A staff member transfers China-donated COVID-19 vaccines at Yangon International Airport in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept 9, 2022. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
YANGON / SINGAPORE / MANILA / HANOI – Myanmar has accelerated its control and prevention measures for COVID-19 as transmission increases in the country, according to media reports.
The measures included boosting vaccinations, encouraging and sharing knowledge of wearing a face mask, providing hand basins in the markets, spraying disinfectant, and continuously publishing related information, announcements, notices, prevention guidance and strategies through media.
Moreover, ensuring that COVID-19 vaccines are stored at standard refrigerated conditions, and carrying out testing to the people who return from abroad and foreign tourists at the airport are also included.
Recently, the country has been faced with an increase in daily cases whereas the majority of the cases are domestically transmitted. The daily positivity rate is 2.43 percent.
On Saturday, the country reported 262 new cases of COVID-19 but no more related deaths.
Meanwhile, a handover ceremony of 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines donated by China was held Friday at Myanmar's Yangon International Airport.
Speaking at the ceremony, Zheng Zhihong, minister counselor of the Chinese Embassy to Myanmar, said China has so far provided Myanmar with 53 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, a solid guarantee for the health of the people of Myanmar and a demonstration of the spirit of building a China-Myanmar community with a shared future.
Tun Min, deputy director-general of Yangon Regional Health Department, said Myanmar has received large amounts of assistance from China in the fight against COVID-19, including test kits, vaccines, medical supplies and medical equipment, reflecting the close cooperation between Myanmar and China.
Myanmar has already vaccinated more than 36.8 million people, or roughly over 66 percent of its total population, for COVID-19 as of Sept. 6, the health ministry's data showed.
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 3,165 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 3,904,133.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the number of active cases rose to 26,074, while 39 more patients died from COVID-19 complications, pushing the country's death toll to 62,288.
Metro Manila, the capital region with over 13 million people, tallied 1,220 new cases.
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 1,824 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the total tally to 1,858,497.
Of the new cases, 185 cases were detected through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests and 1,639 through ART (antigen rapid test) tests, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health.
Among the PCR cases, 167 were local transmissions and 18 were imported cases. Among the ART cases with mild symptoms and assessed to be of low risk, there were 1,490 local transmissions and 149 imported cases.
No new deaths were reported from COVID-19 on Saturday, leaving the total death toll unchanged at 1,602, the ministry said.
A man passes walks past a billboard on the coronavirus in Ho Chi Minh City on Dec 4, 2021. (NHAC NGUYEN / AFP)
Vietnam
Vietnam recorded 2,498 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, down 1,151 from Friday, according to the Ministry of Health.
All the new cases were locally transmitted, said the ministry.
The newly reported infections brought the total tally to 11,437,970. The country reported no new deaths from the pandemic on Saturday, with the total fatalities staying at 43,126.