2024 RT Amination Banner.gif

China Daily

Asia Pacific> Asia News> Content
Wednesday, April 22, 2020, 23:09
Singapore's cases top 10,000 as worker infections rise
By Agencies
Wednesday, April 22, 2020, 23:09 By Agencies

Office workers wearing protective face masks walk out for a lunch break in the Raffles financial business district of Singapore on Feb 5, 2020. (PHOTO / AFP)

TOKYO / ISLAMABAD / DAMASCUS / MUSCAT / RAMALLAH / AMMAN / MALE / YANGON / KATHMANDU / WELLINGTON / SEOUL / NEW DELHI  / ULAN BATOR / CANBERRA — The total number of coronavirus cases in Singapore exceeded 10,000 on Wednesday as infections among migrant workers living in dormitories continued to surge.

As of noon, the city-state preliminarily recorded 1,016 new cases, according to a statement by the health ministry, bringing the total number of Covid-19 infections to 10,141. Of the new cases, the vast majority are work permit holders living in dormitories across the island, while 15 cases are Singaporeans or permanent residents, the statement said.

The large number of cases at the dorms is a serious problem

Lee Hsien Loong, PM, Singapore 

The rising number of cases in the facilities, where more than 200,000 people live, has complicated efforts to curb the spread of the virus in Singapore, even as the government looks for new ways to house workers who may be sharing living spaces with 10 or more people.

On Tuesday, Singapore said it’ll halt the daily movement of workers in and out of all dormitories, including those that are purpose built, factory converted or temporary quarters for construction laborers. Healthy workers in essential services have been moved to other facilities.

“The large number of cases at the dorms is a serious problem,” Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a address to the nation on Tuesday. “To assess the extent of the spread, we have tested aggressively. Not only those who reported sick, or showed fever or flu symptoms. But also those who were well and asymptomatic.”

In this April 21, 2020, photo, Italian-operated cruise ship the Costa Atlantica is anchored at a port in Nagasaki, southern Japan. (PHOTO / AP)

Bangladesh

Bangladesh on Wednesday reported 390 new COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 3,772.

"390 new COVID-19 positive cases and 10 deaths reported in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh," Senior health ministry official Professor Nasima Sultana told a press conference broadcast by television channels on Wednesday afternoon.

"The total number of positive cases is now 3,772 and death toll stands currently at 120," she added.

Vietnam

Vietnam, which has reported under 300 cases of coronavirus and no deaths since the first infections were detected in January, said on Wednesday it would start lifting tough movement restrictions as no new infections were reported in 6 days in a row. 

No provinces in Vietnam were now seen as “highly prone” to the pandemic, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said in a statement, although some non-essential businesses will remain closed.

Japan

More than 30 crew members on an Italian cruise ship docked for repairs in Japan’s Nagasaki prefecture have tested positive for the new coronavirus, raising concern about the impact on the local community.

The cluster of infections found on board the Costa Atlantica follows the case of the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama two months ago, where more than 700 were found to be infected, although this time only crew members were on board.

The vessel has 623 crew, and after detecting one had been infected tests were carried out on close contacts among fellow crew members.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, told a separate news conference that the health ministry was cooperating with the Italian government and had sent specialists and cluster infection experts to the ship.

South Korea

South Korea President Moon Jae-in said on Wednesday the government will prepare a third supplementary budget and sharply increase subsidies to keep more Koreans in jobs through the course of the coronavirus outbreak.

In a policy meeting with economic chiefs, Moon said a 40 trillion won (US$32.4 billion) fund will be created to aid businesses keep jobs, while those who recently lost jobs from temporary positions or freelance work will be eligible for a 500,000 won subsidy for three months.

The 100 trillion won rescue package previously announced will be increased to 135 trillion won, to inject more liquidity into companies struggling to secure lifelines due to their low credit rating.

South Korea reported 11 more cases of the COVID-19 compared with the previous day as of midnight Wednesday local time, raising the total number of infections to 10,694.

The daily caseload hovered around 10 for the fifth straight day. Of the new cases, six were imported from overseas, raising the combined number to 1,017.

One more death was confirmed, lifting the death toll to 238. The total fatality rate came in at 2.23 percent.

New Zealand

New Zealand reported one more death of COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 14 in the country, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.

The 14th death was a woman in her 80s who was a resident of the Rosewood rest home in Christchurch, with an underlying health condition, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said at a press conference.

Meanwhile, New Zealand reported six new confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 1,451 in the country.

Turkey

Turkey on Tuesday confirmed 4,611 new COVID-19 cases as its tally of infections surpassed 95,000. Meanwhile, Iran's total cases surged to near 85,000.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Turkey, the hardest-hit country in the Middle East, climbed to 95,591, while the death toll surged to 2,259, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted. 

He added that 14,918 patients have recovered from COVID-19, while 1,865 are being treated at intensive care units and 1,006 intubated.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the curve of COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey has begun flattening thanks to the timely measures his government has taken.

Iran 

The death toll from the outbreak of the new coronavirus in Iran rose by 94 in the past 24 hours to 5,391, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said in a statement on state TV on Wednesday.

The Islamic Republic has 85,996 diagnosed cases, Jahanpur said.

ALSO READ: Singapore extends lockdown for 4 more weeks as tally spikes

Israel

The Israeli Ministry of Health reported an increase of 384 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number to 14,326.

Since Tuesday evening, 454 COVID-19 patients have recovered in Israel, increasing the total number of recoveries to 4,961.

The number of coronavirus deaths rose to 187 in Israel, with three new death cases.

The number of patients in serious condition increased by nine to 148, out of 483 patients currently hospitalized.

Qatar

In Qatar, the Health Ministry announced 518 new coronavirus cases, raising the total number to 6,533, which included 614 recoveries. 

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia reported 1,147 new COVID-19 cases and 150 more deaths, raising the tally of coronavirus infections to 11,631, which include 109 fatalities and 1,640 recoveries.

Morocco confirmed 163 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number to 3,209, which included 145 deaths and 393 recoveries.

Kuwait

Kuwait on Wednesday reported 168 new cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths, bringing the total infections to 2,248 and death toll to 13, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Iraq

Iraq's Health Ministry reported 28 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number to 1,602. 

On Monday, the third batch of Chinese medical aid arrived in Baghdad as part of China's assistance to boost Iraq's capability to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

Syria 

Three new COVID-19 infections were recorded in Syria on Tuesday, the Syrian health ministry said in a statement.

With the new addition, a total of 42 infections have been reported in Syria, with six recoveries and three deaths, according to the statement.

Earlier in the day, health minister Nizar Yazigi said all the coronavirus infections are in the capital Damascus and its countryside.

Oman

The Omani Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday 98 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 1,508.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, the new cases, including 39 Omanis, are all community contacts.

The statement said that one death was recorded on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to eight. The total number of the recovered cases is 238.

The ministry called on everyone to observe the procedures for quarantine, not to go to public places or places of worship, and to ensure public hygiene.

Palestine

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah announced on Tuesday that five new cases of COVID-19 were recorded on Tuesday, raising the total in Palestine to 466.

With the announcement of the new cases, the total infections in Palestine have risen to 466, including 317 cases in the West Bank, 17 in the Gaza Strip and 132 in East Jerusalem.

The statement also said that 69 cases recovered and four deaths cases were recorded.

Jordan

Jordan said Tuesday it will continue to impose the curfew during the holy month of Ramadan to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maldives

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Maldives rose to 84 on Tuesday as the country's defence minister compared the battle against the pandemic to a war, local media reported.

The first infection in Male was confirmed last Wednesday and authorities have since imposed a 14-day lockdown on the city and banned travel between islands except for transport of essential goods.

READ MORE: New Zealand to ease lockdown restrictions next week

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has carried out more than 150,000 tests for the novel coronavirus so far, with the figure soon to reach half a million, a health ministry official said Tuesday.

Only maximum test coverage would allow for the gradual easing of quarantine measures, health ministry representative Habibulla Okilov told a media briefing.

Uzbekistan has registered 1,657 confirmed cases and has locked down all major cities, including its capital city of Tashkent, to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Myanmar

The number of COVID-19 infections has risen to 121 in Myanmar, with two more confirmed cases on Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports.

Nepal 

Nepal reported 11 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, raising the total count of COVID-19 cases to 42, the Ministry of Health and Population said.

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea (PNG) will partially ease the restrictions introduced to contain the COVID-19 outbreak as the country settles into a "new normal."

Police Commissioner and State of Emergency (SoE) controller, David Manning announced on Tuesday evening that he would move to relax restrictions on several activities.

The changes will see public transport services resumed, school and university students return to classes, restrictions on domestic and international air travel relaxed allowing PNG citizens to return home, as well as an easing of restrictions on ports.

Last week, PNG recorded five new confirmed cases of COVID-19, taking the total number to seven, with Prime Minister James Marape testing negative after potentially coming in contact with the disease.

Fiji

Eight out of the 18 patients who had contracted the deadly COVID-19 virus in Fiji have recovered by testing negative.

Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said on Wednesday that this means Fiji's recovery rate is at 44 percent as there are only 10 active COVID-19 cases in the island nation, which reported its first confirmed COVID-19 case on March 19, this year.

A total of 52 tests conducted on Tuesday have all come back negative, which includes 23 sailors, who will go into home isolation.

India

The COVID-19 positive cases in India Wednesday evening crossed the 20,000 mark as India's federal health ministry said total cases in the country have reached 20,471, including 652 deaths. Among them,12 deaths and 487 infections were reported in the past 24 hours. 

Wednesday marks the 29th straight day of ongoing lockdown across the country, which was announced on March 25 and has been extended until May 3.

Thailand 

Thailand on Wednesday reported 15 new coronavirus cases and one new death, continuing a trend of lower numbers of new cases.

Despite the slowing of new cases, officials remained cautious.

“The lower numbers are a small success ... but we cannot let our guard down,” said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for the government’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration.

The new fatality reported on Wednesday was a 58-year-old Thai woman who had diabetes and high-blood pressure as underlying diseases, said Taweesin.

Thailand has a total of 2,826 confirmed cases and 49 deaths.

Mongolia

One more COVID-19 case has been confirmed in Mongolia, bringing the national total to 35, the country's National Center for Communicable Disease (NCCD) said Wednesday.

"The latest case is a Mongolian woman who is the wife of the 34th confirmed case," who "is a transport driver who traveled to Hungary through Russia on Feb. 21 to work" and the couple returned to Mongolia Saturday, Dulmaa Nyamkhuu, head of the NCCD, said at a press conference.

All the 35 confirmed cases in Mongolia, including four non-nationals, are imported ones, and eight of them, including two non-nationals, have recovered so far, according to the NCCD.

A French national tested positive for the virus on March 10, becoming the first case in Mongolia.

Australia 

Australia continues to make progress in the fight against COVID-19, Health Minister Greg Hunt said Wednesday.

As of Wednesday morning there have been 6,647 confirmed cases of the virus in Australia, an increase of 0.3 percent from 6,625 on Tuesday morning.

The number of cases has increased by less than 0.5 percent for three consecutive days.

"So, all of that means, as a country, we are making huge progress," Hunt told Seven Network television on Wednesday morning.

"All of that gives us the ability to take these steps forward on that road out."

In a later appearance on Sky News Hunt confirmed that Australia's death toll has risen to 74.

Pakistan

Pakistani health officials playing a central role in the fight against COVID-19 feared of a sharp rise in the number of confirmed cases during the next couple of weeks, local media reported Wednesday morning.

According to the data released by the health ministry on Wednesday morning, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen to 9,749, with 209 deaths and 2,156 recoveries.

Overall, 7,384 active patients are under treatment in different hospitals, said the ministry, adding that the government has conducted 118,020 tests so far.  

Lebanon

A team from Lebanon’s Rafik Hariri University Hospital will test for the new coronavirus at a refugee camp on Wednesday after a resident was found to be infected, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said.

A Palestinian refugee from Syria at the Wavel refugee camp in Lebanon’s Bekaa valley was transferred to hospital in Beirut for treatment that will be covered by the relief agency, a statement said.

Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased on Wednesday by five to 682 while death toll increased by one to 22, the National News Agency reported.

Health Minister Hamad Hassan said that his ministry will continue to increase PCR tests until May 10 which will enable the ministry to have a clear picture about the extent of COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

The Philippines

A prison in the Philippines is suffering from a major outbreak of the new coronavirus with 123 infected inmates, officials said on Wednesday, adding to concerns among activists about contagion risks in some of the world’s most overcrowded jails.

The Philippines reported 111 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, raising the total number of cases in the country to 6,710. Nine more patients have died, bringing the death toll to 446.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a local television interview that the rate of transmission of COVID-19 in the Philippines is slowing down.

Indonesia 

Indonesia extended stringent social distancing rules in Jakarta, home to more than 10 million people, as the capital region continued to remain the epicenter of infections in the Southeast Asian nation.

The large scale social distancing measures, which include a ban on gatherings of more than five people, limited public transport services and mandatory work-from-home, were extended to May 22, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said Wednesday. The restrictions, first imposed on April 10, were to end Thursday.

Indonesia has reported 283 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 7,418, the government's spokesperson for the COVID-19-related matters Achmad Yurianto said at a press conference here on Wednesday afternoon.

A total of 635 deaths have now been recorded in the country, increased by 19 within the past 24 hours.

Laos 

Laos tested 83 more cases of COVID-19, all of which were tested negative, with the total number in the country remaining at 19 on Wednesday.

The total number of COVID-19 case in Laos remained at 19, as no new case was confirmed, Lao Deputy Minister of Health Phouthone Meaungpak told a press conference on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday, Laos tested 1,461 suspected cases with 19 cases tested positive, and four patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital.

Afghanistan

Fifty-one more COVID-19 positive cases had been confirmed over the past 24 hours, bringing the number of patients infected with the virus to 1,143 in Afghanistan, spokesman for Afghan Public Health Ministry confirmed on Wednesday.

"Twenty-eight of the newly confirmed cases were reported in Kabul province. The total COVID-19 confirmed cases stands at 1,143 across Afghanistan as of now," spokesman Wahidullah Mayar told reporters.

The official noted that, two COVID-19 patients died in Kabul province and two other infected patients succumbed to the virus in eastern Nangarhar province within the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 40 since the outbreak of the pandemic in mid February in Afghanistan.

Malaysia 

Malaysia reported 50 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the cumulative total to 5,532.

The health ministry also reported one new death, bringing the total number of fatalities up to 93.

Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan, one of the few nations in the world that has reported no cases of the new coronavirus, insisted on Wednesday its official data was true and it was not hiding anything.

“If there was a single confirmed coronavirus case we would have immediately informed ... the World Healthcare Organization in line with our obligations,” Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov told a briefing.

Share this story

CHINA DAILY
HONG KONG NEWS
OPEN
Please click in the upper right corner to open it in your browser !