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Friday, May 08, 2020, 22:59
S. Korea tracks new coronavirus outbreak in Seoul nightclubs
By Agencies
Friday, May 08, 2020, 22:59 By Agencies

People relax at the Cheonggye Stream as daily life is slowly returning to normal amid a lifting of restrictions in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic in Seoul, South Korea, May 7, 2020. South Korea says it'll expand its humanitarian shipments of masks to other countries amid waning domestic cases of the coronavirus. (AHN YOUNG-JOON / AP)

SYDNEY / KABUL / MUMBAI / GAZA / MUSCAT / JERUSALEM / BAGHDAD / AMMAN / ANKARA / KATHMANDU / NEW DELHI / SINGAPORE / TOKYO / BANGKOK / JAKARTA / SEOUL / KUALA LUMPUR / MANILA / DHAKA — South Korean health authorities are investigating a small but growing coronavirus outbreak centred in a handful of Seoul nightclubs, seeking to keep infections in check as the country moves to less restrictive social distancing measures.

South Korea has reported only a handful of cases in recent days, the majority of them in people arriving from overseas

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said on Friday at least 15 people have confirmed cases of the virus linked to the clubs in Itaewon, a neighbourhood popular with Koreans and foreigners in the city.

South Korea has reported only a handful of cases in recent days, the majority of them in people arriving from overseas. The nightclub infections, while still limited, are expected to increase, and come at a time when the country has eased some social distancing restrictions.

Seoul city officials say they have a list of about 1,500 people who have visited the clubs, and more cases have been confirmed in other cities where the patients lived or travelled. Authorities have asked anyone who visited the clubs over the weekend to self isolate for 14 days and be tested.

The cluster of infections also raised controversy over the possible unintended side effects of South Korea’s invasive tracing and wide public disclosure of some patient information.

South Korea reported 12 more cases of the COVID-19 compared to 24 hours earlier as of 0:00 am Friday local time, raising the total number of infections to 10,822.

The daily caseload hovered below 20 for 21 straight days. Of the new cases, 11 were imported from overseas, lifting the combined figure to 1,107.

No death was confirmed, leaving the death toll at 256. The total fatality rate stood at 2.37 percent.

A total of 65 more patients were discharged from quarantine after making full recovery, pulling up the combined number to 9,484. The total recovery rate was 87.6 percent.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has updated the data once a day at 10:00 am local time from March 10, after having announced it twice a day.

Since Jan 3, the country has tested more than 654,000 people, among whom 635,174 tested negative for the virus and 8,867 were being checked.  

Malaysia

Malaysian health authorities on Friday reported 68 new coronavirus cases, bringing the cumulative total to 6,535 cases.

The health ministry also reported no new deaths at its daily media briefing for a second straight day, leaving total fatalities at 107 cases.

A woman wearing a face mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walks past a store at a shopping district, May 7, 2020, in Tokyo. (EUGENE HOSHIKO / AP)

Japan

As Japan prepares to ease coronavirus restrictions in some parts of the country, a growing number of the country’s businesses were planning to resume operations after month-long shutdowns have brought economic activity to a grinding halt.

Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Friday that the government was looking at ways to bring some parts of the country out of lockdown measures as infections in several regions outside main centres were reporting zero infections on a daily basis.

Japan’s ruling coalition is set to propose rent relief for small firms hit by the pandemic, the Nikkei business daily reported

“The number of new infections of the coronavirus is significantly falling, he told reporters. “There are more prefectures with no new coronavirus cases, so lifting the state of emergency is within sight.”

Japan’s government will respond appropriately to ruling party lawmakers’ calls for more steps to cushion the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak, Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Friday.

Aso told reporters after a cabinet meeting that he would consider whether to use budget reserve or compile another extra budget to fund additional economic steps.

Japan’s ruling coalition is set to propose rent relief for small firms hit by the pandemic, the Nikkei business daily reported.

After lockdown measures led to a record contraction of Japan’s services sector last month, businesses have been resuming operations even as the coronavirus epidemic has sapped consumer demand.

Casual clothing chain Uniqlo reopened 48 stores in Japan on Thursday, including several large stores in Tokyo and Osaka, its owner Fast Retailing said, while Aeon Co, the region’s biggest supermarket operator, said it was reopening its Aeon Mall shopping centres.

Japan this week extended its nationwide state of emergency to the end of May but said it would reassess the situation on May 14 and possibly lift the measures earlier for some prefectures.

So far, eight of Japan’s prefectures have lifted shutdown requests for businesses including cafes, bars and sports clubs. An additional 17 are planning to allow businesses to resume operations next week.

As of Friday, Japan has confirmed 15,500 coronavirus infections in the country and 590 deaths.

Indonesia

Indonesia is considering plans for a phased resumption of businesses in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy from as early as June 1, with the easing of restrictions aimed at curbing the novel coronavirus, government documents showed.

The proposals come as medical experts have criticised Indonesia for being slow to respond to the outbreak. 

Indonesia reported 336 new coronavirus infections on Friday, taking the total in the Southeast Asian country to 13,112, said health ministry official Achmad Yurianto.

Yurianto reported 13 more deaths, taking the total to 943, while 2,494 have recovered.

More than 103,300 people have been tested, he said.

Still, there is mounting concern about the deepening economic impact of restrictions with at least 2 million people losing their jobs in the past six weeks and poverty increasing.

Officials at the Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs have looked at a five-phase plan to reopen some cities under strict health protocols, including wearing masks and social distancing, a document reviewed by Reuters showed.

Shopping malls could reopen on June 8, with schools set to restart a week later, but only if new cases fall and testing targets are met, according to the plan set out in the document.

Beauty salons, cinemas and sport centres may be allowed to operate by June 15, with full reopening seen at the end of July or early August.

Medical staff take down details after performing tests for the COVID-19 coronavirus on people who used a drive-through testing site in a Melbourne carpark on May 1, 2020. (WILLIAM WEST / AFP)

Australia

Australia will ease social distancing restrictions in a three-step process, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday, as Canberra aims to remove all curbs by July and get nearly 1 million people back to work amid a decline in coronavirus cases.

With fewer than 20 new infections each day, Morrison said Australian states and territories on Friday agreed a road map to remove most of the curbs

Australia in March imposed strict social distancing restrictions, which coupled with the closure of its borders, are credited with drastically slowing the number of new infections of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

With fewer than 20 new infections each day, Morrison said Australian states and territories on Friday agreed a road map to remove most of the curbs.

“You can stay under the doona forever. You’ll never face any danger,” Morrison told reporters in Canberra, using an Australian word for quilt. “But we’ve got to get out from under the doona at some time.”

Morrison said it will be up to Australia’s various states and territories to decide when to begin implement each stage. Each step will likely be separated by four-week transition.

Despite the staggered easing, Morrison warned the country should still expect further outbreaks.

Australia has had fewer than 7,000 confirmed cases of COVD-19 and fewer than 800 people are still sick with the disease. Almost 100 people have died.

Thailand

Thailand on Friday reported eight new coronavirus cases but no deaths, bringing the total to 3,000 cases and 55 deaths since the outbreak started in January.

Of the new cases, three are from the southern province of Yala where authorities are aggressively testing the population due to high infection rates, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, spokesman for the government’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration.

Five other new cases are migrants who have been detained at an immigration detention centre in southern Songkhla province, Taweesin said. The centre has seen 60 other cases in the past two weeks.

Slowing numbers of new cases have prompted Thailand to cautiously allow some businesses this week to reopen after weeks of semi-lockdown.

India

The recovery rate of COVID-19 patients Friday increased to nearly 30 percent, India's federal health ministry said.

"Till now, 16,540 patients have been cured and 37,916 patients are under active medical supervision," said Lav Agrawal, joint secretary of the health ministry during daily press briefing on coronavirus. "The recovery percentage is now 29.36 percent."

Agrawal said 1,273 people cured and 3,390 new cases reported during the last 24 hours. The total number of COVID-19 cases in India on Friday reached 56,342 and the death toll rose to 1,886.

ALSO READ: Thailand to expand coronavirus testing as new cases dwindle

Singaopore

Singapore plans to test all 16,000 elderly residents of its nursing homes for the coronavirus over the coming weeks, as it edges towards exiting a nationwide lockdown next month.

The city-state recorded 768 new coronavirus on Friday, taking its total infections to 21,707 - one of the highest rates in Asia largely due to mass outbreaks among a young population of low-paid migrant labourers living in crowded dormitories.

It has recorded only 20 deaths from the virus, with the majority being over the age of 60. Four of the deaths have been residents of nursing homes.

People, wearing face masks as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, walk past a closed retail mall along the Orchard Road shopping belt in Singapore on May 6, 2020. (ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP)

The Philippines

The Philippines’ Health Ministry on Friday recorded 11 new coronavirus deaths and 120 additional confirmed cases.

In a bulletin, the ministry said total infections had increased to 10,463 while deaths had reached 696. It added that 116 patients had recovered, bringing total recoveries to 1,734.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh on Friday reported 709 new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to over 13,000.

"A total of 709 new COVID-19 positive cases and seven deaths were reported in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh," Prof. Nasima Sultana, a senior health ministry official, told a televised press conference on Friday afternoon.

She said the country's total number of COVID-19 cases now stands at 13,134 and the death toll has reached 206.

According to the official, a total of 5,941 samples were tested in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh.

She added that 191 more patients were released from hospitals during the past 24 hours, bringing the number of total recovered patients to 2,101 so far in the country. 

Afghan

Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on Friday reported 215 new COVID-19 cases within the past 24 hours, taking the total cases to 3,778.

The ministry said in a statement that four COVID patients were discharged from hospitals across the country during the period, bringing to 472 the number of patients who recovered from the disease.

Three COVID patients died since early Thursday, bringing the death toll to 109.

Earlier in the day, Afghan health authorities confirmed that Public Health Minister Firuzuddin Firuz tested positive for the coronavirus.

To contain the pandemic, the Afghan government has put big cities including Kabul under quarantine since late March, calling on people to remain at home.

In a latest effort to support the COVID-19 response, the government has extended the quarantine for a third time for a further 21 days which is expected to end on May 30. 

Palestine

Palestine on Thursday said that the newly decided easing of lockdown does not undermine precautionary health measures imposed across the country.

So far, the number of cases in the West Bank has reached 355, while 20 were found in Gaza Strip and 172 in East Jerusalem

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye told reporters at the Health Ministry in the West Bank city of Ramallah that the new decisions do not include easing the precautionary health measures concerning the COVID-19 testing and contraction.

Palestine on Thursday declared a new case of coronavirus in the West Bank, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 547.

So far, the number of cases in the West Bank has reached 355, while 20 were found in Gaza Strip and 172 in East Jerusalem.

And the number of recovered cases has reached 224, said the health ministry.

On April 20, the Palestinian government declared relaxing some measures for the benefit of economic sectors after 45 days of closure.

Nevertheless, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared a state of emergency again on Monday.

According to the head of Palestinian Health Ministry's Preventative Medicine Department Ali Abedrabo, the precautionary measures are in place, including social distancing and hygiene.

Abedrabo said that the rate of the recovered cases has reached 40 percent.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry in Gaza Strip said that the Rafah border crossing with Egypt will reopen next week for Palestinians who have been stranded outside.

The ministry's spokesperson Iyad al-Bozom said that all the returning citizens will be required a 21-day quarantine upon their arrival in Gaza.

READ MORE: Gulf faces expatriate exodus as oil crashes, jobs lost

Oman

The Omani Ministry of Health announced on Thursday 55 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 2,958.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, out of the 55 new cases, there are 15 Omanis, and all the new cases are related to community contact.

The statement pointed out that 92 new cases recovered, bringing the total recovered cases to 980, and the death toll of the pandemic in the country hit 14.

The ministry called on people to observe the procedures for quarantine, avoid public places or places of worship, and ensure public hygiene.

Israel

Israel's Ministry of Health reported 71 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total number to 16,381.

It said the number of death cases increased from 239 to 240, while the number of patients in serious condition dropped from 89 to 83.

Also, the number of recoveries rose by 236 to 10,873, it added.

Earlier on Thursday, shopping malls, markets and gyms across Israel were reopened under restrictions of keeping distance between people, temperature tests and hygiene requirements.

On May 10, kindergartens in Israel are expected to reopen, with each kindergarten divided into separate groups.

Iraq

The Iraqi Health Ministry on Thursday confirmed 63 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 2,543.

The new cases were recorded after 2,878 test kits were used across the country during the past 24 hours, the ministry said in a statement.

The new cases included 33 in the capital Baghdad, 25 in Basra, and five in Kirkuk, it said.

So far, Iraq has reported a death toll of 102 and 1,626 recoveries, it added.

Iraq has been taking measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, including a nationwide curfew.

The Iraqi government decided to partially lift the curfew between April 21 and May 22, which covers most of the holy month of Ramadan starting from April 24.

Jordan

Jordan on Thursday reported 11 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 484.

Jordan's Health Minister Saad Jaber said that a driver in Mafraq governorate was infected with the virus and the other new cases had contact with him.

Jaber also reported four more recoveries of patients, increasing the tally of recoveries in the country to 381.

Turkey

Turkey on Thursday reported 1,977 confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 133,721.

The death toll from the virus in Turkey reached 3,641 after 57 more people lost their lives in the last 24 hours, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted. 

 A total of 82,984 patients have recovered, and 1,260 patients are still being treated in intensive care units, with 665 intubated, the minister said.   

Turkey conducted 30,395 tests in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of tests to 1,265,119, he noted.

Nepal

The number of COVID-19 cases in Nepal has crossed 100 marks after two new cases were confirmed on Thursday in south western Kapilvastu district, a senior official of Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population said.

After the largest single day spike of 17 new cases on Wednesday, the COVID-19 cases had reached 99. Following the addition of two new cases, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nepal reached 101.

Nepal has been enforcing a nationwide lockdown since March 24 to prevent the spread of the virus, including suspending land and air travels, closing borders for cross border movement of people, shutting down businesses and industries, except related to essential goods and services.

On Wednesday, the Nepali government extended the lockdown till May 18. 

Fiji 

Fiji has so far screened 749,359 persons, or 85 percent of its population for COVID-19, local media reported on Friday.

According to Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), these are based on statistics from Fijian Health Ministry's fixed and mobile fever clinics.

The island nation confirmed its first COVID-19 case on March 19, and has reported 18 confirmed cases so far.

Meanwhile, Fiji has done a total of 1,490 COVID-19 tests.

Of the 18 patients, 14 have fully recovered from COVID-19 and they are in self isolation for 14 days at their homes while the four active patients are still in isolation and in stable condition.

Iran

Iranian health ministry on Friday reported 1,556 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 104,691 in the country, state TV reported.

Also, 55 new death cases were registered overnight, bringing the total number of the deaths from COVID-19 to 6,541, said Kianush Jahanpur, head of Public Relations and Information Center of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

Jahanpur said that a total of 83,837 cases have recovered and left hospitals, with 2,711 still in critical condition and under treatment.

So far, 558,899 lab tests for COVID-19 have been carried out in the country, he added.

Laos

Six out of 10 remaining COVID-19 patients in hospital have tested negative for the virus in the first round testing in Laos, Lao Deputy Minister of Health Phouthone Meaungpak told a press conference on Friday.

The deputy minister said that all patients' health improve significantly, and the six patients who tested negative will be permitted to return home if they test negative for the second round.

All of the 10 infected cases are treated in designated hospital -- Mittaphab Hospital (Hospital 150) in Lao capital Vientiane.

Laos reported no new case of COVID-19 for 26 consecutive days, according to the National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

As of Friday, Laos tested 2,733 suspected cases with 19 cases tested positive, and nine patients have recovered.

Lebanon

Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased on Friday by 12 cases to 796 while death toll remained at 25, the National News Agency reported. 

The Health Ministry said that six cases were registered among locals while the other six new cases were detected among arrivals from Liberia, Sierra Leone, France and Saudi Arabia.

The Lebanese cabinet completes on Friday the second phase of repatriating Lebanese stranded in infected countries and it will start the third phase of this process later in May. 

Vietnam 

Vietnam reported no new COVID-19 cases on Friday with its total confirmed cases remaining at 288, according to the Ministry of Health.

Eight more patients recovered, bringing the total cured cases to 241, while there are 131 suspected cases and over 16,500 people being monitored and quarantined, with no deaths reported so far, according to the ministry.

Vietnam has recorded no infection caused by community transmission for 22 consecutive days, said the ministry.

Kuwait 

Kuwait on Friday reported 641 new cases of COVID-19 and three more deaths, bringing the total infections in the country to 7,208 and the death toll to 47, the health ministry said in a statement.

The new cases included three Kuwaiti citizens who returned from Britain, the statement said.

Currently, 4,695 patients are receiving treatment, including 91 in ICU, according to the statement.

In addition, the ministry announced the recovery of 85 patients from the coronavirus, raising the total number of recoveries in the country to 2,466.

Qatar

Qatar's Health Ministry on Friday announced 1,311 new infections of the novel coronavirus, increasing the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 20,201, of which 17,819 persons are under treatment.

"A total of 84 people recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,370, while the fatalities remain 12," the official Qatar News Agency reported, quoting a ministry statement.

Most of the new cases are of expatriate workers who have been subject to quarantine after they were found to have been in contact with confirmed cases.

A total of 120,458 persons have undergone lab tests for COVID-19 in Qatar so far.  

Brunei 

Brunei reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, with the national tally of cases standing at 141.

According to Brunei's Ministry of Health, one new recovery was recorded on Friday, bringing the total number of recovered cases at 132. The number of active cases still being treated at the National Isolation Center decreased to eight.


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