Many poor countries in South Asia find it difficult to apply Covid-19 control measures like developed countries, posing a risk of disease outbreaks.

Health officials in South Asian countries announced a series of new nCoV infections on March 16, raising concerns about the risk of Covid-19 outbreaks and overloading out-of-date medical facilities in the region. world population.

South Asia was previously less influenced by Covid-19 than in the rest of Asia and Europe. However, many experts warn that drastic disease control measures in countries such as China and South Korea will not be possible in poor, populous countries in South Asia.

"It is very difficult to apply the form of 'social distance' like developed countries like the US and China, especially in the slums. The living environment there is very crowded, almost impossible to love. praying for people to keep their distance from each other, "said Giridhara R Babu, an epidemiologist at the Indian Institute of Public Health in Bengaluru.

The number of nCoV infections in Pakistan soared on March 16, from 53 to 136 in just one day. Most cases have been detected in the southern province of Sindh, where patients have just returned from Iran, the world's third largest outbreak.

Saeed Ghani, a Sindh provincial government official, said quarantine facilities in Baluchistan province bordering the Iranian border were not meeting the requirements, leading to a rapid increase in the number of nCoV infections. "Out of more than 100 samples tested, up to 50 samples tested positive. That's a huge number," he added.

Afghanistan today recorded 21 cases of nCoV, an increase of five cases compared to March 1. The majority of patients live in Herat province bordering Iran, where thousands of Afghans cross the border every day to leave Iran. Ticket prices from the Iranian border to the capital Herat have quadrupled since Covid-19 broke out.

"We beg the politicians and the central government to seriously consider this situation. We need food, medicine and basic infrastructure to solve the problem," said provincial governor Herat Abdul Rahim. Qayomi said.

Afghanistan's health infrastructure has been ruined after decades of conflict and lack of capital. This will cause difficulties for Covid-19.

Matin Noorzai, a wholesaler at a wholesale market in the capital Kabul, said demand for goods was unprecedentedly high, while food prices were climbing as many people stocked up on supplies. "If the situation continues like this, I'm sure the market will run out of food next week," he said.

The number of infections in Sri Lanka nearly doubled, from 10 to 18 on March 15. India also recorded 110 positive cases of nCoV, while the figures in the Maldives and Bangladesh were 13 and 8 respectively.

New Delhi and many states in India have requested nightclubs and gyms to close, while banning gatherings for more than 50 people. Bangladesh canceled international cricket matches and closed all schools until the end of March.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday proposed a US $ 10 million contribution to the regional emergency budget project. He also affirmed that New Delhi is ready to send quick response teams and technical support in a phone conversation with leaders of South Asian countries.

Covid-19, started in Wuhan in December 2019, has appeared in 162 countries and territories, leaving nearly 170,000 people infected with nCoV and more than 6,500 dead.