In this photo provided by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea government, a worker in protective gear stands on an empty sidewalk in Pyongyang, the DPRK on May 17, 2022. (KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY / KOREA NEWS SERVICE VIA AP)
SEOUL / JAKARTA / SINGAPORE / KUALA LUMPUR / WELLINGTON – The Democratic People's Republic of Korea said on Friday all of its fever patients have recovered, its first such claim since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the state media KCNA.
The DPRK has never confirmed how many people have tested positive for COVID-19, but it said around 4.77 million fever patients have fully recovered and 74 died since late April and has reported no new fever cases since July 30.
Instead of claiming a victory or an end to the COVID-19 situation, the DPRK said its "anti-epidemic situation … has entered a definite phase of stability".
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It said it would "redouble efforts to maintain perfection in the execution of state anti-epidemic policies and measures and integrally carry out the work to further tighten (its) anti-epidemic system."
Such work would include strengthened monitoring of new COVID-19 sub-variants and measures to quickly mobilise its medical workers in case of a crisis situation, according to KCNA.
A woman wearing a mask to curb the spread of coronavirus sits inside a bus in Jakarta, Indonesia on May 17, 2022. (DITA ALANGKARA / AP)
Indonesia
The number of weekly COVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose remarkably in the past month, spokesperson for COVID-19 task force Wiku Adisasmito said on Thursday.
"We have recorded around 38,000 weekly positive cases this week, very high compared to 2,000 cases in early July," Adisasmito told a virtual press conference.
The number of deaths due to COVID-19 this week was recorded at 91, a sharp increase compared to 40 deaths in the previous week.
The increase in bed occupancy rates was mainly in Jakarta (12.93 percent), South Kalimantan (12.79 percent), and Banten (11.85 percent).
The country recorded 6,527 new daily cases on Thursday, bringing the total cases to 6,229,315, with total recoveries of 6,021,549 and deaths of 157,060 respectively.
Employees bury a COVID-19 victim at the Fairy Park memorial park in Meru, Selangor, Malaysia, on August 30. (SAMSUL SAID / BLOOMBERG)
Malaysia
Malaysia reported 4,413 new COVID-19 infections as of midnight Thursday, bringing the national total to 4,697,213, according to the health ministry.
There are six new imported cases, with 4,407 cases being local transmissions, data released on the ministry's website showed.
New Zealand
New Zealand recorded 5,296 new community cases of COVID-19 and 19 more deaths, the Ministry of Health said on Friday.
There have been 1,624 confirmed deaths attributable to COVID-19, either as the underlying cause of death or as a contributing factor since the pandemic began in New Zealand, the health ministry said.
Among the new COVID-19 cases reported over the last 24 hours, 209 cases have recently traveled overseas, it added.
An elderly resident arrives to get tested at a temporary swab center set up at the void deck area on the ground floor of a public housing block, after a few positive COVID-19 cases were detected in the building, in Singapore on May 21, 2021. (ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP)
Singapore
Singapore reported 6,648 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total tally to 1,742,874.
Of the new cases, 649 cases were detected through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests and 5,999 through ART (antigen rapid test) tests, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health.
Among the PCR cases, 612 were local transmissions and 37 were imported cases. Among the ART cases with mild symptoms and assessed to be of low risk, there were 5,780 local transmissions and 219 imported cases, respectively.