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Asia virus latest: S. Korea football kicks off, Hong Kong eases curbs
SINGAPORE, May 8, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Here are the latest developments in Asia
related to the novel coronavirus pandemic:
– S. Korean football kicks off –
The towering stands of the 42,477-capacity Jeonju World Cup Stadium stood
empty as South Korea opened football’s post-coronavirus era without fans, but
with an unprecedented international TV audience.
With most leagues worldwide sidelined by the pandemic, the K-League is the
first competition of any standing to come back to life and a host of safety
precautions have been imposed, with wild goal celebrations and even talking
discouraged.
– Hong Kong gyms, bars and cinemas reopen –
Hong Kong began to ease major social distancing measures with bars, gyms,
beauty parlours and cinemas reopening their doors after the financial hub
largely halted local COVID-19 transmissions.
Queues formed outside gyms in the semi-autonomous Chinese city on Friday
morning for employees to check temperatures as people celebrated the return
of some normalcy to the city.
– China supports WHO-led review of global pandemic response –
China said it supports a World Health Organization-led review into the
global response to the coronavirus outbreak, but “after the pandemic is
over”.
The comments from foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying came as China
has faced increasing global pressure in recent weeks to allow an
international investigation into the origins of the pandemic.
– Tokyo Disney parks extend closures –
The operator of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea again extended the
closure of the parks for the foreseeable future.
The decision is a further blow to Oriental Land, which had planned to
unveil in April a whole new area with the theme of “Beauty and the Beast” in
Tokyo Disneyland, along with other new attractions.
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The two parks have been closed since February 29 due to the coronavirus.
Meanwhile the Tokyo Game Show scheduled for September has been cancelled,
said the Computer Entertainment Supplier’s Association, which is now
considering hosting an online version of the major trade fair.
– Australia plans to lift most restrictions by July –
Australia’s government unveiled a three-stage plan to get the economy back
to a new “COVID-safe” normal by the end of July.
Federal authorities have left details of the plan’s implementation up to
the country’s diverse states and territories, meaning coronavirus
restrictions will remain in place for weeks or months longer in areas hardest
hit by the disease.
– Warship evacuates stranded Indians from Maldives –
India’s navy began evacuating from the Maldives around 750 of the hundreds
of thousands of Indian nationals stranded worldwide because of coronavirus
travel restrictions.
The operation by two warships in Male forms part of an initial operation to
repatriate almost 15,000 Indians from 12 countries where they have been stuck
since India banned incoming flights in late March to halt the pandemic.
– Indonesian flights resume –
Most Indonesian airlines resumed services with strict health protocols
after their suspension last month in an effort to curb the spread of the
virus.
Authorities announced on April 24 that all sea and air travel was being
banned to fight the pandemic.
– Olympian’s online workouts feed Philippine families –
Filipina weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz noticed livestreamed concerts were
collecting money for coronavirus relief and was struck by inspiration: why
not raise funds with an online workout?
Since then the Olympic silver-medallist — and strong contender for her
country’s first Games gold — has made enough money to buy food packs for
hundreds of hard-hit families in the Philippines.
– Beer convoys en route to outback Aussie pubs –
Trucks laden with thousands of beer kegs headed to Australia’s remote
Northern Territory as pubs there prepare to reopen after a weeks-long
shutdown.
With the fewest cases of COVID-19 of any of Australia’s states and
territories, the region has authorised pubs to serve drinkers inside their
doors from May 15.
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