Workers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant at Suri Seri Begawan Raja Pengiran Anak Damit Mosque in an effort to counter the spread of the COVID-19 in Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei on March 17, 2020. (PHOTO / AFP)
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN / SINGAPORE / MANILA / HANOI – The COVID-19 Steering Committee of Brunei announced on Monday the latest amendments to COVID-19 control measures, which will commence on Thursday.
According to the committee, citizens and residents of Brunei including foreign nationals who wish to exit and enter the country via land, sea and air will no longer be required to possess travel medical insurance with COVID-19 coverage.
However, travelers who wish to obtain such insurance for their own peace of mind are welcome to do so.
Citizens of Brunei traveling overseas are also encouraged to inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of their travel details by submitting them via the ministry's website.
After previous amendments, Brunei requires no COVID-19 tests, quarantine or full vaccination status for visitors to the sultanate. The use of face masks indoors or outdoors in the country has become optional.
The committee said that it will continue to monitor the current situation of COVID-19 in the country while ensuring that any control measures imposed are appropriate in order to maintain the safety, security and well-being of the citizens and residents of Brunei.
Brunei logged a daily average of 643 new COVID-19 cases in the past week compared to 649 cases per day the week before, marking the first decrease in the past nine weeks, official statistics showed on Monday.
A man shops for face masks in Divisoria, a local shopping district in Manila on May 17, 2022. (JAM STA ROSA / AFP)
Philippines
The Philippines reported 1,083 new COVID-19 infections on Monday, pushing the number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 4,034,658.
The Department of Health said the number of active cases rose to 18,507, while 14 more patients died from COVID-19 complications, pushing the country's death toll to 64,608.
Metro Manila, the capital region with over 13 million people, tallied 452 new cases.
Singapore Airlines stewardesses walk past a giant lollipop candy display at Changi International Airport in Singapore on April 1, 2022, as Singapore reopened its land and air borders to travelers fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. (ROSLOAN RAHMAN / AFP)
Singapore
Singapore reported 817 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total tally to 2,164,689.
A total of 143 cases are currently warded in hospitals, with 10 of them held in intensive care units, according to statistics released by the country's Ministry of Health.
Singapore recorded no new deaths from COVID-19 on Monday, leaving the total death toll unchanged at 1,702.
Passengers wait for transportation outside the arrival hall of Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on March 15, 2022, as Vietnam announced the return of a visa exemption policy for 13 countries in an effort to kickstart its tourism sector. (NHAC NGUYEN / AFP)
Vietnam
Vietnam recorded 333 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, down 25 from Sunday, according to the country's Ministry of Health.
All the new cases were locally transmitted, said the ministry.
The new infections brought the total tally to 11,514,865. The Southeast Asian country reported no new deaths from the pandemic on Monday, with the total fatalities staying at 43,170.