An Israeli paramedic collects a swab sample from a child at the Magen David Adom (Red Shield of David) COVID-19 coronavirus testing center in Jerusalem on Jan 11, 2022. (MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)
HANOI / DHAKA / SINGAPORE / NEW DELHI / YANGON / BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN / YEREVAN / JERUSALEM – The Israeli Ministry of Health on Monday reported 11,483 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily figure in the country since March 30.
The number of active cases in Israel has risen to 60,559, while the number of patients in serious condition currently stands at 275, according to the ministry.
Earlier on Monday, the Israeli parliament's Health Committee approved regulations according to which home antigen tests, monitored remotely by video, would be recognized by the ministry.
The recognition will also apply to PCR tests that will be conducted at kiosks for self-sampling, said a statement from the Israeli parliament.
The decision is intended to ease queues for tests, which are often held indoors and in crowded places, it explained.
Armenia
Armenia reported 139 new COVID-19 cases in the past week, taking its total to 423,243, the Ministry of Healthcare said on Monday.
Data from the ministry showed that 62 more patients recovered in the past week, taking the total number of recoveries to 412,755.
During that period, one death case was registered. The death toll stood at 8,626 as of Monday.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh reported over 2,000 new COVID-19 cases, marking the highest daily toll of new infections in four months.
It marks the first time that the cases have surpassed the 2,000 mark since February.
Bangladesh Monday recorded two COVID-19 death with the daily test positivity rate jumping to 15.20 percent in the 24 hours till 8:00 am local time.
To date, Bangladesh has recorded 1,967,274 cases including 2,101 new patients on Monday, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.
The death toll reported by the DGHS rose Monday by two, to 29,142.
According to the official data, the COVID-19 fatality rate in Bangladesh is now 1.48 percent and the current recovery rate is 96.93 percent.
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)
Brunei
In the past one week, COVID-19 cases detected in Brunei have increased, with the new caseload standing at an average of about 920 cases per day, the country's health ministry said on Monday.
In a weekly briefing on COVID-19 update, the ministry said 55,525 Antigen Rapid Test (ART) results were uploaded to the government within one week, of which 11.6 percent were positive for ART tests.
The latest results of gene sequencing tests for COVID-19 cases have confirmed the presence of Omicron subvariant BA.5 in the country, in addition to the Omicron subvariant BA.4 detected earlier.
"Thus, the increase in cases seen in recent weeks is most likely due to Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. This situation is similar to that seen in some other countries, where it is also expected that this increase will not burden the health care system in this country," the health ministry said.
Brunei reported 1,185 new COVID-19 cases on Monday. Among the new cases, 1,173 were results from Antigen Rapid Test (ART) tests uploaded to the government and 12 were results of 267 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) laboratory tests performed in the past 24 hours.
India
India's federal ministry of science and technology Monday said researchers have developed a reusable, recyclable, washable, odorless, non-allergic and anti-microbial N95 mask by using 3D printing technology.
According to the ministry, the four-layer mask whose outer layer is made up of silicon has a shelf life of more than 5 years depending upon the use.
"Apart from its well-known uses to prevent infections like COVID-19, the mask can also be used by workers in different industries where they are exposed to high volumes of dust like cement factory, brick kilns, cotton factories and paint industries," the ministry said.
It said a trademark and a patent have also been filed for the mask called Nano Breath having immense potential as a prophylactic.
The mask has been developed jointly by researchers from Amity University Haryana in collaboration with a researcher from the US University of Nebraska, officials said.
A woman receives a shot of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in Yangon, Myanmar, Aug 29, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Myanmar
Myanmar confirmed 12 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the tally to 613,568 on Monday, according to the country's Health Ministry.
The health authorities tested 4,922 people for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, and the daily positivity rate was 0.24 percent.
It added that the death toll from COVID-19 in the country remained unchanged at 19,434 as no new deaths were confirmed in the past 24 hours.
Singapore
Singapore reported 5,309 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total tally to 1,413,667.
Of the new cases, 383 cases were detected through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests and 4,926 through ART (antigen rapid test) tests, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health.
Among the PCR cases, 356 were local transmissions and 27 were imported cases. Among the ART cases with mild symptoms and assessed to be of low risk, there were 4,489 local transmissions and 437 imported cases.
A total of 420 cases are currently warded in hospitals, with nine of them in intensive care units.
One new death was reported from COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the death toll to 1,409, the ministry said.
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 637 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, up by 80 from Sunday, according to its Ministry of Health.
All the new infections were domestically transmitted, reported in 39 provinces and cities.
The Vietnamese capital Hanoi was the pandemic hotspot with 188 new cases recorded on Monday, followed by the northern Hai Phong city with 64 and the central Da Nang city with 62.
The newly reported infections brought the total tally to 10,744,085 with 43,084 deaths.