SAARC Nations to hold video Conference to combat Coronavirus

Kathmandu: All nations affiliated to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are preparing to hold a video conference to chalk out a strategic plan to combat the global sinister COVID-19 pandemic on Sunday at 5:15 p.m.

Government officials said Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will be participating during the video conference as suggested by the Indian premier Narendra Modi as Nepal holds the chair of SAARC.

Indian premier Narendra Modi a day before via his twitter had called for SAARC leadership to chalk out a strategic plan to fight against the Coronavirus soon after World Health Organization (WHO) declared a “Global health emergency” in the wake of the rapidly spreading wave of COVID-19 pandemic and death tolls across the world.

Modi’s suggestions were immediately reciprocated by Nepal’s premier KP Sharma Oli and other SAARC nations’ prime ministers that prompted today’s’ impending video conference in the evening.

The lethal epidemic Coronavirus known as COVID-19 which spread from mainland China has already claimed the lives of over 5000 people globally with maximum deaths in China only and around 134,800 people (in more than 120 countries) being infected around the world.

COVID-19 has insidiously affected tourism worldwide, including Nepal. Nepal continues to scramble for preventive measures with limited resources. According to Nepali authorities, six patients suspected of Coronavirus are in isolation wards in hospitals.

According to the latest updates on Coronavirus infection in the SAARC region, there are 100 Coronavirus cases in India, 33 cases in Pakistan, 11 cases in Afganistan, 10 cases in Srilanka, 10 cases in the Maldives, 5 cases in Bangladesh and Bhutan with 1 case of Coronavirus. Two persons infected with Coronavirus have died in India while there are no reports of the death toll from other SAARC nations including Nepal and Bhutan.