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)
HANOI / SUVA / YANGON / SINGAPORE / SEOUL / BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Vietnam's total confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 10 million cases on Thursday to reach 10,070,692, with 42,733 deaths, according to its Ministry of Health.
The country logged 45,886 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday, down 3,238 cases from Wednesday.
The new infections, logged in 63 localities nationwide, included 45,884 domestically transmitted and two imported.
The Vietnamese capital Hanoi remained the hotspot with 3,635 new cases on Thursday, followed by the northern Bac Giang province with 2,267 and the northern Phu Tho province with 2,174.
Nearly 207.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the country, including 190.2 million shots on people aged 18 and above, said the ministry.
Brunei
Brunei reported 362 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the national tally to 137,947.
As a country of 420,000 people, Brunei has recorded less than 1,000 new cases for 16 straight days since March 24 after the daily increase during the third wave of the pandemic reached its peak on March 3 with 4,885 cases.
Traditional dancers in grass skirts welcome holidaymakers in Nadi on Dec 1, 2021, as Fiji opens its borders to international travelers for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe and devastated its tourism-reliant economy. (LEON LORD / AFP)
Fiji
Fiji on Thursday lifted all quarantine measures for foreign visitors as part of its efforts to revitalize the tourism industry, the backbone of the island nation's economy and the biggest foreign exchange earner, which has been devastated by travel-related restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Fiji's health ministry, all quarantine measures in Fiji have been lifted from Thursday, which means there is no more travel partner system, and anyone fully vaccinated and shows a negative test can come into the Pacific island country.
Fiji's Permanent Secretary for Health James Fong said on Thursday that Fiji's border protection will be mediated by the fact that travelers are vaccinated, have a negative pre-departure test and will be tested in-country by a rapid antigen test (RAT) done between 48 hours and 72 hours after the arrival.
Meanwhile, Fiji Airways also reminded travelers on Thursday that they should make preparation before boarding.
All travelers aged 18 years and above will need to show fully vaccinated proof, a negative RAT or PCR COVID-19 test, travel insurance and pre-booked RAT when check-in.
Fiji closed its borders after it reported the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in March 2020. On Dec 1 last year, Fiji reopened its borders to all fully vaccinated travelers from the "travel partner" countries, including New Zealand, Australia, Britain and the United States.
The quarantine period for those from the "travel partner" countries gradually reduced to three days but for those from non-travel partner countries, the quarantine period was 10-14 days.
A woman receives a shot of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in Yangon, Myanmar, Aug 29, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Myanmar
Myanmar's health ministry announced on Thursday that it will issue electronic COVID-19 vaccination certificates in English version starting from Thursday for international travel.
According to the ministry's statement, the electronic vaccination certificates containing QR code will be issued online and can be used on any mobile phone or tablet.
People who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have a Myanmar version of vaccination record containing QR code and Check ID issued by the Vaccination Management Information System can apply for an electronic vaccination certificate on the ministry's official website, the statement said, adding that the ministry will grant it in five working days.
Samoa
Samoa reported 263 new community cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the island nation's cumulative total of COVID-19 cases to 3,260.
According to the newspaper Samoa Observer, Samoa's Ministry of Health said on Friday that out of the 3,260 community cases, 1,712 are active cases.
About 96 percent or 3,132 of the community cases in Samoa are in Upolu, Samoa's second largest island, with the remaining 4 percent or 128 in Savaii, the largest island of Samoa.
Currently, the health authorities in Samoa have confirmed three COVID-19 related deaths with the first death happening on March 30 this year.
The newspaper also reported another three COVID-19 related deaths on Wednesday, but the three deaths have not been confirmed by the Samoan health authorities.
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 4,269 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total tally to 1,128,155.
Of the new cases, 498 cases were detected through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests and 3,771 through ART (antigen rapid test) tests, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health.
South Korea
South Korea recorded 205,333 new COVID-19 cases as of midnight Thursday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 14,983,694, the health authorities said Friday.
The daily caseload was down from 224,820 recorded in the previous day, hovering below 300,00 for the fourth straight day, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.