India’s COVID-19 tally surpass 42m, deaths over 500,000

A health worker administers COVID-19 vaccination to a girl, in New Delhi, India, Jan 28, 2022. (MANISH SWARUP / AP)

BANGKOK / JERUSALEM / NEW DELHI / SEOUL / SINGAPORE / VIENTIANE – India's COVID-19 tally rose to 42,080,664 on Saturday as 127,952 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry's latest data.

Besides, 1,059 deaths due to the pandemic since Friday morning took the total death toll to 501,114.

There are still 1,331,648 active COVID-19 cases in the country with a fall of 103,921 active cases during the past 24 hours. This was the 12th consecutive day when the number of active cases declined in the country.

A total of 40,247,902 people have been successfully cured and discharged from hospitals so far, out of which 230,814 were discharged during the past 24 hours.

Israel

Israel's Health Ministry decided on Friday to ease the COVID-19 Green Pass system, which stipulates that only those who have been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 infection could enter crowded indoor or outdoor places.

According to the decision, which will take effect on Monday, restaurants, cinemas, hotels, and gyms, among other places, will no longer require a green pass upon entry.

A green pass, however, is needed at venues where there is a significant danger of infection, such as event halls and nightclubs.

According to the Health Ministry, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Israel has risen to 3,111,307, with 46,429 new cases reported on Friday.

The country's death toll rose by 38 to 9,111, while the number of patients in critical condition decreased from 1,147 to 1,130, according to the ministry.

The number of active cases decreased to 378,094 on Friday, down from 434,322 recorded on Thursday, while the daily testing positivity rate dropped to 24.94 percent on Friday, down from 28.56 percent on Thursday, according to the ministry.  

Laos

The Institute of Traditional Medicine under the Lao Ministry of Health has advised COVID-19 patients to use plant extracts for treatment and encouraged people to grow the involved plants of heartleaf, Andrographis paniculata and fingerroot.

The institute makes capsules from extracts of the three plants and has successfully trialed the medication, local media reported.

Local daily Vientiane Times on Friday quoted Director General of the Institute of Traditional Medicine Bounleuane Douangdeuan as saying that the institute has treated 450 people in three southern provinces using the capsules.

The pills were endorsed by the country's Ministry of Health in January 2022.

The medication was trialed in four groups of people in the early stages of illness. The first group was given capsules containing heartleaf, the second Andrographis paniculata, the third fingerroot, and the fourth group no capsules.

Use of the capsules eases unvaccinated patients' symptoms within three to five days, trial results show.

The capsules are now available to the general public, according to the media report.

New Zealand

New Zealand reported a record 243 new COVID-19 community cases on Saturday, as officials warned more cases of the highly transmissible Omicron variant are expected but urged people in the highly vaccinated nation not to panic.

The country of five million people has kept its borders closed since early 2020. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Thursday a full reopening will happen only by October.

The border closure, combined with lockdowns and strict social distancing rules have limited the spread of the coronavirus, with just over 17,000 infections and 53 related deaths.

But with Omicron spreading in the Pacific nation, health officials said the caseload will grow.

Health ministry data show 93 percent of those eligible above the age of 12 have been fully vaccinated and 49 percent of eligible adults have received a booster shot.

Singapore

Singapore reported a record 13,046 local coronavirus infections on Friday, triple the previous day's tally.

Singapore has recorded 85,357 cases of coronavirus over the last 28 days, but 99.7 percent of them had no or mild symptoms

Singapore has recorded 85,357 cases of the virus over the last 28 days, but 99.7 percent of them had no or mild symptoms.

The country has fully vaccinated 89 percent of the total population against COVID-19, while 59 percent have received boosters shots.

Authorities have previously warned that daily cases could rise to as many 15,000 due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

READ MORE: Singapore warns of 'Omicron wave' as workplace rules eased

A medical worker takes a nasal swab sample from a man at a makeshift testing site in Seoul, South Korea, Feb 4, 2022. (AHN YOUNG-JOON / AP)

South Korea

South Korea reported a record daily increase of 36,362 new COVID-19 cases, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on Saturday.

The daily infections exceeded 30,000 for the first time, as the country faces a wave of Omicron variant infections.

Thailand

Thailand reported 10,490 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, the highest in more than three months.

The country has reported more than 2.48 million cases and 22,271 COVID-19 deaths.