COVID-19: “The 2019 Plague-Day 148: ASEAN Updates- DENSAPAR, Indonesia- More Than 80 Percent of Cases in Bali Are Imported
A banner stops tourists from entering Kuta Beach in Bali on Friday. (Antara Photo/Nyoman Budhiana) / BY :I NYOMAN MARDIKA
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Denpasar. The regional secretary of the Bali provincial government and the head of the tourist island’s Covid-19 Task Force, Dewa Made Indra, said 82.67 percent of confirmed coronavirus cases on the island were imported cases from overseas. The rest, 17.33 percent, were the results of local transmissions.
The data will help determine the provincial government’s strategy in trying to curb the spread of the coronavirus on Indonesia’s number one tourist spot.
“Since the majority of cases are imported, we will employ stricter screening at [immigration] gates into Bali. We will have body temperature checks and also rapid testing,” Dewa said in a statement released in Denpasar on Tuesday.
The goal is to detect all positive Covid-19 cases in Bali immediately.
The provincial government will treat the coronavirus patients on the island until they fully recover.
As of Tuesday, there have been 150 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Bali. A total of 99 were imported cases involving people with a history of travel overseas, and 17 people were infected in other areas in Indonesia outside Bali.
A total of 42 patients have recovered from the viral infection and three have died.
“These imported cases are difficult for us to control. We have many migrant workers who are only now returning to Bali,” Dewa said.
He said the migrant workers have returned to Bali because they have either been laid off or put on forced unpaid leave by their employers.
The provincial government will not prevent these migrant workers from returning home.
“They will be put through a rigorous health check. Those who have the virus will be isolated to prevent transmissions,” Dewa said.
A total of 300 Indonesian crew members from the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship had arrived at Benoa Harbor in Denpasar on Sunday.
Since then, a total of 18,335 people around the area had been subjected to rapid testing for coronavirus.
They include returning migrant workers, medical workers who have been treating Covid-19 patients, airport staff, quarantine officers and other regional government staff.
Dewa said even though only 26 out of the total 150 positive coronavirus cases on the island were the results of local transmission, the provincial government still follows the coronavirus mitigation protocols issued by the National Covid-19 Task Force.
“We hope to keep the number of local transmissions under control. We will need a different strategy to what we use on the imported cases,” he said.
Bali Governor I Wayan Koster so far has not considered implementing a large-scale social restriction (PSBB) in Bali.
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BRUNEI- COVID-19 cases in Brunei remain at 138, one recovery
Brunei Darussalam recorded no COVID-19 cases for the third consecutive day since April 20.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Brunei Darussalam remainat 138.
This was mentioned by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar during a press conference at Al-‘Afiah Hall yesterday.
Meanwhile, one recovery was recorded bringing the number to 117.
“This brings the number of active cases being treated at the National Isolation Centre (NIC) to 20, where two are still in a critical condition requiring heart/lung machine (ECMO) and respiratory assistance. The rest are in a stable condition,” said the minister.
“A total of 126 individuals are undergoing quarantine in accordance with the Infectious Diseases Act (Chapter 204) and 2,421 individuals have completed theirs. In the past 24 hours, 243 samples have been tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, bringing the total number of laboratory tests conducted since January to 12,149,” he added.
On the patients who have recovered but found to be positive again during follow-up examination, the minister said one patient has recovered and no new such cases have been detected.
“This brings the total number of such cases to 18, of which 11 are still undergoing further examination and testing,” the minister said.
For information, the public can visit www.moh.gov.bn, contact the Health Advice Line 148 or visit the healthinfo.gov.bn web application. In its breakdown of COVID-19 cases in the country, healthinfo.gov.bn revealed that the Brunei-Muara District has 111 cases, the Belait District 21 and the Tutong District six.
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar during the press conference. PHOTO: AZIZ IDRIS
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PHNOM PENH- Cambodia continues to show positive COVID-19 situation with Zero new cases but no new recoveries as well
The COVID-19 situation in Cambodia appears to have stayed stable for the 11th consecutive day with the Ministry of Health reporting no new cases.
The COVID-19 situational update today remains at 122 positive cases detected since January 27 and with the last reported case being on April 12, 2020.
The total confirmed cases in the Kingdom remains at 122, including 51 Cambodians, 40 French, 13 Malaysians, five British, three Chinese, three Vietnamese, two Americans, two Indonesians, two Canadians, and one Belgian. Most of the cases are imported ones.
They comprise cluster amongst tourists who were traveling in Cambodia before the imposition of travel ban on six countries as well as Cambodians who had brought back the virus after attending a congregation in Malaysia end February, where at last count, more than 1200 cases were reported, direct and up to five generations of infections.
The Ministry of Health also reported that for the second consecutive day, no new recoveries were recorded. Thus, the number recovered stands at 110 or slightly more than 90 percent recovery rate, one of the highest in the region or world.
The Ministry has continued to urge extreme vigilance and caution as the pandemic is reported to be still in the first wave in Cambodia.
The recovered comprises one Chinese, five British, two Americans, one Belgian, 38 French, two Canadians, 12 Malaysians, two Indonesians, one Vietnamese and 46 Cambodians.
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VIENTIANE, Laos- Two Luang Prabang Covid-19 patients discharged, no new cases for 10 days.
Two of the three Covid-19 patients in Luang Prabang Hospital were set to return home today if they twice tested negative for the virus, while no new cases of infection have been reported for 10 straight days.
Fourteen patients are being treated at the Friendship Hospital in Vientiane and three in Luang Prabang Hospital.
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Fourteen patients are being treated at the Friendship Hospital in Vientiane and three in Luang Prabang Hospital.
Two people have already been discharged from hospital after making a full recovery.
The Standing Deputy Head of the National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, Associate Prof. Dr Phouthone Muongpak, disclosed the encouraging news at a press conference held in Vientiane on Wednesday.
He said that although there had been no new infections for 10 consecutive days, everyone must continue to comply with the restrictions on movement to curb the spread of the virus and prevent a more widespread outbreak.
Dr Phouthone reported that 83 samples were tested for the coronavirus on Tuesday, including 13 taken from people in Vientiane, with most of the other people tested being from Xaysomboun and Vientiane provinces. Five people from Luang Prabang were tested, along with five from Champassak, five from Oudomxay, one from Xieng Khuang, one from Borikhamxay, and two from Xayaboury province. All the test results were negative.
He said effective implementation of the national lockdown by authorities and the public had been a major factor in these encouraging results and called on officials at all levels to continue their efforts to apply the successful measures against the virus.
“What local authorities need to do is to intensify the measures put in place to prevent the spread of the virus, as stated in Prime Minister’s Order No. 6,” he said.
Under the Prime Minister’s Order, dated March 29, everyone was instructed to stay at home from April 1-19 to contain the spread of the potentially deadly virus. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith announced a 14-day extension of the lockdown.
From January to April 21, a total of 1,461 people were tested, and 19 were found to be infected by the coronavirus.
Between March 9 and April 21, a total of 313 people were monitored for the disease, and 308 of them have completed the 14-day quarantine period.
Up to 5 pm on April 22, some 1,424 people entering Laos had been checked for Covid-19.
Of these, 877 people crossed the border from Thailand with most being truck drivers bringing goods into Laos.
A total of 172 people crossed the Laos-China border with the majority being truck drivers. A total of 374 truck drivers entered Laos from Vietnam. No passengers entered Laos at airports across the country.
At all border crossings, the temperature of each person entering Laos was checked with none showing signs of fever.
As of April 19, the coronavirus had spread to 210 countries and territories, with at least 2,552,688 confirmed cases globally (72,185 new infections). The virus has claimed 177,264 lives while more than 688,430 people have recovered.
By Phetphoxay Sngpaseuth
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YANGON, Myanmar- COVID-19 cases up to 127 in Myanmar, testing capacity to be expanded
The health ministry reported four new COVID-19 cases in Myanmar as at 7 am on April 23.
The case count is now at 127, with five deaths and nine recoveries, since the first cases were reported on March 23.
The four new cases are from Yangon, in Mingaladon, Botahtaung, Tarmwe and Insein, aged between 18 and 47. All four cases were detected after being placed in quarantine for being in contact with COVID-19 patients. They have been transferred to the South Okkalapa Women and Children Hospital for treatment.
Case 124, a 45-year-old man who lives in Mingaladon, and case 127, a 24-year-old woman from Insein, had contact with patients who attended a church gathering in Insein.
61 out of the 99 COVID-19 cases in Yangon have been traced to the church. They include rockstar Myo Gyi and singer Ni Tar, as well as the pastor of the church.
A total of 72 persons suspected of being infected with the virus were tested in the latest batch, with the other 68 testing negative.
More tests
Yangon Region will soon expand its COVID-19 testing capacity after receiving a Swiss-made machine on April 22, donated by Myanmar’s largest pharmaceutical distributor, AA Medical Product.
Manufactured by pharmaceutical company Roche, the Cobas 6800 Analyzer will be installed at the National Health Laboratory (NHL) and testing will commence on April 27, said Dr Than Naing Soe, director from the Ministry of Health and Sport.
“With 15 engineers, the installation will be completed within five days from today. On the sixth day, test runs will commence,” he told The Myanmar Times on April 22,
“Testing will be done in eight-hour shifts. We aim to test 380 people in the first shift and depending on conditions, we can test up to 1,140 in 24 hours,” he said.
Currently, the NHL is able to test at least 380 swab samples a day.
New facility
The Yangon regional government on April 21 opened Phaunggyi Medical Centre, which can treat up to 2000 people infected with COVID-19, according to U Naing Ngan Lin, Yangon Region minister of social affairs.
The facility is located at the Central Institute of Civil Services (Lower Myanmar) in Phaunggyi Village, Hlegu township. Private hospitals in the country donated over 400 beds to the new facility, which also has four intensive care units that can treat 37 patients simultaneously.
The Phaunggyi Medical Centre also includes a special ward building that has two oxygen therapy rooms that can accommodate up to 240 patients. An ordinary ward can take in 480 patients, which will be expanded to 2000 later.
U Naing Ngan Lin said if the Wai Bar Gi Hospital and the South Okkalapa Women and Children Hospital in Yangon is overwhelmed, new patients will be treated at the Phaunggyi Medical Centre.
The health ministry said the Wai Bar Gi Hospital can accommodate 90 COVID-19 patients, while the South Okkalapa Women’s Hospital and Children Hospital has the capacity of up to 70 patients.
The authorities have imposed a 10 pm to 4 am curfew in Yangon and imposed semi-lockdown on seven townships with the most number of cases as part of efforts to contain the disease.
The health ministry urged those who have been in close contact with the positive patients to inform the nearest health departments./
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MANILA- COVID-19 case hike slowing down, no flattening of curve yet – DOH.
Health Undersecretary Rosette Vergeire. Screengrab from RTVM video.
The country last recorded a lower increase in infections on April 7 with 104 new cases. Meanwhile, the highest number of new cases was recorded on March 31 with 538.
The Philippines now has 6,710 cases of COVID-19, including 693 recoveries and 446 deaths.
Dr. Beverly Ho, OIC- Director for Health Promotion and Communication Service, said that the DOH is “careful” in stating that the curve is already flattening because it acknowledges the agency’s limitations in assessing the situation with a clearer picture.
“Why are we so careful about it? It’s because we know the issues with the data as well. We know the limitations. To call it as such would be irresponsible from our end,” Ho said.
“But if you’re talking about indications that it is flattening, yes it is,” she added.
Vergeire said the DOH has already forwarded a presentation of the health crisis situation to President Duterte last Monday.
Duterte is expected to announce his decision Thursday on whether to extend, expand, or modify the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
SINGAPORE- 1,016 new cases in Singapore, tally at 10,168
SINGAPORE (BERNAMA) – Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday confirmed an additional 1,016 cases of COVID-19 infection in the country bringing the tally to 10,168. The ministry said the majority of the new cases were work permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories while 15 cases involved Singaporeans or Permanent Residents.
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BANGKOK- Thailand logs 13 new Covid-19 cases, 1 death Thursday
Novice monks wearing face shields and protective face masks attend a lesson at Wat Molilokayaram monastic educational institute in Bangkok on Wednesday. (Reuters photo)
The government on Thursday reported 13 new coronavirus (Covid-19) patients, raising the total to 2,839, and one more death, that of an elderly Thai woman first admitted to hospital for an unrelated complaint. The accumulated death toll now stands at 50.
The tally of new cases is two lower than the 15 recorded on Wednesday. It is the lowest since March 14, and marks the fifth consecutive day of declines. Because of limited testing, however, the actual number of infections is believed to be higher.
Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said that the late 78-year-old woman first went to a hospital in Bangkok with a urinary tract infection on March 21.
On March 24 she developed a fever and pneumonia and later tested positive for Covid-19.
On April 5 her condition worsened. She died on Tuesday from a bloodstream infection and respiratory failure.
“Although elderly people accounted for a small proportion of infections, they were the greatest number of fatalities,” Dr Taweesilp said while expressing condolences to the families of death cases.,
Dr Taweesilp said the lower number of new cases is good news for the Covid-19 situation in the country but people must continue to take precautions for their own protection.
“If we lower our guard even a bit, the number of infection cases can soar to five digits like in some countries,” he said.
Screenshot from https://covid19.ddc.moph.go.th/en
The new cases included five people who had come into close contact with previous patients in Bangkok, Chon Buri, Songkhla and Chumphon.
Others included three cases tested pre-emptively in Phuket province, two people who worked in crowded places and closely with foreigners, one returnee, one visitor to crowded areas and one patient tested before an operation.
Bangkok had the highest number of Covid-19 patients at 1,454, followed by 197 in Phuket, 152 in Nonthaburi, 109 in Samut Prakan, 95 in Yala, 79 in Pattani, 86 in Chon Buri, 43 in Songkhla, 40 in Chiang Mai and 36 in Pathum Thani province.
Nine provinces remained free of Covid-19 cases: Ang Thong, Bung Kan, Chai Nat, Kamphaeng Phet, Nan, Phitchit, Ranong, Sing Buri and Trat.
Nine other provinces had not recorded a new Covid-19 case in the past 28 days: Chanthaburi, Lop Buri, Maha Sarakham, Phetchabun, Phrae, Roi Et, Sukhothai, Uthai Thani and Yasothon. Thirty-two provinces had not reported a new case in the past 14 days.
A further 78 people were on Thursday reported to have recovered, raising the total to 2,430, while hospitalised patients amounted to 359, Dr Taweesilp said.
fffScreenshot from https://covid19.ddc.moph.go.th/en
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HA NOI, Viet Nam- No new cases of COVID-19 for a week, social distancing order eased in major cities
HÀ NỘI — There have been no new cases of COVID-19 reported in Việt Nam for a whole week.
Since the first case was detected three months ago, a total of 268 people have contracted coronavirus with 223 patients making a full recovery.
The latest person to be given the all-clear was a six-year-old-boy in Tây Ninh Province on Wednesday.
Social distancing measures will be loosened in Hà Nội and HCM City from Thursday. Some nonessential services will be allowed to reopen.
Hà Giang Province and Bắc Ninh Provice are also named in the medium risk group.
Another 59 provinces have been classified as low-risk, and are preparing for students to return to schools.
On Wednesday, Đồng Văn District in northern mountainous province of Hà Giang has been put under isolation following a 15-year-old ethnic minority girl – the 268th patient – testing positive to the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).
The National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Control and Prevention on Wednesday said the border province had complicated epidemiological history and risks of community transmission. — VNS
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