Asean sees fewer Covid-19 infections in a day, but numbers still high
Southeast Asia reported 16,272 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, a decrease from infections the previous day, with total cases so far crossing the 3.60 million mark.
Covid-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 5,021 in one day to 1,723,596, with 247 more deaths, bringing the total number of patients who died to 47,465. The biggest Islamic country is bracing for a post-Eid infection surge after hundreds of thousands, if not millions, seek to travel to spend the Muslim holiday with their families.
The Philippines has detected its first two cases of the Indian coronavirus variant, known as B.1.617, in two Filipino seafarers who returned in April from the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
The Southeast Asian nation’s daily infections fell to a near eight-week low after the health ministry reported 4,734 new cases, the lowest single-day tally since March 17. With 1.1 million infections, the Philippines has the second-highest number of Covid-19 cases and deaths in the region.
Meanwhile, Vietnam’s National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology on Tuesday announced that seven patients linked to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases cluster are infected with the Indian variant.
Hanoi has announced a ban on gatherings of more than 10 people and ordered the closure of food and beverage outlets in vulnerable areas amid rising Covid-19 fears. Vietnam is facing its most challenging Covid-19 wave, with 528 community cases being detected across 26 cities and provinces since April 27.