These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world.
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Not just coughing and sneezing - talking and singing can also spread Covid-19: NUS study
A new study by a National University of Singapore (NUS) team has found that an infected person can spread Covid-19 by exhaling fine aerosol particles when breathing, talking and singing, not just though droplets when coughing or sneezing.
The authors of the study on Wednesday (Aug 11) said the research findings reinforce the need for infection control measures - such as social distancing, mask-wearing and increased room ventilation - especially in an indoor environment, where airborne transmission of the virus is most likely to occur.
The study, led by researchers from NUS and conducted at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), showed that talking and singing can produce two types of viral particles - fine aerosols (less than 5 micrometres in size), and coarse aerosols (larger than 5 micrometres).
The fine aerosols generated from both types of activities contained more viral particles than coarse aerosols, said Professor Paul Tambyah, an infectious diseases expert from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.
Prof Tambyah, a co-author of the paper, said while there was no linear relationship between the size of an aerosol particle and the amount of virus it carries, the size can give researchers a clue as to how much virus or parts of a virus are present in an aerosol particle. – Straits Times
'Hold off Immigration enforcement'
A moratorium on enforcement against undocumented migrants and refugees should be introduced to encourage them to come out and get vaccinated against Covid-19.
Beyond Borders Malaysia founder Mahi Ramakrishnan said many of them had expressed interest in getting vaccinated to protect themselves against the virus, but feared being arrested and detained if they turned up for Covid-19 inoculation appointments at vaccination centres (PPVs).
She suggested the Immigration Department allayed such fears as some refugees who had registered for vaccination on the MySejahtera app had yet to receive their jabs.
She said undocumented migrants and refugees did not go for walk-in vaccinations at facilities near them as they were afraid they would land in trouble with the authorities.
"The department should have made an official statement that these groups of vulnerable people have nothing to worry about. They shouldn't have to worry about their immigration status, whether they have valid documents or otherwise, or the United Nations High Commission for Refugees card.
"What's important is for the country to achieve the goal of having its population vaccinated and attain herd immunity. To do this we need everybody to get the vaccine." – New Straits Times
Further mass testing 'could cut cases'
Covid-19 infections in Bangkok remain a serious concern although the curve could be brought down with further mass testing rounds in the next two weeks, says the Public Health Ministry.
The latest mass tests in the capital and surrounding provinces were carried out by 41 teams of 400 doctors and medical workers between Aug 1-10, according to Yongyot Thammawut, deputy public health permanent secretary.
Of the 141,516 people tested using antigen test kits, 15,588 were initially found to be infected. However, the number dropped to 15,074 after the sick went through an RT-PCR test method.
Dr Yongyot said the mass tests had focused on areas with heavy Covid-19 loads.
Of those testing positive for the virus, 10,839, or 69%, exhibited little or no symptoms and 4,427 were in the "amber" group, in moderate condition. A total of 323 people were diagnosed with severe symptoms.
He said 3,509 people were given the fa talai jone (green chiretta) medicinal herb and 8,939 with the antiviral drug favipiravir.
The medical workers who performed the tests, also known as the Comprehensive Covid-19 Response (CCR) teams, managed to cover 100 communities including crowded areas and condominiums.
"What we gathered from launching the tests shows the transmission in Bangkok remains a serious concern.
"It tells us there are still many people sick with Covid-19, and who have no access to testing. We need to press on with mass testing," the deputy permanent secretary said. – Bangkok Post
121 raps filed vs. profiteers, fake news purveyors amid pandemic
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it has filed 121 charges against 80 individuals over unscrupulous acts amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
PNP chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, said the cases involved spreading disinformation on the internet, illegal online sale of medical supplies, and online scams.
“Aside from the strict enforcement of minimum public health safety standards and quarantine protocols, the PNP continues to hunt evil people who are making a profit and taking advantage of the fear and anxiety felt by our fellowmen due to Covid-19,” Eleazar said in a statement.
Eleazar said based on the data from March 9 to August 9, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) have filed 87 criminal complaints against 52 persons for spreading fake news; three online scam complaints against two persons; and 31 criminal complaints against 26 persons for online profiteering, overpricing, hoarding and unauthorized selling of medical supplies in the different prosecutor’s offices nationwide. – Philippine News Agency
PM calls for a government of innovation, integrity, efficiency
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính expressed determination to build an innovative, transparent, action-oriented and effective Government in service of the people during the first meeting of the 15th Government that was held virtually nationwide yesterday.
Attending the event were Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ and other leaders.
The Government set a target in the 2021-25 period of ensuring fast and sustainable economic growth on the basis of enhancing macroeconomic stability, developing science, technology and innovation.
It will strive for an economic growth rate higher than the average rate of the five years between 2016-20, and by 2025 will be a developing country with modern industry, surpassing the low-middle income level.
The Government will improve productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy, effectively overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, quickly recover and develop the economy. – Vietnam News
Foreign traveler arrivals to Cambodia down 91.3 pct in H1 due to COVID-19, tourism may reopen in December
Cambodia received 102,560 international visitors during the first six months of 2021, a decrease of 91.3 percent from 1.18 million over the same period last year, said a tourism ministry’s report released on Wednesday.
Thailand, China and Vietnam were the largest sources of foreign travelers to the kingdom during the January-June period this year, the report said.
It added that some 52,290 Thais, 29,751 Chinese and 6,956 Vietnamese came to Cambodia during the first half of this year, down 67.5 percent, 89 percent and 96 percent, respectively over the same period last year.
Currently, there are 18 airlines flying in and out of Cambodia, the report said, adding that 1,089 flights to Cambodia were recorded during the first six months of this year, down 89.5 percent year-on-year.
Tourism ministry’s secretary of state and spokesman Top Sopheak said the significant decline in the number of foreign visitors was due to the COVID-19 pandemic that had forced the kingdom to suspend tourist visas to all foreign citizens since March last year.
“We hope that Cambodia will be able to reopen its door to vaccinated tourists by the end of this year after the country has achieved herd immunity,” he told Xinhua. – Khmer Times
Myanmar activists fall to their deaths from apartment building during junta raid
Five young people involved in the anti-coup movement fell from the roof of a three-storey apartment building in downtown Yangon’s Botahtaung Township on Tuesday afternoon, with two confirmed dead on Wednesday. They were attempting to escape a military raid and allegedly jumped from the building, according to eyewitnesses.
Around 20 junta personnel, including police officers and both uniformed and plainclothes soldiers, stormed an apartment on the lower block of 44th Street, while the people in question—one woman and four men—were inside.
“They ran up to the roof to escape... I think they decided that there was no other way out and jumped into the back alley behind the building,” said a resident who witnessed the incident and spoke to Myanmar Now on the condition of anonymity.
The eyewitness estimated that the building from which they are believed to have jumped was more than 50 feet tall.
He said that at least two people initially survived the fall and were conscious, moaning in pain and asking for water. No one was able to help them, he explained, since the soldiers at the scene threatened to shoot anyone who approached. Eventually, the two individuals stopped moving, he said. – Myanmar NOW
Rise in death toll due to unreported cases: Health Ministry
The increase recorded in the COVID-19 mortality rate in Indonesia in the last three weeks is the result of the accumulation of unreported cases, the Health Ministry has said.
"Some data has been accumulated for day or weeks - even for several months. Hence, they become less appropriate to be used as an indicator for assessing current COVID-19 conditions in Indonesia," spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccinations at the ministry, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said here on Wednesday afternoon.
Ministry data shows that in the last three weeks, the death toll in Indonesia has increased, with West Java, Central Java, and East Java provinces accounting for the most fatalities.
An analysis of the ministry’s National All Record (NAR) data had found that the regional governments' report did not reflect the actual figures, expert staff at the ministry, Panji Fortuna Hadisoemarto, explained.
NAR is a big data system for laboratory records managed by the ministry to aid handling of COVID-19, he added. – AntaraNews.Com