People from the Klong Toey community in Bangkok wait to get COVID-19 tests on May 4, 2021. (Photo: Reuters)Hanoi (VNA) – The health ministry of Laos onMay 16 reported 21 new cases of COVID-19, including 10 locally-transmittedinfections.
After 25 days of lockdown, Vientiane capital city hasstill recorded 11 community cases, with new clusters. However, most of other citiesand provinces have detected no new local infections.
The ministry warned of the rise in COVID-19 cases amongwomen and children, saying it is preparing personnel to cope with the third waveof the pandemic.
The country has counted 1,591 cases so far, of which1,400 are locally transmitted.
Cambodia has reported a decline in new COVID-19 casesfor five consecutive days, with 350 infections logged on May 16, including nineimported cases.
The country’s tally now stands at 22,184, with 12,120 recoveriesand 150 deaths.
Dr. Or Vandine, Secretary of State and Spokesperson ofthe Cambodian Ministry of Health, said new variants B-1617 andB117 could spread in Cambodia if people neglect the implementation ofhealth measures.
The new COVID-19 variants are highly contagious and severe,she said, calling on people to be very careful although COVID-19 cases inCambodia are expected to gradually decrease.
Meanwhile, Thailand on May 16 reported 2,302 newCOVID-19 cases and 24 more deaths.
The latest cases bring the total number of COVID-19infections in the country to 101,447 with 589 deaths.
The Corrections Department has found another 1,219people infected with COVID-19, six of them in critical condition, in threeprisons in Greater Bangkok.
The figure brings to nearly 5,000 the number ofconfirmed coronavirus cases that the public has been told about in thecountry’s badly overcrowded prisons, the Bangkok Post newspaper said.
The latest discovery came from 100 percent active casefinding at Klong Prem Central Prison, where 510 infections were found, BangkokRemand Prison (88) and Thonburi Remand Prison (621), according to a departmentbriefing on May 15.
The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reportedon the day 5,790 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number ofconfirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 1,143,963.
The death toll climbed to 19,191 after 140 morepatients died from the viral disease, the DOH said.
A fire hit the state-run Philippine General Hospital atTaft Avenue, Manila early May 16 morning, according to the Bureau of FireProtection.
Authorities said the blaze started in an operatingroom on the third floor of the facility. It reached first alarm at 12:41 a.m.and was quickly raised to the second level at 12:58 a.m., the BFP-NationalCapital Region reported.
No one was hurt in the fire, the Manila PublicInformation Office said. Authorities are still investigating the cause of theincident.
Thirty-eight community cases were among 49 newCOVID-19 infections reported in Singapore as of noon on May 16, said the SingaporeanMinistry of Health.
This is the highest number of community cases reportedsince April 14, 2020, when 40 community infections were reported. Singapore's"circuit breaker" started on Apr 7, 2020.
Tighter restrictions to curb the spread of thecoronavirus in the community kicked in on May 16 and will last until Jun 13.
Indonesia on May 15 implemented random COVID-19 testsand mandatory checks on travellers returning from their hometowns followingHari Raya Aidilfitri, in a bid to stave off a surge in COVID-19 cases.
The random tests will be carried out in 21 locationson travellers departing from provinces across Java island to Jakarta, said AirlanggaHartarto, head of the COVID-19 mitigation and national economic recoverycommittee.
It is also mandatory for all travellers from Sumatraisland to the capital via Bakauheni port in Lampung to produce COVID-19 testresults that show they are free of the virus./.
VNA
