Southeast Asia nations continue to see spikes in COVID-19 cases due to Delta strain

Malaysia recorded a new daily high of 22,242 new COVID-19 cases on August 18, bringing the cumulative total to over 1,466,512.
Southeast Asia nations continue to see spikes in COVID-19 cases due to Delta strain ảnh 1Checking temperatures in Phnom Penh (Photo: AFP)
Hanoi (VNA) – Malaysia recorded a new dailyhigh of 22,242 new COVID-19 cases on August 18, bringing the cumulative totalto over 1,466,512.

Of its 13 states and territories, nine reported more than1,000 cases each day. Selangor posted the highest number with 6,858 new infections.

Previously, the Malaysian health authorities warnedthat the highly transmissible coronavirus variant Delta is now the dominantstrain in the country.

In Cambodia, all returning migrant workers will beclassified as Delta variant carriers so alerts must be raised atsecurity and health screening checkpoints along border areas, according toPrime Minister Hun Sen’s instructions.

Phnom Penh’s authorities have locked down areas wherepeople infected with Delta strain were found. On August 18, two more areas inthe capital city’s Sen Sok district were put under lockdown for 14 days.

The country documented 593 new COVID-19 cases, including189 imported, and 12 new deaths on the same day. Its national count now reached87,190, with 82,666 recoveries and 1,730 fatalities.

The Philippines logged in 11,085 new coronavirusinfections over the last 24 hours, taking its total count to 1,776,495. Thecountry also reported 161 new COVID-19 deaths, raising its death toll to30,623. The capital city of Manila remained the hardest hit with the highestnumbers of new cases and patients under treatment./.
VNA

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