This picture taken and released on May 29, 2022 from DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows DPRK top leader Kim Jong-un attending a meeting at the Workers' Party of Korea's Politburo at the headquarters of the party's Central Committee in Pyongyang. (STR / KCNA VIA KNS / AFP)
SEOUL / YANGON / CANBERRA – Top Democratic People’s Republic of Korea officials discussed revising anti-pandemic restrictions on Sunday as they assessed the situation over the country's first acknowledged COVID-19 outbreak was "improving", state media reported.
A politburo meeting guided by top leader Kim Jong-un "made a positive evaluation of the pandemic situation being controlled and improved across the country and discussed the issues of continuously stabilizing and improving the overall anti-epidemic situation," said KCNA news agency.
The DPRK reported no new deaths among fever patients for a second consecutive day, and said 89,500 more people showed fever symptoms on Sunday
The DPRK reported no new deaths among fever patients for a second consecutive day, and said 89,500 more people showed fever symptoms on Sunday.
ALSO READ: DPRK says new fever cases under 100,000 as virus fight heats up
That is down from nearly 400,000 about 11 days ago.
The country has been fighting an unprecedented COVID wave since declaring a state of emergency and imposing a nationwide lockdown this month.
Efforts to strengthen anti-pandemic measures were being taken across the DPRK, including collecting rain water, examining virus-resistant medicines and setting up quarantine places, KCNA said.
Australia
Influenza vaccines have been made free for all South Australians in a bid to ease the growing pressure on the health system.
Peter Malinauskas, the premier of South Australia (SA), on Sunday announced that flu vaccines would be made free until June 30 effective immediately.
Previously, only pensioners, young children and immunocompromised people were eligible for free flu vaccines, with everyone else facing out-of-pocket costs.
Malinauskas said the move would relieve pressure on SA's hospitals amid a spike in flu and coronavirus infections.
"We must do everything we can to ensure as many South Australians as possible are immunized against both COVID-19 and influenza to ease pressure on our hospitals," he said.
In this file photo taken on Feb 28, 2022, passengers and loved ones reunite at the arrivals hall on the first day of New Zealanders returning from Australia after the border reopened for travelers observing home self-isolation rules, at the Auckland international airport.(DAVID ROWLAND / AFP)
"The dual challenge of broad community spread of COVID-19 and influenza at the same time during winter threatens to put further pressure on a hospital system already facing significant demand," he said.
Up until May 8, there had been 10,599 confirmed influenza cases in Australia compared to fewer than 1,000 in 2021 amid coronavirus restrictions and border closures.
Chris Moy, vice president of the Australian Medical Association, welcomed the decision to make flu vaccines free.
"It's an important move, not only to increase access to people who could not previously have been eligible or afforded it, but also as an important signal to all South Australians to get a flu shot as overflowing hospitals face their first true flu season in three years," he told News Corp Australia.
On Sunday, Australia reported more than 25,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 25 deaths, according to the health department figures from states and territories.
Myanmar
China has donated 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines along with 13 million COVID-19 vaccine syringes and two mobile laboratory vehicles to Myanmar, according to a statement from the Chinese embassy in Myanmar on Sunday.
The Chinese embassy handed them over to Myanmar's Ministry of Health at the Yangon International Airport on Sunday.
The China-donated COVID-19 vaccines and syringes arrived in Myanmar in separate batches starting from May 18 to May 29.
China has been continuously providing medical supplies to Myanmar in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, and has helped Myanmar in filling and packing COVID-19 vaccines to boost the country's vaccination rate, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai said at the handover ceremony.
This photo taken on Oct 17, 2021 shows healthcare workers preparing food for patients with the COVID-19 coronavirus at a health centre in Demoso township in Myanmar's Kayah state. (STR / AFP)
Myanmar's Union Minister for Health Thet Khaing Win expressed thanks for China's donation.
The currently-donated COVID-19 vaccines will be used in the inoculation of children aged five to 12 years old, and the two mobile laboratory vehicles will be used at the country's border checkpoints, Thet said.
The friendly cooperation between Myanmar and China will contribute to epidemic prevention and control as well as the socio-economic development of both countries, Thet said.
Myanmar has already administered vaccination to more than 92 percent of its adult population aged 18 years and above, Thet added.
As of May 24, Myanmar has fully vaccinated more than 26.11 million people, or roughly 47 percent of the population, against COVID-19 in the country, official data showed.
As of Saturday, Myanmar confirmed 613,298 cases of COVID-19 and 19,434 related deaths, official data showed.