Asia ramps up coronavirus curbs as new clusters erupt

Passersby wearing protective face masks walk on the street amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo. [AFP]

Australian states tightened borders and restricted pub visits on Tuesday, while Disney prepared to close its Hong Kong theme park and Japan stepped up tracing as a jump in novel coronavirus cases across Asia fanned fears of a second wave of infections.

Many parts of Asia, the region first hit by the coronavirus that emerged in central China late last year, are finding cause to pause the reopening of their economies, some after winning praise for their initial responses to the outbreak.