Higher death rate in Asean despite decline in Covid-19 cases
With 16,350 new cases on Friday, the number of Covid-19 patients since the outbreak crossed 3.65 million across Southeast Asia. The number was however a big improvement over the previous day when 20,213 cases were reported.
However, with 314 new deaths, from fewer cases, the situation was worse than the 272 fatalities on Thursday.
Total deaths from Covid-19 in Asean rose to 72,581.
Singapore reported 52 cases from local clusters, bringing cumulative cases in the country to 61,505. This prompted the government to increase lockdown measures: from May 16 to June 13, dining in at restaurants will be banned while public assembly of more than two people will be prohibited.
Vietnam reported 106 new patients, bringing cumulative cases to 3,816. Of these, 2,657 have been cured and discharged. The Vietnamese government received another 2.5 million doses of vaccine from the World Health Organization on Thursday and will distribute them to its people in addition to 960,000 doses that have been given since January.
Laos reported one death and 16 new infections, bringing cumulative cases in the country to 1,496 with two deaths, while 515 people have been cured and discharged. The second fatality was a 29-year-old Vientiane man who had diabetes and high blood pressure before he contracted the coronavirus. The government confirmed that the strain found spreading in the country was a UK one.