How are our neighbours preparing for coronavirus?

As the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, our neighbours are also scrambling to stop the virus from spreading in their respective nations.

With 519 cases of coronavirus and 10 deaths as of Tuesday, India could become the next global hotspot for the virus. Experts warned containment measures that proved successful elsewhere in Asia may not work in the country with a population of 1.3 billion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared a nationwide lockdown for the next 21 days after midnight. All inter-state bus services have been cancelled along with metro services around the country. Incoming international flights were also barred for a week.

Authorities have banned gatherings of more than five people in several states and warned of legal action against violations, reports Al Jazeera.

New Delhi sealed its land borders on Tuesday, and closed shops and private sector offices until March 31. Only those providing essential services such as healthcare are being allowed to go out.

To the east of our border, Myanmar seems to be faring well with no cases reported so far. However, the authorities are still taking measures to prevent the virus from gaining a foothold in the country.

Strict temperature screening and health checks are being implemented at shopping malls, hotels and restaurants and even at parking lots, reports local media. The government decided to cancel most events and celebrations involving mass gatherings and ordered the closure of cinemas and bars until the end of April.

On Friday, Myanmar temporarily suspended visas on arrival and e-visa systems for all foreign nationals and began enforcing a compulsory 14-day quarantine for all travellers arriving from or having visited the US, the UK, China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, France, Spain and Germany.

Pakistan on Tuesday said the total number of coronavirus cases in the country stood at 958. At least seven people have died, while six have recovered from Covid-19 so far, according to the country's National Disaster Management Authority.

The country of 220 million has closed all educational institutions and banned public meetings and wedding parties. Islamabad has temporarily sealed its borders with Iran, Afghanistan and India and delayed the post-winter reopening of its only overland crossing with China.

But Prime Minister Imran Khan has ruled out a complete nationwide lockdown, saying it will create chaos. He instead advised the nation to self-quarantine, reports Gulf News.

However, Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan provincial governments declared lockdowns on Sunday midnight. Reports showed the police patrolling major cities of Sindh, including Karachi, and arresting persons seen outside homes.

Pakistan has already suspended all international flights for two weeks and curtailed train services.

With 40 cases and one death, Afghani Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz has demanded the government to declare complete lockdown in the front-line province of Herat bordering Iran as thousands of deportees enter Afghanistan through the region on a daily basis.

The only certified laboratory that could conduct coronavirus tests is located in the Afghan capital of Kabul. While a new laboratory is under construction in Herat, the region is far from ready to confront the looming crisis.

Weddings and large gatherings have stopped, bathhouses are closed, and most governmental departments with a large number of employees have stopped working in Herat.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka lifted a coronavirus curfew in many parts of the island on Tuesday morning, but extended it for another three days in other areas, as coronavirus cases in the country have reached 87.

The government warned families not to send older people to shops, only one person to go, maintain a one meter distance at least in a queue or with other customers and stay as little time as possible inside a store.

All inter-district travel has been strictly prohibited.

Sri Lanka is also ramping up production of chloroquine, an old anti-malarial drug that has shown progress in speeding up Covid-19 recovery.

The Maldives has taken strong measures to counteract the virus, including banning people from entering public grounds and parks in the Male region, suspending all travel between resort islands and inhabited islands for two weeks, and ending hotel check-ins for new guests.

Authorities have also banned any passengers "originating from and transiting through Italy" from entering the Maldives, as well as travellers who have visited the European country within the last two weeks.

Nepal on Sunday decided to seal its borders with India and China for a week. Earlier on Friday, the country announced a ban on all international flights and urged people to venture out only for essentials.

The government also decided to send a list of testing kits, ventilators, monitors and mobile ambulances to China and India as Nepal faces shortages of equipment for health workers. A $4.1 million fund has been set up to fight the virus, with the cabinet ministers pledging to contribute a month's salary.

Schools, colleges, cinema halls, gyms, clubs, swimming pools and museums have been ordered to remain shut until April 30. The government also banned the gathering of more than 25 people in social and religious activities.

Fellow Saarc member Bhutan has had only two cases of coronavirus so far – both of them tourists.

Bhutanese authorities have indefinitely suspended tourist entries and all travellers entering Bhutan must spend two weeks at a designated quarantine centre. Prime Minister Lotay Tshering said the country has enough medical equipment to handle 40 cases of coronavirus, and 5,000 testing kits.