These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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KTV Covid-19 cluster grows to 54 after 1 more case linked; 4 more KTV lounges closed
There is likely ongoing transmission of the coronavirus at four more KTV lounges or clubs currently operating as food and beverage outlets, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday night (July 14). Those who have visited these clubs or similar KTV lounges operating as F&B outlets should come forward for free Covid-19 testing, urged the ministry. The premises are One Exclusive (114 Middle Road), Level 9 (L9) (114 Middle Road), Terminal 10 (Clarke Quay) and Club M (114 Middle Road). "MOH is investigating cases of Covid-19 infection amongst social hostesses who had frequented KTV lounges or clubs currently operating as F&B outlets, and their close social contacts," it said. To break any potential chain of transmission and enable cleaning, these premises will be closed to the public from Thursday to July 29. The ministry will provide free Covid-19 testing to members of the public who visited the four premises between June 29 and Wednesday, similar KTV lounges or clubs operating as food and beverage outlets, or interacted with social hostesses of any nationality in any setting during this time period. The public may visit this website for details on the testing operations. "All visitors to these premises and similar settings and those who had interacted with social hostesses of any nationality are advised to monitor their health closely, and minimise social interactions as far as possible, for 14 days from their date of visit or interaction. They are encouraged to see a doctor immediately if they feel unwell," said the ministry. MOH announced 56 new locally transmitted cases on Wednesday, of which 42 belonged to the fast-growing KTV cluster. Of these 56 cases, 17 have been linked to previous cases and quarantined, while 34 were linked and detected through surveillance. Five cases are currently unlinked. This is the highest daily number of locally transmitted cases in 2021 so far. – The Straits Times
'Outsiders tried to scare Orang Asli from getting Covid-19 vaccines'
Certain quarters, particularly outsiders, have been trying to influence the Orang Asli here to ignore Covid-19 vaccination, by claiming it is not safe and citing other negative implications. However, Kuala Betis tok batin (orang asli village head) Ibrahim Marjeh said the community has ignored these claims and realised the importance of receiving vaccinations. "If you notice before this, there are rumours saying Orang Asli people are refusing vaccination. "This is because they have been influenced by certain quarters who discredited the government's Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP). "They told the Orang Asli that the vaccine doses contained certain ingredients which could harm and even kill humans. "They also told the community that the vaccine had side effects such as paralysis and that this had been mentioned in the social media," he said. When met at a community outreach programme in Kuala Betis recently, Ibrahim said the propaganda, however, was short-lived and later ignored by the Orang Asli community. "Many started to realise the truth and are now racing to get the vaccine jabs," he said. Ibrahim urged the government, especially the police and other relevant agencies, to take stern action against those who were trying to influence the community from getting vaccinated. Kelantan has more than 16,000 Orang Asli staying in several settlements, mostly in Kuala Krai, Jeli and here. The government through the state Health Department, had carried out various efforts to encourage the community to register for vaccination. This included campaigns by various agencies and also outreach programmes in their vicinities. Meanwhile, self-employed, Pak Da, 38, said outsiders as well as certain quarters thought they could easily influence the Orang Asli. "They tried to scare us by showing us viral news about people becoming weak after taking the dose and other side effects. "Some of us almost fell for their tricks but luckily, we realised the truth later," said the father of seven from Kampung Lambok. – New Straits Times
Ministry mulls jab export quota
The National Vaccine Committee (NVC) has agreed in principle with a draft announcement by the Public Health Ministry to set aside an unspecified proportion of Covid-19 vaccines for export. The move followed calls on the government to secure more supplies of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine made by Siam Bioscence Co, the local manufacturer of the vaccine, for locals while the country is facing a grave outbreak crisis. Drafted under Section 18 of the 2018 National Vaccine Security Act, the ministerial announcement was discussed at Wednesday's meeting of the NVC, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The meeting was held at the Public Health Ministry. The National Vaccine Institute (NVI) and the Department of Disease Control (DDC) have been assigned to review details of the announcement before they bring it back to the next meeting of the NVC, said Nakorn Premsri, director of the NVI. "Both the NVI and the DDC, however, were also asked to negotiate with the AstraZeneca maker to seek a higher proportion of the vaccine for Thailand,'' said Dr Nakorn. The NVC will deliberate the draft announcement again along with reviewing results of negotiations assigned to the NVI and the DDC at the meeting, which has yet to be scheduled. "Prohibiting the export of all vaccines produced in the country is possible; but I think that would hurt neighbouring countries and other trade partners of AstraZeneca," said Dr Nakorn. "What will happen if Thailand, on the other hand, happens to be a country desperately waiting for a vaccine and the other country that produces it suddenly decides to ban exports of the vaccine?" he said. "We would be angry, which will end up shattering our relations with the countries affected," he said. Mr Anutin says Thailand needs to have some empathy for its neighbours that are facing a similar Covid-19 crisis. "Thailand isn't barring any exports of the vaccine produced by AstraZeneca. Any decisions on the management of the vaccine supply lie with the vaccine maker," he said. He was responding to recent calls by groups, including the Pharmacy Council of Thailand, for a ban on exporting the AstraZeneca vaccine to other countries. Dr Nakorn said earlier that Thailand has been trying to negotiate for 10 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine a month, the amount required to achieve its plan to reach herd immunity against Covid-19 through a mass vaccination programme. Most recently, a letter was received from AstraZeneca with a commitment to supply Thailand with 5-6 million doses a month, which means the country has to try to find more supplies from other sources also. Under a contract signed with AstraZeneca, Thailand will receive all 61 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine this year, while it isn't specifically stated how many doses will be delivered per month, he said. Given Siam Bioscence's production capacity, 180 million doses will be produced per year, or about 15 million doses per month, he said. Asked how much of the AstraZeneca vaccine was actually supplied to Thailand in recent months under the contract, Dr Nakorn said the vaccine maker sticks to its one-third rule, in which Thailand gets a third of its output, and the rest is exported. The company has entered supply contracts with various other countries in the region. The actual amount of the vaccine produced isn't necessarily the same from time to time. It depends on the vaccine maker's production situation, he said. He said the NVC also approved a plan to secure by next year 120 million doses of various type of Covid-19 vaccines including the mRNA one that appears to be in high demand among many Thais. The NVC also asked the DDC to speed up securing 100 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccines for this year's inoculation as planned, he said. The Rural Doctor Society (RDS), meanwhile, demanded the government fulfil its promise to procure 15 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines per month. At least 10 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are needed each month and the other five million doses will be the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine that should only be used as a second choice while supplies of the primary AstraZeneca vaccine aren't sufficient, said the RDS. It also urged the government to limit exports of the AstraZeneca vaccine temporarily. Meanwhile, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Wednesday recorded 9,317 new Covid-19 infections and 87 deaths. – Bangkok Post
PNP probing alleged sale of bogus COVID-19 test results
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said is conducting an investigation on the alleged sale of falsified COVID-19 swab test results. PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, in a statement, said he ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Anti-Cybercrime Group to investigate the matter. Falsified negative swab test results are being sold for at least P1,000 each even without an actual swab test conducted, according to reports which made rounds on social media. “We will not allow this. The PNP will track down and arrest the persons behind this kind of scam,” Eleazar said. Eleazar likewise asked the public to inform the police if they are offered such services. He also stressed that individuals who patronize such activities will he held liable. In a separate statement on Thursday, the Department of Health (DOH) also encouraged the public to report the scheme to the police. DOH said the public should provide a copy of the fake or tampered COVID-19 test result, the name and contact details of the laboratory or person who provided the fake result, and other relevant information to the police. The list of hotlines for the regional units could be found in this link. “We are asking for the public’s cooperation so that we can quickly arrest the culprits and shut down this activity which is not only illegal but poses a danger to public health as it would set back our efforts in curbing the spread of COVID-19,” Eleazar said. – INQUIRER.net
Vietnamese breathe easier with locally designed and produced respirators
Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) has teamed up with the VMED Group to develop and produce a high-flow oxygen machine to help treat COVID-19 patients. And they have the production capability to produce thousands of machines each month should the need arise. This high-flow oxygen machine, called BKVM-HF1, will be used for patients with coronavirus or respiratory failure. According to the clinical research reports, around 60 to 70 per cent of patients recover well after using this machine. Associate Professor Do Duy Hai, a university scientist, said: “The machine is able to create a high-flow air that can reach 60 litres per minute and be delivered directly through the patient's nose. “When patients receive the air, especially patients with respiratory failure, it has been shown to have good results. Patients can breathe better with a higher flow of oxygen. “The air flow must meet two technique requirements which are adjustable oxygen concentration and temperature as well as moisture saturation of the air-flow,” Hai added. “The oxygen concentration can be adjusted from 21 to 100 per cent, depending on the patients’ condition. “The ideal temperature of the air flow is 37oC, which is around the same as the temperature of a person’s body. The moisture saturation can be adjusted from 95 to 100 per cent to ensure the most effective use of the machine. “Using the high-flow oxygen machine will help patients to breathe easier and prevent collapsed lungs. It can also help to eliminate the remaining carbon dioxide (CO2) from the body. The efficiency of the machine is good and there aren’t any side effects.” The group spent just two weeks researching and designing the breathing support machine. It was then sent to the A9 Emergency Centre, at Bach Mai Hospital to test its efficiency. “According to clinical research reports, from 60 to 70 per cent of patients with COVID-19 using this high-flow oxygen machine have recovered, without the urgent need for ventilators,” said Associate Professor Nguyen Van Chi, leader of the A9 Emergency Center at Bach Mai Hospital. “The high-flow oxygen machine is a necessary device to support the treatment of patients with pneumonia and respiratory failure in the early stages of COVID-19.” The machine was completed and certified on June 17 by the Ministry of Health after testing and meeting all technical requirements. “Our team feels very happy about our effort making this machine over the past three weeks. It has really paid off,” Hai said. – Viet Nam News
Sinovac jabs tweak: Doses interval extended to 21 days for more effectiveness
In a bid to put the brakes on the rapid spread of Covid-19, the government accelerated the vaccination drive, including using the minimum interval of two weeks between first and second doses for Sinovac. The Health Ministry now says that the optimal interval for the development of antibodies against the virus is at least 21 days. As a result, the Ministry has now set 21 days as the minimum interval for both Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccinations. From the beginning, the minimum interval between Sinopharm inoculations has always been 21 days. Or Vandine, Ministry of Health spokeswoman and Chairwoman of the Committee for Covid-19 Vaccination said that the new measure comes after recent recommendation by the World Health Organization which had earlier approved the minimum window interval of 14-days between doses for Sinovac. “So, when the vaccine was approved for use by the WHO, we recently received official documents confirming that the second dose in the next 14 days was still correct and not wrong. But if we want to have more effectiveness of antibody antigens in our body, we need to delay the second dose for one week to strengthen and improve the immune systems,” she said. Vandine was speaking at a ceremony in Oddar Meanchey province to provide $1,250 and other materials from the government as gifts to Cambodia’s fifth millionth person to be vaccinated. Nob Mean, 70, achieved this distinction when he went for his inoculation on Tuesday. Vandine said that in the past, Cambodian vaccinations followed the correct instructions from the vaccine manufacturer and WHO about the 14-day vaccination window between the first and second doses, according to the scientific findings. She added that because the spread of the Covid-19 virus was so intense and rapid, Cambodia’s vaccination campaign had to be carried out quickly. “Therefore, we decided to vaccinate from the first dose to the second dose in two weeks,” she added. “But as we all know, science is advancing and evolving with subsequent studies, especially in the context of the emergence of new mutated viruses.” Vandine added that Prime Minister Hun Sen has agreed to the adjusted interval between doses to 21 days. Since the vaccination campaign began on February 10, so far 5,104,846 people in the Kingdom have been vaccinated. Of them, 3,163,021 received the Sinovac vaccine and 1,776,217 had Sinopharm inoculations. The remainder received Astra Zeneca vaccines. Cambodia so far has received a total of 16.24 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines. Of these 10.5 million were Sinovac, 5.2 million Sinopharm and 324,000 of Astra Zeneca through the COVAX Facility. The drive to inoculate at least 10 million people, or 80% of the population, also went up another notch yesterday. Vandine said yesterday that the campaign had so far reached 19 provinces and was extended to four of the remaining five yesterday. The provinces were Mondulkiri, Preah Vihear, Kampot and Kep. Vaccinations will begin in Kratie today. – Khmer Times
Myanmar unable to import badly needed medical supplies via border crossings with China
Traders say they are unable to import desperately needed medical supplies through Myanmar’s most important overland trade route after China closed the border to prevent a huge surge in Covid-19 cases reaching its own population. The Muse border crossing in Shan State is Myanmar’s largest overland trading zone and handles the majority of border trade with China. Until recently, it was a key source of supplies such as medical masks and hand sanitiser. The trading gate was closed on July 8 following reports of Covid-19 infections in Muse and in Ruili, a Chinese town just across the border. Other border gates in Kachin and Shan had already been closed, and Muse was the only trade route from China left open. At one point, up to five 12-wheeler trucks carrying masks and six trucks carrying hand sanitiser and PPE were arriving in Myanmar every day. But Zaw Min, managing director of Zaw Brothers Trade Transportation Services, said that has now stopped, despite the fact that Chinese authorities have said the trade suspension does not include drugs and medical supplies. "After the border was closed, nothing could be traded,” he told Myanmar Now. “There are no official instructions for the import of medical equipment.” The Myanmar Pharmaceutical & Medical Equipment Entrepreneurs’ Association has told traders that they can ask for help from the Department of Commerce to import medicine, but Zaw Min says the two countries need to issue specific guidelines. The scarcity caused by the restrictions has caused prices of medical supplies to soar, he added. Thailand, Myanmar’s second-largest border trade partner after China, has not blocked border trade routes but has imposed restrictions on selling of masks, a businesswoman who imports and sells Thai products told Myanmar Now. The prices of Thailand’s masks, oxygen cylinders and other medical supplies have risen, and Thai customs have tightened regulations on the export of medicines to Myanmar, she said. “It is not as easy as it used to be. Now, importing medical supplies takes too long. Some trade transportation services no longer provide services to transport masks, although they provide services for other goods,” she said. “They provide services only for home use. But they refuse to provide services to transport large boxes of masks.” The junta-controlled Ministry of Commerce has now allowed the import of oxygen concentrators without the need to apply for Food and Drug Administration endorsements or import licenses, and the importers do not need to immediately pay the usual three percent customs duty. The ministry announced on Monday that it would allow the import of medical supplies and liquid oxygen without the need to apply for import licenses for three months. At the same time, though, the junta has banned the sale of oxygen to the public, demanding that only facilities under its control be allowed access to the precious resource. Aung Naing Oo, the junta-appointed Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, wrote on his Facebook page on Monday that the ministry has authorised the import of 27,200kg of masks, 200 40-litre oxygen cylinders, and 25 oxygen concentrators. There was no ban on imports and no waiting, and all applications were accepted on the same day, he wrote. As well as oxygen, masks are also in short supply because of trade restrictions, and because factories inside Myanmar stopped making them as the country brought a second wave of Covid-19 under control earlier this year. The price of surgical masks has tripled to around 3,000 kyat for a box of 50, Tun Tun, a seller in Dawbon Township in Yangon, told Myanmar Now in early July. In May there was a large inventory of masks in the markets due to a drop in demand, so some factories stopped manufacturing them. But they say they have been preparing to resume production since the start of this month. The officially declared number of Covid-19 cases and deaths has risen sharply since mid-June. On July 12 the junta’s health ministry reported 5,014 cases and 89 deaths, up from 166 cases and two deaths on June 12. But social welfare groups say the junta is drastically underreporting the number of deaths. – Myanmar NOW
Industry Ministry to convert 80% industrial oxygen for medical use
The Industry Ministry will convert up to 80 percent of industrial oxygen to meet the national need for 575 thousand tons of oxygen amid a spike in COVID-19 cases, a government spokesperson has said. "We have received a commitment from the Industry Ministry to convert up to 80 percent of industrial oxygen for medical needs," spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccinations at the Health Ministry, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said at a daily online press conference on emergency restrictions on community activities (PPKM), from here on Wednesday. Based on a report from the ministry on Tuesday, there has been an increase in oxygen demand in the provinces of DKI Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, Banten, and Bali, she said. The daily oxygen demand in the seven areas has reached a total of 2,032 units, comprising 714 units for intensive care rooms and 1,318 units for isolation rooms, she added. The strategy pursued by the government to meet these daily needs is accelerating oxygen supply and seeking distribution to areas reporting a spike in COVID-19 cases, she continued. Meanwhile, the government has continued to receive oxygen assistance from companies as well as foreign aid. It has said the aid will be distributed in areas with a fairly high number of infections. The assistance received by the government includes the donation of 11 thousand oxygen concentrators (OC) by the Temasek Foundation and 15 Indonesian and Singaporean companies – Bakti Barito Foundation, Cikarang Listrindo, Dharma Satya Nusantara, East Ventures, Indies Capital Partners, Kino Indonesia, Sinar Mas, Tanoto Foundation, TBS Energi Utama, Triputra Group, UID Foundation, Wahana Artha, CapitaLand Hope Foundation, DBS Bank, and Singtel. Of the 11 thousand oxygen concentrators collected by Temasek Foundation and the Indonesian and Singaporean companies for Indonesia, 1,500 units sent from Shanghai arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday. – AntaraNews.Com