These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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34 more cases in growing KTV cluster; Covid-19 task force considering extra curbs
Another 34 cases were added to the growing cluster linked to KTV karaoke lounges on Thursday (July 15), as Singapore braces itself for what could be its biggest active cluster yet outside migrant worker dormitories. The cluster, which currently stands at 88, could have an impact far beyond just the nightlife industry, with knock-on effects on the wider food and beverage (F&B) scene, as well as the country's re-opening plans. From Monday (July 12), cases have been progressively identified from visitors to 11 KTV lounges by the Ministry of Health (MOH). The ministry said it was investigating a group of Vietnamese social hostesses who had frequented these lounges, as well as their close contacts. Many of these establishments had pivoted to F&B operations in order to reopen, though hostess services have remained banned for more than a year. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said that three such former nightlife operators have had their F&B licences revoked with immediate effect for breaching safe management measures. In addition, 11 outlets and 31 individuals were fined for such breaches. But the fallout from the KTV cluster could be severe. Medical experts such as Professor Teo Yik Ying expect the number of cases to remain high over the next few days, with visitors to KTV lounges unwilling to step forward to get tested. Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force (MTF) on Covid-19, weighed in via a Facebook post on Thursday (July 15). Mr Wong wrote: "I know many are feeling disappointed and frustrated about the recent Covid-19 cases at KTVs. I feel the same. Cases like these demonstrate how, in times of crisis, personal responsibility matters. No man is an island. The choices we make for ourselves are the choices we make for our community." He also strongly urged those who had been to such pivoted KTV lounges to "do the right thing - get yourself tested, and isolate yourself". He said that the MTF has also been deliberating on what additional measures to take, and will give an update soon. Prof Teo, who is dean of the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, said: "Given that contact tracing and surveillance testing will be much harder... this has the potential to expand to become the largest cluster in Singapore, outside the migrant worker dormitories." The Changi Airport cluster has been the biggest outside dorms so far, having recorded 108 cases before it was closed on June 18. The growing cluster linked to KTV lounges renews scrutiny on former nightlife operators, 406 of which had received F&B licences as at May 14. The Singapore Nightlife Business Association (SNBA), which was helping its members pivot, is taking a tough approach to errant outlets. It wrote to its 330 members on Wednesday night asking them to inform it if they "come across information pertaining to any operator who is non-compliant". "It is totally unacceptable what these KTVs have done, and they definitely need to be identified and penalised," SNBA president Joseph Ong told The Straits Times. Police also plan to step up checks on such outlets and enforcement regarding suspected vice-related activities. – The Straits Times
Malaysia grants conditional registration approval for 2 more vaccines
The Drug Control Authority (DCA) has approved the conditional registration of Covid-19 vaccines by Sinopharm and Johnson & Johnson for use during disasters. Health director-general Tan Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the approval for conditional registration was made during the DCA's 361st meeting today (July 16). "The COVILO Suspension for Injection Covid-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated is developed by China National Biotec Group Company Limited (CNBG), Sinopharm, which is also known as the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine. "The vaccine is manufactured by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co. Ltd. (BIBP), China and Duopharma (M) Sdn. Bhd is the registration holder in Malaysia. "The second vaccine, Janssen Covid-19 Vaccine Suspension for Injection is manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Belgium, and the registration holder in Malaysia is Johnson & Johnson Sdn Bhd," he said in a statement today. Dr Noor Hisham said this conditional registration approval requires information on the quality, safety and effectiveness of the vaccine product to be monitored and evaluated based on the latest data from time to time. This, he said was to ensure that the comparison of benefit over risk for the vaccine products remain positive. "The Health Ministry will always improve the level of public health in combating the Covid-19 spread through the procurement of vaccine supplies that have been evaluated in terms of quality, safety and effectiveness by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Division (NPRA) and approved by the DCA. "The Government is also committed to ensuring that the Malaysian adult population achieves herd immunity in line with the targets of the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme," he added. – New Straits Times
EU opens to Ukraine travellers, restricts travel from Thailand
European Union member states on Thursday agreed to add Ukraine to a list of countries from which travellers can enter the European Union during the coronavirus pandemic, while Thailand and Rwanda were removed. The EU's eastern neighbour joins a "green list" of only around 20 countries, which also includes the likes of Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States, the bloc said in a statement. Brussels' classification does not prevent member states from imposing requirements like testing or quarantine on incoming travellers from countries on the list. The EU originally closed its external borders to non-essential travel in March 2020, but has since set up the regularly updated green list of countries and territories people can enter from – including the unvaccinated. Vaccinated travellers are allowed in from any non-EU country. For now, the list includes Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, New Zealand, Qatar, Moldova, North Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and the US. China is also listed on condition that it too opens to travellers from the EU. Decisions on inclusion or removal from the list are based on the pandemic situation, vaccination progress, how intensive testing is and the EU's judgement of how reliable a country's data is. Countries can be added if they record fewer than 75 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people in the preceding 14 days. In Ukraine that figure stood at slightly over 18 on July 4, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, compared with 97.3 in Thailand and 90.9 in Rwanda. – Bangkok Post
16 more Delta variant cases detected, including 11 local cases
The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Friday 16 additional cases, including 11 “local cases,” of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in the Philippines. This brings the total Delta variant cases in the country to 35. “The DOH, Philippine Genome Center and University of the Philippines – National Institutes of Health report the detection of 16 new Delta variant cases including the first local cases based on the latest whole genome sequencing report,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online media briefing. “Five of the 16 cases are returning overseas Filipinos (ROF)… Eleven cases are classified as local cases,” she added. The World Health Organization earlier said the Delta variant, first identified in India, is becoming the globally dominant variant of the disease, because of its increased transmissibility. While there is yet no evidence to prove that it is deadlier than other strains such as the Alpha variant first detected in the United Kingdom, studies showed that people infected with the Delta variant could be more likely to be hospitalized. Earlier, Vergeire said the Delta variant is believed to be 60 percent more transmissible than the Alpha variant. An Alpha-positive person can infect four to five persons, while a Delta-positive one can infect eight persons, she explained. Of the five ROF cases, Vergeire said one traveller arrived in the Philippines from the United Kingdom on April 26 and has already recovered from COVID-19 and has completed the 14-day quarantine period. She said two of the ROF cases arrived from Qatar on June 15 and have already recovered. The DOH is still verifying the arrival dates and quarantine status of the two other ROF cases, according to Vergeire. Meanwhile, of the 11 local Delta cases, six were detected in Northern Mindanao. Vergeire said they are “part of a large cluster of cases with dates of onset between June 23 to June 28.” All of them have been tagged as recovered. Two of the local cases were detected in Metro Manila. “One case was tagged as death after being rushed to the emergency room of a hospital on June 28. The other case is an outpatient with an onset date of June 23 who was tagged as recovered already,” said Vergeire. Another local case had onset of symptoms on June 27 and was already tagged as recovered. The patient was initially tested in Metro Manila but Vergeire said the patient’s “indicative address” was in Central Luzon. “All of these cases have no known connection to each other,” said Vergeire. The last two local cases were detected in Western Visayas, both with onset of symptoms on May 27 but have already recovered. – INQUIRER.net
Resettlement buildings in HCM City become field hospitals to cope with rising COVID numbers
HCM City is converting empty resettlement buildings into field hospitals to help cope with swelling numbers of patients diagnosed with COVID-19. In all 2,600 apartments will be made available in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area in Thu Duc City. A further nine field hospitals are also under construction and when completed will bring the total number of field hospitals in the city to 24 providing additional 44,890 beds. HCM City has been under increasing pressure to find more beds for COVID patients as numbers tipped more than 14,000. The city has prepared for a scenario whereby the total number of patients reaches 50,000 COVID-19. The southern city's authorities have asked the Construction Department and other relevant agencies to repair and ensure basic infrastructure such as water and electricity supply, and hygiene services at the buildings are functional so that they can be used as proper field hospitals or concentrated quarantine areas. In an online conference held on Thursday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, told authorities in 27 southern provinces that priority must be given to people’s health and safety. Outbreaks in the southern provinces, from Phu Yen to Ca Mau, particularly HCM City and other key economic hubs, were becoming complicated, he went on. He also said localities should share their experience in disease prevention and control so that good results can be replicated. They should also seek solutions for any shortcomings they come across. The localities were also asked to put forward to the Government, ministries and agencies solutions to quickly and effectively get the outbreak under control. PM Chinh asked local authorities to set up support centres, hotlines, and volunteer groups to support people in need. PM Chinh also urged localities and agencies to offer support to employers and employees who are badly affected by the COVID-19 as following the Government’s Resolution 68. The fourth wave of COVID-19 in Viet Nam has seen 34,582 cases with 33,909 locally transmitted cases, 7,547 recoveries and 100 deaths at the time of the conference. 11 provinces nationwide have not reported any new cases in the last 14 days. Seven provinces have not had secondary infections. In one week, Viet Nam reported 8,187 new cases in 34 provinces and cities. Sharp increases were seen in HCM City (6,338 cases), Binh Duong (458 cases), Tien Giang (280 cases), Dong Nai (222 cases), Dong Thap (161 cases), Long An (129 cases), Khanh Hoa (117 cases) and Vinh Long (114 cases). Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic was still very complicated in many areas around the world with more dangerous variants that pose a serious threat even in countries with high vaccination coverage. Long said that Viet Nam should expect cases to continue to rise. “As outbreaks occurred at wholesale markets, industrial parks and crowding residential areas, in the coming days, HCM City will continue to see an increase in the number of new cases,” he said. Neighbouring provinces and other southern localities like Binh Duong, Long An and Dong Nai should also expect to see a rise in new infections. Social distancing measures, under the Prime Minister's Directive 16, were enacted in HCM City on July 9 and are in place for 15 days. In northern and central provinces, the numbers of new cases have declined compared to those of last week. However, the risk of outbreaks remains as many people will return to the city from southern localities, Long said. The health ministry sent about 10,000 healthcare workers and volunteers, in 24 teams, to HCM City to quickly implement disease prevention and control measures. The ministry has also issued guidelines on home quarantine for F1s (people having close contacts with confirmed COVID-19 cases or suspected to get SARS-CoV-2). The quarantine period has also been reduced for F1s and arrivals from other countries to 14 days instead of 21. At present, 26,937 COVID-19 patients are under treatment. More than 270,660 people were quarantined including 3,564 at health facilities, 77,435 at concentrated quarantine areas and nearly 190,000 at their accommodations. – Viet Nam News
PM announces that 2 million 12–17-year-olds will receive vaccine in Cambodia before schools reopen
In a voice message just released, PM Hun Sen has announced that 12-17-year-olds will now receive COVID vaccines in Cambodia. The new policy had been hinted at on June 27 and continues as part of the Royal Government’s ‘Blossom’ policy of mass vaccination for Cambodia. In his message, the PM said: ‘With serious consideration of the social environment and taking into account the future of children and youth. In particular, focus on the welfare related to the reopening of schools, which is a huge loss for the world, as well as Cambodia in training human resources, where schools have been closed for so long. There is a need for vaccinations for children and adolescents from 12 to 17 years of age.’ The PM also stated that the first locations for vaccination of the under 18s would be Phnom Penh and Kandal, then moving to Sihanoukville and other provinces. He also appealed to parents to bring their children to be vaccinated, saying: ‘I would like to take this opportunity to call on parents and guardians of children to be ready to bring their children and grandchildren to be vaccinated when the time comes. We want to be socially accustomed to the reopening of socio-economic areas, especially schools where we have closed schools and to allow distance learning through online systems. This is a loss for us. If we had vaccinated children and young people, at least we would have been able to open schools from secondary school onwards’ The PM’s ambitious plans will mean Cambodia needs to secure another 4 million additional doses of vaccines, as the current target of 10 million people targeted for vaccination is only sufficient for Cambodians over 18. Already, Phnom Penh has seen 99.6% of over 18s vaccinated, and it is hoped that extending the vaccination to under 18s will pave the way for the reopening of schools as well as improving the resilience of the Kingdom against the COVID pandemic – which has now claimed more than 1,000 lives and over 64,000 cases. – Khmer Times
Civilians injured in Hpakant battle between KIA and military
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) reported heavy clashes in Kachin State’s Hpakant Township on Thursday morning following an ambush on regime forces the night before. Col Naw Bu, the KIA’s information officer, said the battle continued through the morning and was expected to get worse amid ongoing tensions. “The shooting has calmed down for now, but it hasn’t stopped completely. The situation is still tense,” he told Myanmar Now at around 1:00 pm on Thursday. He added that no detailed casualty figures for the two sides were available, but confirmed that many local civilians had been injured or displaced by the conflict. Local media outlets have reported that six civilians from the villages of Hseng Hpayar and Kum Aing Zut, located near the battlefield, were injured by heavy artillery used by military troops stationed in Nam Ya, another village in the area. There were also reports that residents of Kum Aing Zut had taken shelter in a church in Hseng Hpayar amid fears that the military was about to launch airstrikes. “We have received intelligence that many civilians have been displaced and are in a panic, as the military keeps hitting them with heavy weapons,” said Col Naw Bu. The fighting is taking place in an area under the control of the KIA’s Brigade 9. KIA Battalion 44, which operates under Brigade 9, is the main unit engaged in the Hpakant clashes. Earlier in the week, the KIA used landmines against a police vehicle carrying 10 regime troops in Yu Mar, another village in Hpakant Township. That attack, which took place on Monday, came a day after the KIA mounted an assault on a base in Waingmaw Township and seized weapons from a militia group operating under the junta’s command. The military has yet to release a statement regarding today’s fighting in Kachin State. – Myanmar NOW
Indonesians must remain alert to COVID-19 hoaxes: official
Viral messages encouraging the people at large to cease uploading COVID-19-related news on social media could prove counterproductive to efforts to eradicate the virus in Indonesia, an official from the Communication and Information Agency said on Thursday. Rony Primantoro made the remark in response to a message circulating on social media asking "Yogyakartans to unite together and cease uploading COVID-19 (related) news to (bring back) peace to the public and restore normalcy. Give us back our Yogya as it was, give us back Indonesia as it was". He assured that the message did not originate from official sources. "It seems like it has only spread among certain netizens, (it also has) certain intent too," he added. He encouraged the public to ignore COVID-19 hoaxes, instead of shrugging off the validated truth. "What actually has caused the public to worry, even become scared, are the massively spread hoaxes amidst the public (circulated) through many social medias," Primantoro elaborated. People must share COVID-19 news from reliable sources, which details appropriate COVID-19 handling, he advised. Apart from being educational, such news can also boost the morale of those infected by the virus, he said. "I think (the messages) should be selected, which ones not to share, which ones need (to be shared). We do not need to spread provocative and worrying hoaxes, (as they are) lowering the immune (system)," he remarked. Hoaxes can be identified in some ways, such as through their provocative wording and the use of social media as the means of delivery, he said. Social media users can also modify information and the content of messages before broadcasting them further, he pointed out. "Although using (famous) names like a public figure or an official, (any information) still needs clarification because texts from WhatsApp can be edited," he emphasized. On the other hand, the public has no need to distrust news from verified mass media sources, he added. He said he also expects the mass media to use appropriate wording to instil hope and boost the morale of the public, aside from providing information or COVID-19-related news. Primantoro noted the rapid spread of hoaxes through social media, with 2,800 hoaxes circulated in the 17 months since the pandemic hit. "Since the beginning of vaccination or more or less six months, there have been 700 hoaxes about vaccines. These (hoaxes have) affected the public's outlook (on vaccines), also their understanding with regard to COVID-19 handling," he pointed out. – AntaraNews.Com