People wearing face masks as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 visit the restaurant area of Omoide Yokocho alleyway in Shinjuku district of Tokyo on Nov 19, 2020. (PHILIP FONG / AFP)

SINGAPORE / ANKARA / WELLINGTON / NEW DELHI / ULAN BATOR / KABUL - Tokyo reported 561 infections on Saturday, with cases topping 500 for a second day. The number of patients in serious condition rose to 67, the highest since a state of emergency was lifted in May.

The city this week called on residents to reduce trips outdoors and asked bars, restaurants and karaoke parlors to close early as it combats a surge in infections. Mayor Yuriko Koike said last week the number of severe cases, rather than the number of new infections, were her “red line” that would spur more action.

Japan is set to start distributing COVID-19 vaccines in the country by the end of March as clinical trials move forward, Nikkei reported.

The country aims to secure enough vaccines for its entire population during the first half, the newspaper said. A local trial of Moderna Inc.’s vaccine is set to begin soon, with Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. handling approval application, sales and distribution, Nikkei said.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan on Saturday reported 121 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing its total tally to 45,963.

Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry reported 12 more deaths from the coronavirus epidemic, raising the death toll to 1,752 since the COVID-19 outbreak in the country in February.

India

India's COVID-19 tally reached 9,351,109 on Saturday as 41,322 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, said the latest data from the federal health ministry.

According to the data, the death toll mounted to 136,200 with 485 new deaths since Friday morning.

There are still 454,940 active cases in the country, while 8,759,969 people have been discharged so far from hospitals after medical treatment, added the ministry's latest data.

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A medical staff (left) wearing protective gear takes samples for the COVID-19 test from a visitor at a testing station in Seoul on Nov 27, 2020. (JUNG YEON-JE / AFP)

Mongolia

Mongolia reported 22 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing its national tally to 760, said the country's National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) on Saturday.

Four of the latest confirmed cases were imported, while the others were locally transmitted or due to contacts with previously confirmed cases, said Amarjargal Ambaselmaa, head of the NCCD's Surveillance Department, at a daily press conference.

New Zealand

New Zealand reported four new cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation on Saturday, said the Ministry of Health in a statement.

Three of the new cases were recent returnees from overseas. The remaining was a member of the Pakistan Cricket squad, and previously other six members have tested positive.

There are currently 69 active cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand, and the country has recorded 1,694 cases in total, according to the ministry.

Health personnel prepare antigen rapid test for COVID-19 for passengers during embarkation procedures on World Dream cruise ship for "cruises to nowhere" at Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Singapore on Nov 6, 2020 in a bid to revive its pandemic-hit tourism industry. (ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP)

Singapore

Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported four new COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 58,199.

All of the new cases are imported cases, who had already been placed on Stay-Home Notice (SHN) or isolated upon arrival in Singapore.

South Korea

South Korea reported 504 new coronavirus infections, the third straight day that cases topped 500 after the country raised social distancing rules in Seoul and surrounding areas.

The health ministry said Friday the country will decide on Sunday whether further tightening of social distancing rules is needed. The measures imposed on Nov 24 restrict operating hours of restaurants and gatherings of more than 100 people in high-risk facilities such as night clubs and karaoke bars.

The Philippines

The Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines on Saturday reported 1,893 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the country's total tally to 427,797.

The Philippines signed a deal with AstraZeneca Plc to buy 2.6 million coronavirus vaccine doses, amid questions about the vaccine’s trial results.

Philippine companies will buy the vaccine doses, and donate half to government, presidential adviser on entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said during the virtual signing. The vaccines may arrive in the Southeast Asian nation by May or June and help about 1.5 million people, he added.

Turkey

Turkey recorded 29,845 new COVID-19 cases, including 6,592 symptomatic patients, Turkish Health Ministry said Friday.

The total number of COVID-19 patients in the country reached 481,198, said the ministry.

The death toll from the coronavirus in Turkey rose by 177 to 13,191, while the total recoveries climbed to 392,616 after 3,845 more patients recovered in the last 24 hours.