But new cases in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are all accelerating, with the total across the region topping 500. Muslim-majority Kashmir, also claimed by India's arch-rival Pakistan, has been relatively unaffected by the virus, reporting its first case on Wednesday evening. An internet shutdown that began in August following sweeping constitutional changes in Kashmir has only just been eased. Several other areas in India have introduced curbs on public assembly as coronavirus cases in the country rose to 166. The spread of the virus continued to hit markets across the region.

Source: bd News24 March 19, 2020 07:52 UTC