Thousands of new COVID-19 cases reported in Southeast Asian countries

HANOI, May 4  -- The Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand on May 3 reported thousands of new COVID-19 cases, while Indonesia announced that it detected several new infections of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant in Jakarta, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.

 The Health Ministry of the Philippines confirmed 7,255 new cases, lifting the country’s tally to 1,062,225, including 17,525 deaths. 

 The Southeast Asian country started its COVID-19 vaccination programme in March, giving over 1.9 million doses of vaccine to its people. The Philippine government planned to vaccinate 70 million people this year to achieve the community immunity. 

 Meanwhile, the Malaysian Health Ministry reported 2,500 new cases, including 2,496 domestic infections, bringing its national count to 417,512. As many as 1,551 deaths related to COVID-19 were confirmed in the country.

 The Public Health Ministry of Thailand on the same day reported a new daily high of 31 deaths and 2,041 new infections. This took the total number of cases in the country to 71,025 since the pandemic began last year. The death toll stands at 276.

 VNA also reported that Prasit Watanapa, a professor of medicine, warned that Thailand faces a crisis if the number of deaths continues to rise. He urged people to be strict about wearing face masks, to follow all measures advocated to curb the latest outbreak and to accept vaccination.

 Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi announced that his country recorded two cases in Jakarta infected the B.1.617 variant, which was firstly detected in India.

 An infection of the SARS-CoV-2 variant found in South Africa was reported in Bali, he added. 

 So far, Indonesia has recorded 1,677,274 cases, including 45,796 deaths.

 The Cambodian government has announced its decision to lift the lockdown in Phnom Penh and the city adjacent to the capital - Ta Khmao in Kandal province from May 6.

-- BERNAMA