Japan reports 126,575 new COVID-19 cases amid 7th wave

A person wearing a protective mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus stands in front of a public awareness notice for COVID-19 protection in Shinjuku district on July 14, 2022, in Tokyo. (EUGENE HOSHIKO / AP)

TOKYO / HANOI / BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN / SINGAPORE – Japan on Monday reported 126,575 new daily COVID-19 cases amid a seventh wave of infections linked to the spread of the BA.5 Omicron subvariant.

The daily nationwide tally compares to 176,554 new infections reported on Sunday, which was a drop from a record 200,975 cases reported on Saturday.

The Tokyo metropolitan government on Monday said that Tokyo's new cases increased by 22,387.

In Tokyo's neighboring prefecture of Kanagawa, 12,495 new daily COVID-19 cases were reported, while 7,785 new cases were confirmed in the western prefecture of Osaka.

Aichi prefecture in central Japan, meanwhile, confirmed 5,018 new infections.

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 week, the daily number of new COVID-19 cases detected in Brunei was 1,199 on average, the Health Ministry said on Monday.

According to the ministry, a total of 73,631 Antigen Rapid Test (ART) results were uploaded to the government within one week, and 11.3 percent were positive for the virus.

One case is in Category 5 requiring treatment at intensive care unit and six cases are in Category 4 requiring respiratory assistance.

Over 99 percent of the cases detected in the past week do not require hospital treatment, the ministry said.

Brunei has no longer shared the daily number of new cases and active cases of COVID-19 since June 22, 2022, "as the Early Endemic Phase has ended."

A notice warning people not to gather in groups larger than five persons as part of restrictions to hald the spread of the coronavirus is displayed at Raffles Place financial business district in Singapore on Jan 4, 2022. (ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP)

Singapore

Singapore reported 5,551 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total tally to 1,664,707.

Of the new cases, 434 cases were detected through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests and 5,117 through ART (antigen rapid test) tests, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health.

Among the PCR cases, 407 were local transmissions and 27 were imported cases. Among the ART cases with mild symptoms and assessed to be of low risk, there were 4,951 local transmissions and 166 imported cases.

Seven death was reported from COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total death toll to 1,483, 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 896 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, up by 148 from Sunday, according to its Ministry of Health.

The newly reported infections brought the total tally to 10,768,844. The country reported no new death from the pandemic on Monday, with the total fatalities staying at 43,092.

More than 242.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the country, including nearly 211.4 million shots on people aged 18 and above, said the ministry.

Vietnam has already recorded COVID-19 infections with Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants and is accelerating the inoculation of its people with a fourth vaccine dose.