Steep jump in new Covid-19 cases and deaths in Asean
Southeast Asia saw the highest number of Covid-19 cases in over a month on Thursday, while the death toll was the second highest, collated data showed.
Asean saw 29,658 new cases, much higher than Wednesday’s 24,344, while 534 people died, up from Wednesday’s 476. On June 3, there were 537 deaths.
The number of Covid-19 cases in the region crossed 4.44 million, and the death toll rose to 86,517.
The Philippines reported 6,637 new cases and 155 deaths on Thursday, bringing cumulative cases in the country to 1,339,457 and total deaths to 23,276. The National Covid-19 Committee urged the president to issue an order to make the wearing of face shields mandatory in addition to the mandatory face mask rule, to be enforced at closed public areas such as hospitals, schools, public transport and religious places.
Cambodia reported 625 cases and 12 deaths on Thursday, taking cumulative cases in the country to 40,782 and deaths to 380. Private educational institutions called for the reopening of schools as soon as possible, but the Ministry of Education insists on keeping schools closed to prevent the outbreak from spreading.