These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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800 migrant workers newly quarantined after case discovered in cleared dormitory
Eight hundred migrant workers have been newly quarantined because the Ministry of Health discovered a case among them in a cleared dormitory, the ministry said on Wednesday night (Aug 12). The ministry did not name the dormitory. Although the Inter-Agency Taskforce has completed the testing of all workers in the dormitories, there are currently about 22,800 workers - including the 800 - who are still serving out their quarantine period. These workers will be tested when their quarantine ends, and the ministry expects the daily case counts to remain high in the coming days, before tapering off. On Wednesday, 42 new coronavirus cases were confirmed, taking Singapore's total to 55,395. This was the lowest daily total in more than four months since March 30, when 35 new infections were reported. Like the new cases, the number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals also hit double digits on Wednesday, as 92 patients remained in hospital. There were, however, none in intensive care. – The Straits Times
Parliament: Issues today include death penalty abolition for drug trafficking
The issue of whether the government should abolish the death sentence for drug trafficking offences will be among those raised at the Dewan Rakyat sitting, today. According to the Agenda of the Meeting on the official Parliament website, the issue is included in the Questions-with-Oral-Answers session from Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) to the Prime Minister. Ramkarpal also queries if the government proposes to amend the sentence for drug trafficking to a minimal jail time so that the penalty is based on the facts of each case. Another matter expected to draw attention is a question from Tan Sri Noh Omar (BN-Tanjong Karang) during the Minister-Question-Time. Noh has, in advance, asked the Prime Minister if the government plans to set up a committee to re-structure the administration and procedures used by the Syariah Court in order to improve the integrity of the institution. During the same session, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will answer Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen's (PH-Bandar Kuching) question on the government's plans to send aid to Lebanon following the recent explosion which resulted in at least 170 deaths. – New Straits Times
No end in sight for flights ban
The ban on international commercial flights will remain in force while the Covid-19 pandemic situation remains critical in many countries, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said on Wednesday. It is an indefinite ban, said CAAT director Chula Sukmanop and the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) would monitor the global situation before deciding when the flights could resume. Mr Chula said the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) had told the government that a large number of foreigners intended coming to Thailand on business, so officials were checking if there were enough state quarantine (ASQ) facilities available. More private accommodation providers were applying to become ASQ-certified, he said, restating that those arriving would have to pay their quarantine expenses themselves. They would also be required to notify Thai officials in advance where they would be staying while in the country and complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine period. – Bangkok Post
Nine cities reported to have more than 1,000 active COVID-19 cases
Nine cities across the country have more than 1,000 active COVID-19 cases, the national COVID-19 task force announced on Wednesday. Dewi Nur Aisyah, an epidemiologist and member of the task force’s expert team, said that all cities in Jakarta had reported more than 1,000 active coronavirus cases. Central Jakarta has the highest number of active cases in the country with 2,213, followed by North Jakarta (1,775), South Jakarta (1,309) East Jakarta (1,305) and West Jakarta (1,268). Outside of Jakarta, Central Java’s capital city, Semarang, recorded 1,681 active cases, followed by the South Sulawesi capital, Makassar (1,511), the North Sumatra capital, Medan (1,377) and the East Java capital, Surabaya (1,283). “These [cities] need extra attention as they have a high rate of activity and mobility. Health protocols need to be maintained to reduce transmission and active cases,” Dewi said Wednesday during an online discussion aired by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). – The Jakarta Post
Senators want PhilHealth Covid-19 fund suspended
Several senators on Wednesday said Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) should suspend payments from the P30-billion interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM) following disclosures during the Senate inquiry into alleged corruption in the state-run health insurer that the distribution of special funds for the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic had been marred by irregularities. “The current allocation system is a complete disaster and is a huge stumbling block for our hospitals to be able to effectively address the killer pandemic,” Sen. Francis Pangilinan told the Inquirer in a Viber message. “Suspend all (IRM) releases, and revise and redistribute the approved allocations,” he added. Pangilinan said the financial package may have been intentionally drawn up by some unscrupulous PhilHealth officials to line their pockets and not to help deal with the new coronavirus crisis. – INQUIRER.net
Infection from unknown sources predicted in coming days: ministry
The Ministry of Health predicted new COVID-19 cases in the community nationwide from unknown sources in the coming days. Speaking at the Government’s meeting on Wednesday with 15 localities which recorded COVID-19 infections since late July, a representative of the health ministry said although the transmission in central Danang City has been gradually contained with a decreasing number of new cases in recent days, there is still a high risk of infection in the community in other places. Cases linked to Danang were mostly from hospitals which have been locked down since the first case was detected and from people in close contact with positive cases. All 17 fatalities so far have had underlying medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart and renal failures, as well as cancer. There will be more deaths from those diseases, according to the ministry. Chairing the meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said localities and sectors had taken prompt measures in response to the resurgence of the pandemic. Danang has given residents market entrance tickets to go shopping on alternate days as part of social distancing measures. – Viet Nam News
Crane collapse kills five in Poipet
Five women were killed and four others injured after a construction crane fell on a house in Phsar Kandal district, in Poipet, Banteay Meanchey province. All nine victims were women living near the site, provincial police chief Ath Khem said on Wednesday, adding that they were sitting inside one of their houses when the crane fell at around 3pm. “We sent the four injured to Banteay Meanchey referral hospital. The bodies of the five who were killed were sent to pagodas or their houses. “The victims are residents living there. They are not construction workers. The crane fell outside the company’s land,” Khem said. The five dead are Chhean Hong, 44, Dem Soknak, 29, Loeub Lak, 55, Seng Muykea (age unknown) and Chov Ly, 57. Banteay Meanchey provincial Adhoc coordinator Sum Chankea said he has requested the government to strengthen measures on owners of construction sites to prevent similar accidents. “The owner of the site must take legal responsibility for this case if the offence happened due to carelessness,” he said. – The Phnom Penh Post