijians to use this moment to make lasting lifestyle changes to improve your health –– by doing so,you are guarding yourself and those you love from communicable viruses, like COVID-19, and non- communicable disease alike. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“To maximise our larger prevention and containment efforts, we’ll continue to work closely with our hotel and tourism partners to help identify, isolate and treat any visitors who may be experiencing symptoms of the virus. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“With our flows of tourism under close supervision, we will continue supporting the tens of thousands of Fijians </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>families who depend on the tourism sector for their livelihoods. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“As we work hand-in-hand with our tourism operators and other business leaders to combat the coronavirus, we heartheir very serious worries about the impact the situation will have on their business. As the outbreak worsens and travel restrictions heighten, people are travelling less. Supply chains as well are seeing major disruptions. As aresult, many nations of all sizes will likely see their economies contract. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“This is not a time for panic, but a time for prudence. We’ve already made a number of critical un-budgeted expenditures to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s clear we need to reassess our spending priorities for the remainder of the financial year. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“The Attorney-General and Minister for Economy will announce a COVID-19 Response Budget on the 26th of </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>March – where we’ll lay out our financial game plan for protecting our people and supporting Fijian businesses and livelihoods through what will undoubtedly be a difficult period. Ahead of that response budget, he’ll be sitting down with the FNPF and banks to discuss ways to mitigate the impact the COVID-19 global economic slowdown is having – and will continue to have – on individual Fijian workers and their families,” said Bainimarama.</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><a name=i5></a><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>UN- HEALTH: UN NEWS CENTRE </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><b><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>New WHO fund, UN Chief Guterres calls for ‘prudence, not panic’</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>NEW YORK, 16 MARCH 2020 (UN NEWS CENTRE)---UN chief António Guterres has assured the world that the COVID-19 virus will peak, and the global economy will recover but, until then, “we must act together to slow the spread of the virus and look after each other”. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>In the face of a health crisis unlike any other in our lifetimes, said the Secretary-General, it is natural to feel anxious, worried and confused. The most vulnerable in society are also the most affected, and the social and economic fallout will affect most of us for months to come. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>However, “this is a time for prudence, not panic. Science, not stigma. Facts, not fear”, counselled Guterres. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The pandemic can still be controlled, preventing infections and saving lives, but it will take “unprecedented personal, national and international action”, he added. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>This will involve putting effective containment strategies into place; activating and enhancing emergency response systems; dramatically increasing testing capacity and care for patients; readying hospitals, and developing life-saving medical interventions. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The crisis, said Guterres, has shown the importance of international cooperation, with governments working together to revitalise economies, expand public investment and ensure support for the most vulnerable. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>And in Geneva, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced the launch on Friday of a first-of-its-kind COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, to make it easier for private individuals, corporations and institutions anywhere in the world to come together to directly contribute to fighting the pandemic. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“We are at a critical point in the global response to COVID-19. We need everyone to get involved in this massive effort to keep the world safe”, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Funds will go towards supporting actions outlined in the WHO’s COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, to enable all countries – particularly those most vulnerable and at-risk, and with the weakest health systems – to prepare for and respond to the crisis. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>These actions include the rapid detection of cases, stopping the transmission of the virus, and caring for those affected. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The funds will also go towards financing the purchase of protective equipment for frontline health workers; equipping diagnostic laboratories; improving surveillance and data collection; and other critical steps that need to be taken. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“We can’t ignore the fact that this is a truly global problem, one that requires truly global solutions”, said Elizabeth Cousens, President and CEO of the UN Foundation, which created the fund, along with the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation and WHO. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“The case for global cooperation could not be clearer”, she continued. “Communities everywhere are affected, and people want to contribute. This new fund will create space for people everywhere, together, to fight this virus”. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Tedros added that “a lot of people and institutions have been saying they want to contribute to the fight against the novel coronavirus. Now they can”. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Support from the private sector has already been confirmed, with major companies such as Google and Facebook instituting a matched-funding scheme for contributions raised through their platforms. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Individual donors can also make online contributions to the Fund by visiting the website <a href="http://www.covid19responsefund.org/">www.COVID19ResponseFund.org</a> , and the UN Foundation can receive donations via cheque or wire from around the world via the email address, <a href="mailto:COVID19Fund@unfoundation.org">COVID19Fund@unfoundation.org</a>. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Any country that thinks ‘that won’t happen to us’ is making a deadly mistake. It can happen to any country Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Addressing the media on Friday, Tedros declared that Europe is now the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, with more cases and deaths there than in the rest of the world combined, excepting China, and more cases are now being reported every day than at the height of the initial Chinese outbreak. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Tedros announced that he was encouraged by the fact that many countries are now acting on the recommendations made in the WHO Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, which provides evidence-based guidance that, said the WHO chief, every country can use. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“Our message to countries continues to be: you must take a comprehensive approach”, he added, noting that most countries now have a national plan, are taking a “multi-sectoral approach” (i.e. involving all areas of government, rather than simply health ministries), and have laboratory testing capacity. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“Any country that looks at the experience of other countries with large epidemics and thinks ‘that won’t happen to us’ is making a deadly mistake”, he warned. “It can happen to any country”. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Tedros looked to the experiences of China, South Korea and Singapore as examples of countries which have successfully prevented infections and saved lives, by putting in place measures such as aggressive testing and contact tracing, social distancing, and community mobilization. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The WHO continues to support efforts to prepare and respond, shipping supplies of personal protective equipment to a further 28 countries, in addition to the 56 countries who are already receiving such equipment. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>On Friday, UN health chief Tedros outlined four recommendations for governments, businesses and individuals. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>*Prepare and be ready. Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and how to protect yourself and others. Ensure that health facilities can cope, and that health workers know how to provide care. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>*Detect, protect and treat. Find, isolate, test and treat every case, to break the chain of transmissions. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>*Reduce transmission. Isolate the sick and quarantine their contacts. Increase social distancing by, for example, cancelling sporting events and other large gatherings. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>*Innovate and learn. This is a new virus and a new situation, and all countries have lessons to share. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and refugee agency (UNHCR) have issued reminders of the importance of ensuring that the world’s most vulnerable people are not forgotten during this health crisis. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>UNICEF noted that, whilst handwashing with soap is critical to stem the spread, millions of people do not have even basic facilities at home. This amounts to some 3 billion people in the least developed countries. Furthermore, nearly half of all schools do not have a handwashing facility with soap and water, whilst a third have no place for children to wash their hands at all. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>A US$33 million appeal to support refugees was launched by UNHCR on Friday. Elderly members of the world’s forcibly displaced population are at particular risk, the agency warned. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The urgently needed funds will boost the preparedness, prevention and response activities to address the immediate public health needs of refugees, that have been prompted by COVID-19. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>UNHCR’s response to the virus builds on its previous experience in dealing with the SARS, Ebola, and influenza outbreaks. These preparedness measures protect refugees before, during and after global health emergencies.</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><a name=i6></a><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>A/SAMOA - HEALTH: RNZ PACIFIC </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><b><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Covid-19: American Samoa governor self-isolates as a precaution</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>PAGOPAGO,16 MARCH 2020 (RNZ PACIFIC)---American Samoa's governor has been placed in quarantine after his trip to the US mainland. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Lolo Matalasi Moliga travelled to Washington State and Hawaii, two places with confirmed outbreaks of the Covid-19 coronavirus. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Seattle, where Lolo was for a medical appointment, is where the largest number of coronavirus deaths in the United States have occured. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The governor said he had medical checkups in both Seattle and Honolulu, but is self-quarantining at Government House in Pago Pago as a precaution. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>He will communicate with his Cabinet by phone.</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><a name=i7></a><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>SOL - HEALTH: SOLOMON STAR </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><b><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Still no confirmed Covid-19 case in Solomon Islands</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>HONIARA,16 MARCH 2020 (SOLOMON STAR)---There is still no confirmed case of Coronavirus for the Solomon Islands. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Pauline McNeil revealed this during a talkback show in Honiara. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“There is still no confirmed case of COVID-19 as yet from the two suspected cases. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“The country doesn’t have any confirmed case of COVID-19 but we have two suspected cases and that doesn’t mean that they are confirmed as yet until we have tests returned. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“The samples have been sent to Melbourne, Australia so the Ministry is waiting for the return of the two samples then we will know of the results and then we can say there is a confirmed case in the country. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“For now it’s only suspected cases,” said,”McNeil. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>For the two suspected cases, one sample was sent on Friday and the other one was sent Sunday to Melbourne Australia for testing. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Laboratory Director of the National Referral hospital Dr. Alfred Dofai said that the results for the suspected cases that were sent overseas for testing usually takes more than 72hrs before the results are sent back to the country. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“We are still following up on the results for the two suspected cases,” he said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) is reassuring the public that quarantine is a standard measure or procedure to protect and prevent the spread of any disease. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>As a response to the government’s travelling advisory, people travelling through affected countries must be quarantined for at least 14 days, the ministry said in a statement. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“People quarantined are those who are not sick but have travelled through affected countries. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“People are placed in quarantine not because they are suspected to have COVID-19, but because there is a risk that they may have come in contact with the virus. The number of those quarantined can be changed at the end of a 14 day quarantine period of monitoring and clinical observation. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“Thus, there is no fixed or consistent number of people in the Quarantined facility,” the statement explains. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>On the other hand, people travelling from restricted countries where there are high levels of COVID-19 infection or are in breach of the Travel Advisory are immediately refused entry to the Solomon Islands. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Permanent Secretary for Health, Mrs Pauline McNeil acknowledged the high level of public anxiety about the threat of COVID-19 but pointed out that quarantine measures are there to protect the community. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>McNeil also sought to reassure the public that there is no evidence to suggest that surrounding communities can be exposed to the virus. COVID-19 spreads through close personal contact with a sick person. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>It is understandable that people are feeling scared and anxious at this time, but misinformation and rumors can only make things worse,McNeil said. “In fact, rumors and misinformation can be as harmful as the virus itself because they can lead people to make poor choices that affect their health and that of others, and increases challenges health workers are facing daily. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“Now is the time for us to come together as a community: to replace fear and speculation with facts, to get informed, and to be prepared. We are not powerless against COVID-19. There are actions we can take to protect ourselves. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“We know that the virus spreads from person to person through droplets when a person coughs, sneezes or breathes out. So, even before COVID-19 is in our communities, we should be getting into the habit of washing our hands several times a day with soap and water; covering our coughs and sneezes with an elbow, or tissue, and keeping a one-metre distance from others when we are sick. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“My Ministry is working to get this information out to the public, through daily radio programming on SIBC, regular news media updates, information sessions for the business, education, government and non-government sectors, churches and the distribution of posters and leaflets to communities. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“Thanks to the support of B-Mobile and Telekom, we are able to reach people all over the country with tips on how to protect themselves and others from COVID-19. If you have access to the internet, visit the Learning about Coronavirus section on the government portal at <a href="http://www.solomons.gov.sb">www.solomons.gov.sb</a>. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“We will be updating the information there regularly as well,” the Permanent Secretary said.</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><a name=i8></a><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>PNG - HEALTH: NBC NEWS PNG </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><b><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>PNG's preparedness on the COVID 19 step up</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>PORT MORESBY, 16 MARCH 2020 (NBC NEWS PNG)----Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says the country is prepared to quarantine and treat any one suspected of contracting the virus or if and when it hits the country. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Marape said there is no recorded case of the virus yet in the country. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The Prime Minister said the country has closed or banned the movement of people along its borders from Wutung to Jayapura and the sea borders between Bougainville and Solomon Islands. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“There are only four seaports of entry from Port Moresby, Kokopo, Madang and Lae. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“All passengers coming into PNG will be allowed through Jackson's International airport". </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“The government has set up a quarantine facility at 6mile in Port Moresby to test and check people suspected of contracting the Coronavirus,” he said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The government will continue to support the health department and facilities to help prevent the virus and treat or contain the virus from spreading if and when it enters PNG. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“At the moment PNG is on code Green meaning there is no case of the virus yet”. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The government has established strong links and partnership with its bilateral partners and donor agencies including China and others to address the Corona Virus. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Prime Minister Marape said it is not only a health issue but the virus will have an impact on the economy and businesses as it crosses borders and affected shipment of goods and services. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The government has taken on board the issue also as a national security concern and will involve the Defence Force and other security coordinating agencies of Government in due course.</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><a name=i9></a><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>NZ - HEALTH: NEWSHUB </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><b><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Jacinda Ardern's plan to protect Pacific Islands from COVID-19</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>WELLINGTON, 16 MARCH 2020 (NEWSHUB)---New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced tough new border protection policies aimed at saving our Pacific neighbours from the deadly COVID-19 disease. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Following her COVID-19 Cabinet committee meeting on Saturday, the Prime Minister said New Zealand has a responsibility to look after the Pacific Islands. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“We take very seriously our duty of care,” she said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“As such, strict new border exit measures for people travelling to the Pacific will be put in place. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> “"These include: No travel for people who have travelled outside of New Zealand in the past 14-days. No travel for close or casual contacts of a confirmed case. No travel for anyone who is symptomatic, and health assessments, including temperature checks.” </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>She also said Cabinet had approved "far-reaching and unprecedented decisions” to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in New Zealand. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“Cabinet made far-reaching and unprecedented decisions today because these are unprecedented circumstances. As of midnight Sunday every person entering New Zealand, including returning New Zealand citizens and residents, will be required to enter self-isolation for 14 days - everybody,” she said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“The Pacific are exempted from this measure, they are the only ones. Anyone from this country though will be required to automatically self-isolate should they exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms on arrival in New Zealand. All of these restrictions will be reviewed in 16 days' time. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“This decision will mean New Zealand will have the widest-ranging and toughest border restrictions of any country in the world. We are also encouraging New Zealanders to avoid all non-essential travel overseas - this helps reduce the risk of a New Zealander bringing COVID-19 in.” </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Some have questioned whether Australia was part of the Pacific Islands exemption. However, Air New Zealand chief revenue officer Cam Wallace has said the restrictions do apply to our neighbour across the Tasman.</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><a name=i10></a><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>AUST - HEALTH: THE GUARDIAN </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><b><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Coronavirus: People not complying with new Australian self-isolation rules could face fines </span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>SYDNEY,16 MARCH 2020 (THE GUARDIAN)---People in some states could face hefty fines if they do not comply with new government restrictions aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus, with Australian prime minister Scott Morrison announcing strict new requirements for all people arriving in Australia to self-isolate for 14 days. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Cruise ship arrivals will also be banned for at least 30 days, Scott Morrison announced on Sunday, amid escalating efforts to contain the virus. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The strict measures came as two more deaths in Australia from coronavirus were confirmed on Sunday evening. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>A 77-year-old woman from Queensland died in New South Wales on Friday shortly after arriving in Sydney by plane, NSW Health said, while a 90-year old woman – a resident of Dorothy Henderson Lodge – died on Saturday. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>NSW recorded 22 new cases of Covid-19, taking the total number of cases in the state to 134 and Victoria recorded eight new cases taking its total to 57. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Queensland had its highest increase in a 24-hour period with 15 new cases, bringing the total number for the state to 61. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Morrison told reporters in Sydney that the first meeting of the national cabinet on Sunday had agreed to legislate offences for people who breach the self-isolation rule and escalated advice to others to undertake social distancing, including refusing handshakes and keeping a distance of 1.5 metres away from people. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>State and territory leaders say there are already existing laws through which they will enforce the new rules but they were also assessing on Sunday whether any changes would need to be made. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Penalties in some states include fines of thousands of dollars. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The suite of new measures comes after criticism the government has failed to give clear messages about social distancing. The chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, advised as late as Sunday morning that handshakes between people who have not returned from overseas were still advisable. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>On Friday the Council of Australia Governments decided to advise against “static, non-essential” mass public gatherings of 500 people or more, to apply from Monday. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The advice has been upgraded to a ban although Morrison reiterated on Sunday that this would not trigger “widescale” closure of schools, shops, airports and workplaces. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“We will impose a universal compulsory self-isolation requirement on all international arrivals to Australia effective from midnight tonight,” Morrison said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“All people coming to Australia will be required, will be required, I stress, to self-isolate for 14 days. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“Further, the Australian government will ban cruise ships from foreign ports from arriving at Australian ports after an initial 30 days and that will go forward on a rolling basis.” </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Morrison said that – until now – self-isolation had been a “voluntary arrangement” with “no potential sanction against a person for not following that requirement”. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“That will change,” he said, although penalties would be “a matter for the states and territories”. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“If your mate has been to Bali and they come back and they turn up at work and they are sitting next to you, they will be committing an offence.” </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, said on Sunday afternoon that the state’s Public Health Act had provisions that would enable the government to enforce the self-isolation requirements. But she said the health minister, Brad Hazzard, was examining the legislation in case any changes needed to be made. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Berejiklian said there had already been one case before Sunday’s announcement in which someone had not self-isolated and police had become involved. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>But she said it would be difficult to monitor “every situation” and the government would be relying on “public goodwill” to ensure the rules were followed and the government would “prefer people help us by putting themselves in self-isolation”. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“If you’re in a workplace and you know someone is coming to work who has recently been overseas, let us know,” Berejiklian said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said public health laws passed in February would be used to enforce the self-isolation rules and people caught not complying could be fined $13,000(US$8, 013). </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“To date, everyone has done the right thing, we thank them for that,” she said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The Western Australian premier, Mark McGowan, said there would be penalties, included “severe fines”, for people who breached the self-isolation rules. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>By contrast, Morrison played down the prospect of enforcement of social distancing. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“The states and territories … are not going to create event police or social distancing police or things of that nature.” </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Morrison said the government’s national information campaign “is running and it will be available to all Australians” but claimed that social distancing was “pretty straightforward”. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>He explained maintaining a distance of 1.5 metres would mean “ensuring that you refrain from that sort of physical contact, whether it might be a handshake or something a bit more intimate, unless they’re close family and friends”. “It’s all commonsense.” </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>For the first time, Morrison presented various scenarios for the speed of the spread of the coronavirus, using them as encouragement to slow the spread to help free up hospital beds for those who need them. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“If we continue to manage this but on how the virus impact on Australia, we will be able to ensure that we can continue to provide the services and support, particularly to the most vulnerable Australians most at risk from the coronavirus,” he said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Morrison foreshadowed that there “will be further intrusions, further restrictions on people’s movement and their behaviour” in future in response to changes in medical advice. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The first of these will be new protocols for visiting aged care facilities, he said, with further work to be done to protect remote communities in South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, has warned that school closures are regarded as inevitable, prompting many schools and universities to prepare for shutdowns. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>But Morrison said there were “very good reasons” against moving to “broadscale closures of schools” at this point. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Although it may seem counterintuitive, schools should stay open at this time because taking children out may expose others to risk and would “put at great risk the availability of critical workers such as nurses, doctors and others who are essential in the community”, he said. “The states and territories are not moving in that direction.” </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The issue will be revisited at meetings of the national cabinet on Tuesday and Friday, although individual schools in Victoria and NSW have been allowed to close “based on the cases presented there in the circumstances that exist in those communities”, he said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Earlier on Sunday Murphy and the health minister, Greg Hunt, confirmed that as advice changes, measures might escalate to include general lockdowns. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“It – it is potential that could be the case,” Murphy told ABC’s Insiders. “But that may be focal. One of the things we know about outbreaks of infections is that they can affect one part of a country, not another.” </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Asked if Sydney could be locked down and not the rest of the country, Murphy continued: “Potentially you could. The Koreans did that for two provinces, very successfully locked them down. Everything is up for consideration.” </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Labor has criticised the government for the slow pace of rolling out a national information campaign, and on Sunday the shadow infrastructure minister, Catherine King, called for further support for the aviation sector, which missed out on funding in the AUD$1bn(US$616 million) regional and community fund. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“While these measures are necessary for public health, the federal government must urgently address the significant consequences for our aviation sector,” she said. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>“With conditions changing rapidly and no end in sight, the federal government must urgently provide all necessary support to ensure Australia has a vibrant aviation sector once the coronavirus outbreak has passed.”</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><a name=i13></a><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>UK - AIRLINE: THE GUARDIAN PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 16 Mar 2020</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><b><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Coronavirus: Airlines face meltdown as global travel bans multiply </span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;page-break-after:avoid;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>LONDON, 16 MARCH 2020 (THE GUARDIAN)----The international travel industry faces a widespread shutdown over coronavirus fears after airlines announced new flight reductions and more countries introduced travel bans and isolation requirements. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Travel businesses were hit with multiple doses of bad news on Saturday and Sunday, with the US expanding its Europe travel ban to include the UK and Ireland, a number of South American countries bringing in flight restrictions and Australia joining New Zealand in requiring all people entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>American Airlines, the second biggest in the world, said on Saturday that it would start implementing a phased suspension of nearly all long-haul international flights from Monday, amid reduced demand and travel restrictions due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The cruise industry also suffered another setback when two ships were placed in quarantine in Chile after an elderly British man aboard one of them tested positive for the coronavirus, the health ministry announced on Saturday. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The US government said on Saturday that it would “immediately” begin working on ways to help the coronavirus-hit aviation and cruise industries as they scramble to stem losses and protect jobs. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The crisis facing the industry has been accelerated by the latest extension of the US ban on incoming travel, with US vice-president Mike Pence announcing at the White House on Saturday that British and Irish travellers would also be barred from entering the U.S for 30 days. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>At the same press conference, Donald Trump revealed that he had taken a test for the virus, with the White House later revealing that he had proved negative. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>In Spain, the wife of prime minister Pedro Sánchez has tested positive as her husband formally declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus. Spain is now the fourth-worst affected country in the world after it recorded more deaths to take the total to 196. Sánchez said the country would be placed in lockdown for two weeks and ordered people to stay at home unless they had to buy food or medicine or go to work or hospital. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The outbreak also worsened in the UK on Saturday with the total of deaths nearly doubling from 11 to 21 amid continued controversy about whether the government’s policy aimed at creating “herd immunity” from the disease would work or not. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Around the world, varying measures of control continued to be imposed on populations from the Philippines, where the capital Manila was in the process of being sealed off, to Argentina where flights from countries badly hit by the virus have been halted. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The prospect of a shattering blow for the airline industry was foreshadowed by the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, as he announced that all international passenger arrivals from midnight Sunday would be legally required to self-isolate for 14 days. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The flights would dry up “very, very quickly”, he said, and set up serious concerns for the country’s $3.5bn cruise industry by adding that passenger ships from foreign ports would be banned for an initial 30 days. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Even before the new curbs were announced, the chief executive of British Airways told staff that the airline was in a “fight for survival”. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>US Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said the government would “immediately” start working with Congress to support the afflicted industries. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The US restrictions on travel to the UK and Ireland will begin on Monday at midnight, Pence said. Most non-US citizens who have been in those countries within the last 14 days will be barred from entering America. The restrictions do not bar flights to and from the US, and Americans and permanent residents can still travel. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>As the curbs were revealed, United and Delta airlines said they would start cutting flights to the UK and Southwest, one of the few US airlines still flying a full schedule, said it was “seriously considering” cutting flights. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>United said it would suspend flights to London from Houston and Denver starting Monday. The airline expects to fly three daily flights to London and one daily flight to Dublin through the end of April. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>United said it would give a credit for the value of the ticket for any customer whose international travel is disrupted by more than six hours because of schedule changes resulting from government restrictions. Customers who do not use the credit for 12 months will get a refund. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Between 16 March and 6 May, American will reduce its international capacity by 75% on a year-over-year basis, it said in a statement, adding that the changes will result in the airline parking nearly its entire widebody fleet. The airline also anticipates its domestic capacity in April will be reduced by 20% on a year-over-year basis. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>Capacity for the month of May will be reduced by 30%, the company added. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>The U.S Chamber of Commerce on Friday called on the government to “turn next to a package to assist impacted employers ... No business should go bankrupt because of a temporary loss in revenue as a result of the coronavirus.” </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>In Europe, the situation for the sector was increasingly dire. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>*Norwegian Air, which has built up large debts to establish itself as a low-cost transatlantic operator, said on Saturday that it had “weeks not months” to avert collapse. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>*KLM, the Dutch subsidiary of Air France-KLM, plans to slash up to 2,000 jobs, cut working hours by one-third for its entire staff and ask for government support. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>*German flagship carrier Lufthansa said on Friday it was considering a request for state aid. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>*In Bolivia, a ban on direct flights to and from Europe went into effect on Saturday. Travellers from China, South Korea, Italy and Spain are also banned from entry. </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span lang=EN-GB style='font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black'>*Panama banned flights from Asia, one day after blocking flights from Europe.</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='color:black'>For your information.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='color:black'>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='color:black'>Solo<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div id=Signature><div id=divtagdefaultwrapper><div><div><div><div><div><div id=Item.MessagePartBody><div id=Item.MessageUniqueBody><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Soloveni Vitoso</span></b><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Public Relations & Communications Officer</span><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Pacific Disability Forum</span><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Ground Floor, Kadavu House, Victoria Parade | GPO Box 18458 | Suva, Fiji</span><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Phone: (+679) 3312008 | (+679) 3307530</span><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Mobile: (+679) 891 2656 (Vodafone) | (+679) 844 6016 (Innk)</span><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Fax: (+679) 3310469</span><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Skype: soloveni.vitoso</span><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Email:</span><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#006FC9'> <u>infor</u></span><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="mailto:ceo@pacificdisability.org" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#006FC9'>@pacificdisability.org</span></a></span><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Website: </span><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="http://www.pacificdisability.org/" target="_blank"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>www.pacificdisability.org</span></a></span><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>