Countries step up measures against further spread of COVID-19

BEIJING - More countries have stepped up measures to curb the further spread of COVID-19, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has characterized as a pandemic.

Countries are further alerted as more than 44,000 cases were confirmed in 117 countries and regions outside China on Thursday, an increase of more than 6,700 infections in a day, showed WHO data.

First cases were reported in more countries and local transmission seen in more than 70 countries and regions outside China, according to the WHO, which on Wednesday upgraded the severity level of the novel coronavirus outbreak worldwide, while calling for continued and strengthened containment efforts and stronger political commitment in some countries.

In the United States, President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a 30-day suspension of all travel from mainland Europe beginning Friday in order to curb the virus' spread, provoking an uproar from the European Union.

Countries not severely hit by the virus have also been prompted to beef up anti-virus efforts. Among them, Georgia on Thursday announced the government will work in an emergency mode including a 24-hour on-duty state for related departments, which Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said will enable a more effective fight in the South Caucasian state.

"We can say that as of now we are able to cope with the challenge. However, we have no right to slow down our efforts or become self-satisfied," he told local media.

The country's new moves also included a mandatory 14-day quarantine for Georgian nationals arriving from Germany, France, Austria and Spain -- additional countries on its list to guard against imported cases. Data on Thursday showed all the 24 cases confirmed in the country are imported ones.

In Kyrgyzstan, where no case has been confirmed, the government announced a temporary restriction on cultural, sports and other public events until the epidemiological situation improves.

Meanwhile, to strengthen infection prevention at business offices and public places, it recommended installing sanitizers and air purifiers and providing employees and visitors with disinfectants. The government also urged extensive public awareness campaigns at national and local levels.

On Thursday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said COVID-19 is "a controllable pandemic," but warned that a shift from containment to mitigation of the disease would be wrong and dangerous.

More than 125,000 coronavirus cases have been reported from 118 countries and regions, said the WHO chief, citing the latest WHO data.

Over the past two weeks, the number of cases outside China has increased almost 13-fold, and that of affected countries and regions has almost tripled.