A woman walks past signs stating the COVID-19 vaccination requirements for entry into a mall at Raffles Place in Singapore on March 24, 2022.
(ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP)
NEW DELHI / SINGAPORE / YANGON – Singapore reported 4,403 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the total tally to 1,791,046.
Of the new cases, 469 cases were detected through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests and 3,934 through ART (antigen rapid test) tests, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health.
Among the ART cases with mild symptoms and assessed to be of low risk, there were 3,670 local transmissions and 264 imported cases
Among the PCR cases, 427 were local transmissions and 42 were imported cases. Among the ART cases with mild symptoms and assessed to be of low risk, there were 3,670 local transmissions and 264 imported cases.
A total of 590 cases are currently warded in hospitals, with 22 cases in intensive care units.
Four new deaths were reported from COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the total death toll to 1,556, the ministry said.
India
India's northern state of Punjab on Saturday made wearing of face masks mandatory in public places amid an increase in COVID-19 cases.
"Wearing of appropriate masks shall be ensured in all educational institutions, government and private offices and indoor/outdoor gatherings, malls, public places, etc, for the prevention of further spread of the virus in the population and for the well-being of every individual," read an order issued by the Punjab state government.
The state government has directed all local hospitals, labs and collection centers to upload details of COVID-19 tests.
It also urged residents to take a second or a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine without delay.
READ MORE: Australian state to hand out free masks to curb COVID-19 spread
Myanmar
Myanmar has detected 32 new COVID-19 cases with the Omicron BA.2.75, BA.2.76, BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants so far in August, its Ministry of Health said on Saturday.
The ministry's medical research department said in a statement that these cases included 25 infected people who returned from abroad.
According to the ministry, 25 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Southeast Asian country in the past 24 hours, bringing the total tally to 614,360.
Health authorities tested 6,130 people for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, and the daily positivity rate was 0.41 percent.
The ministry also reported another eight new recoveries, bringing the total number of COVID-19 patients cured and discharged to 593,089 in the country.