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Asia Today
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Thousands of foreigners leave Indonesia amid Covid-19 crisis
Indonesia now has the most confirmed daily cases in Asia, as infections and deaths have surged over the past month and India’s massive outbreak has waned. Infections peaked in mid-July, with the highest daily average reported at more than 50,000 new cases each day. Until mid-June, daily cases had been running at about 8,000.
Indonesia caught between surge and slow vaccine rollout
After a slow vaccination rollout, Indonesia is now racing to inoculate as many people as possible as it battles an explosion of COVID-19 cases that have strained its health care. But inadequate global supply, the complicated geography of the world's largest archipelago nation, and hesitancy among some Indonesians stand as major roadblocks.
Vietnam to test all 9M residents in largest city
Vietnam plans to test all 9 million people in its largest city for the coronavirus and imposed more restrictions Monday to deal with a growing COVID-19 outbreak.
Hundreds of bodies found buried along Indian riverbanks
Police are reaching out to villagers in northern India to investigate the recovery of bodies buried in shallow sand graves or washing up on the Ganges River banks, prompting speculation on social media that they were the remains of COVID-19 victims.
Fiji Sequesters Hospital Staff After COVID Death
Health authorities say they’re quarantining 400 patients, doctors, nurses and staff within the compound until they can determine who had contact with a coronavirus patient who died.
Indonesia resumes use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine
Indonesia on Friday cleared the AstraZeneca vaccine for use again after the European Union’s drug regulator said the…
Bangladesh at 50: A nation created in violence and still bearing scars of a troubled birth
In the 50 years since its independence, Bangladesh has made some significant strides. It has aggressively tackled infant mortality, gender inequity and economic development. Today, with a booming economy, it is on track to graduate from the United Nation’s least developed country category.
Nevertheless, Bangladesh still faces enormous challenges. Violence against women and girls, corruption and lack of press freedoms remain serious concerns.
Virus resurges as India slowly vaccinates more
India has registered its worst single-day increase in coronavirus cases since late December as the western state of Maharashtra battles a resurgence.
India expands its vaccination drive
The shots will be given for free at government hospitals and will also be sold at over 10,000 private hospitals at a fixed price of 250 rupees, or $3.40, per shot.
Asia Today: India starts shipping COVID-19 vaccine to cities
Beginning Saturday, India will start the massive undertaking of inoculating an estimated 30 million doctors, nurses and other front-line workers. The effort will then turn to inoculating around 270 million people who are either older than 50 or have secondary health conditions that raise their risks of dying from COVID-19.
Asia Today: South Korean minister warns of virus ‘war zone’
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s health minister said Monday that the Seoul metropolitan area is now a…
Asia Today: India virus surge continues in New Delhi
India's Health Ministry reported 44,684 new positive cases in the past 24 hours and 520 deaths. Of those, 7,802 new cases were reported in New Delhi, with 91 deaths.
Asia Today: Australia’s Victoria has no cases for 8th day
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to announce another relaxation of rules on Sunday, including the removal of Melbourne’s so-called “ring of steel.” No longer confined within a 25-kilometer (15-mile) radius, the city’s residents will be allowed to travel throughout the state.
Asia Today: South Korea OKs single test for COVID-19 and flu
Health officials in South Korea have approved a new test that’s designed to detect both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza from the same samples, which would help prevent disruption at hospitals as the pandemic stretches into the flu season.
Asia Today: Sri Lanka closes harbors after 609 test positive
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Authorities in Sri Lanka on Saturday closed at least two fishery harbors and many…
Asia Today: Sri Lanka closes fish market, expands curfew
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s main fish market was closed Thursday and a curfew widened as a…
Asia Today: Philippines allows foreign travel to resume
MANILA — The Philippines on Wednesday lifted a ban on non-essential foreign trips by Filipinos, but the immigration…
Asia Today: South Korea testing at hospitals, nursing homes
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea on Monday began testing tens of thousands of employees of hospitals and…
Asia Today: Sydney lifts quarantine for N. Zealand travelers
Australia’s largest city Sydney lifted quarantine restrictions on travelers from New Zealand on Friday while the second largest city, Melbourne, marked the 100th day of one of the world’s longest pandemic lockdowns.
Asia Today: SKorea reports 110 cases, half in Busan hospital
South Korea has reported 110 new cases of the coronavirus, half of them linked to a hospital in Busan.
Asia Today: India reports 63,000 new cases, China tests 4.2M
NEW DELHI — India has confirmed more than 63,000 new cases of the coronavirus, an increase of over…
Asia Today: China to test 9 million after new outbreak
The announcement broke a two-month streak with no virus transmissions reported within China, though China has a practice of not reporting asymptomatic cases. The ruling Communist Party has lifted most curbs on travel and business but still monitors travelers and visitors to public buildings for signs of infection.
Asia Today: Sri Lanka orders closures to contain virus
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lankan health authorities worked Friday to contain a growing cluster of new coronavirus…
Asia Today: India has another 75,800 cases, recovery high
India has registered 75,829 confirmed coronaviruses cases in the past 24 hours, a day after crossing 100,000 fatalities.…
Asia Today: Victoria premier concerned over mall outbreak
The Covid-19 figures in Australia’s Victoria state continued to show improvement on Saturday but officials are concerned about an outbreak at the country’s largest shopping center.
Asia Today: Australia, New Zealand to partially open borders, PHL tourist spots partially reopen
Australia and New Zealand on Friday announced a partial opening of their borders to travel between the neighboring…
Asia Today: September was India’s worst month of pandemic
India is expected to become the pandemic’s worst-hit country within weeks, surpassing the United States, where more than 7.2 million people have been infected.
Asia Today: South Korea has virus jump before holiday period
South Korea has reported 113 new cases of COVID-19, its first daily increase over 100 in five days, as the country entered a holiday break that officials fear would possibly worsen transmissions.
Asia Today: Philippines placing southern city in lockdown
Authorities are concerned by a COVID-19 outbreak aboard a cargo ship off the Australian northwest coast. Eight more members of the Filipino crew tested positive, bringing the number of infections to 17 out of a crew of 21.
Asia Today: South Korea’s daily virus cases at another low
South Korea’s daily coronavirus increase was the lowest in about 50 days Tuesday as new infections trend lower.
Asia Today: Australian hot spot, South Korea hit new lows
Australia’s coronavirus hot spot, Victoria state, on Monday recorded its lowest number of new infections in more than…
Asia Today: Melbourne eases lockdown, schools, work resume
Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne, has further eased lockdown restrictions imposed after a surge in coronavirus cases, allowing most…
Asia Today: India’s daily new virus cases on declining trend
India reported another 86,052 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, a declining trend with recoveries exceeding new cases this week.
Asia Today: China to let in more foreigners as virus recedes
Beginning Monday, foreign nationals holding valid Chinese visas and residence permits for work, personal matters and family reunions will be permitted to enter China without needing to apply for new visas, according to the regulation.
Asia Today: India sees 83,000 new cases, but numbers falling
The country has now confirmed more than 5.6 million cases. The health ministry also reported 1,085 new fatalities, raising the death toll to 90,020
Asia Today: Duterte extends virus calamity status by a year
President Rodrigo Duterte says he has extended a state of calamity in the entire Philippines by a year to allow the government to draw emergency funds faster to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and harness the police and military to maintain law and order.
Asia Today: India adds 87K cases, New Zealand easing rules
India recorded nearly 87,000 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours as it edged closer to the United States in having the most reported cases in the world.
Asia Today: New Zealand to begin lifting virus restrictions
All remaining virus restrictions will be lifted across much of New Zealand from late Monday with the exception of the largest city, Auckland, which will continue to have some restrictions for at least another 16 days.
Asia Today: Fewer cases in Melbourne, new surge in India
Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne, has moved close to easing severe lockdown restrictions after recording only 14 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday.
Asia Today: Vietnam to resume international flights
Vietnam will resume international commercial flights to several Asian destinations starting Friday, after a monthslong shutdown to curb the coronavirus outbreak.
Asia Today: Beijing receiving 1st intl flights since March
Beijing’s main international airport on Thursday began receiving international flights again from a limited number of countries considered at low risk of coronavirus infection.