Cinmpring kici

Rabu, 14 April 2021

Pandemic fatigue, rise of new strains: Why Asia is struggling amid surge in Covid-19 cases - The Straits Times

A hundred days before Asia hosts the Olympics in Japan, the continent is struggling to battle a resurgence in coronavirus infections.

The rise of new strains of Covid-19, pandemic fatigue, the slow pace of vaccinations and the call by businesses to reopen battered economies are among the reasons for the rebound of the virus in many countries.

The Straits Times correspondents examine the situation around the region.

Cases keep rising in Japan, with no end in sight

Sushi chef Mamoru Sugiyama's family business has weathered natural disasters, World War II bombings and recessions, but he regards the Covid-19 pandemic to be the biggest threat to the survival of his 130-year-old restaurant.

The 67-year-old fourth-generation owner of Sushi Ko in Tokyo's high-end Ginza shopping district told The Straits Times that the biggest challenge is uncertainty over the future and how long Covid-19 will drag on.

As government grants were limited, he had to dip into his savings to keep the business afloat and pay staff salaries. Revenue has fallen by 70 per cent since the pandemic started.

READ MORE HERE

Fourth wave looms in South Korea

As the months drag on and Covid-19 infection figures rebound despite more curbs being imposed, student Lee Sun-young is starting to lose heart in the fight against the coronavirus in South Korea.

"I am tired of all the Covid restrictions, especially mask wearing and the ban on overseas travel," the 25-year-old told The Straits Times.

"I'm still worried about Covid but as the weather gets warmer, it seems everyone, not just myself, is neglecting quarantine measures. That is a big problem," she added.

READ MORE HERE

Call to ban Hari Raya exodus for 2nd year in Malaysia

Malaysia's Covid-19 infection rate has risen in recent days at the start of Ramadan, with experts asking the authorities to ban the annual Hari Raya exodus to home towns for a second year to prevent a new surge in cases.

The government raised eyebrows when relaxations to rules were announced for the Muslim fasting month, including allowing Ramadan food bazaars and evening prayer services in mosques, and letting restaurants open until 6am.

It has not made a decision on whether to allow the "balik kampung" exodus this year.

READ MORE HERE

Rising cases put Phuket’s re-opening under scrutiny

The beaches and bars on Phuket, once teeming with tourists, have been quiet since the Covid-19 pandemic decimated the travel and tourism industry on the popular holiday island, but Thailand is now looking to rapidly inoculate island residents so tourists can return.

The government will vaccinate most of the island's 400,000 population, including foreigners who are residents, as part of sandbox plans to re-open Phuket to vaccinated foreign travellers on July 1, and to other tourist hotspots including Koh Samui in October.

"If we can build immunity for 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the population on the island, we can receive foreign tourists who have been vaccinated without the need for quarantine," Phuket's Vice Governor Piyapong Choowong told Reuters.

READ MORE HERE

India's virus fight thwarted by big rallies, religious gatherings

What went wrong in India on the Covid-19 front?

Quite simply, people were confused by the contradictory messaging because mass gatherings were taking place, even as officials were threatening lockdowns and pleading with residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary.

Large election rallies, where social distancing was ignored, took place in five poll-bound states, including Tamil Nadu.

READ MORE HERE

Migrant workers, fearful of lockdowns, head home in India

It still hurts when Mr Balaram Nayak recalls how he endured the Indian government's poorly-planned lockdown announced in March last year.

"Nobody was there to listen to us, neither from the government nor the police. Even the owner of the factory abandoned us," said the migrant who worked at a lace factory then in Surat in the western state of Gujarat.

Stranded more than 1,600 kms away from his home in Odisha's Ganjam district, Mr Nayak, 21, survived on money he borrowed from his family and others, as well as handouts from locals, before managing to get on a bus home in May. He went hungry on certain days and even got beaten by the police once when he stepped out to buy vegetables.

READ MORE HERE

Lockdown in the Philippines slows spread of virus but devastates jobs

The Philippines is coming out of another hard lockdown and signs are it may have succeeded in putting a break to an alarming resurgence in coronavirus infections.

Latest Health Ministry figures showed the number of daily Covid-19 cases was down to about 8,000 in the past two days, from as high as 15,000 in recent weeks.

The virus is also not spreading as fast as it used to, according to data crunchers. But the cost has been devastating to an economy that ratings firm Moody's believes is already in "a worrisome state".

READ MORE HERE

FAQ: What you should know about getting infected after COVID-19 vaccination - CNA

SINGAPORE: A dormitory resident in Singapore contracted the coronavirus despite having completed the full COVID-19 vaccination regimen, sparking questions about how this can happen and the effectiveness of the jab.

The 23-year-old Indian national was the first such case reported by the Ministry of Health (MOH), which said it is a "reminder" that it is possible for vaccinated individuals to get infected.

He received his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on Jan 25 and the second dose on Feb 17.

His infection was detected when he was swabbed on Apr 7 as part of rostered routine testing. The man's earlier tests from routine testing - the last being on Mar 24 - were all negative for COVID-19.

READ: Migrant worker who tested positive for COVID-19 completed vaccination

Similar cases have been reported around the world.

In the United States, for instance, three out of nearly 5,000 vaccinated people in an April report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had confirmed infections after they were fully inoculated.

CNA spoke to infectious diseases experts about getting infected after vaccination.

Q: What are the chances of getting COVID-19 after vaccination?

It is rare, but not impossible.

While COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective, none are 100 per cent effective.

“Although the currently approved mRNA vaccines are very effective, we must remember that prevention of symptomatic COVID-19 occurred for approximately 94 to 95 per cent of participants in the clinical trials,” said Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, Infectious Diseases Programme Leader at the National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.

The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines – both used in Singapore – are mRNA vaccines.

READ: Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine authorised for use in Singapore

Assoc Prof Hsu noted that the “real world” experience in the United States and Israel shows that the vaccine efficacy was less than 90 per cent.

“What this means is that one in 20 persons on average would still develop COVID-19 if exposed to the virus,” he said.

FILE PHOTO: A medical worker prepares to dilute a vial of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination center in Singapore March 8, 2021. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

He added that the chances in Singapore “are very low simply because there is minimal spread of COVID-19 in the community”.

“As an illustration, there has only been one reported infection post-vaccination in our dormitory migrant worker community so far despite regular testing, whereas a significant proportion has already been vaccinated,” he said.

Senior consultant in the Division of Infectious Disease at the National University Hospital Dale Fisher said there is “hardly any chance of getting COVID-19 in Singapore ... especially if you are vaccinated”.

“This is because of the social measures still in place and the fact that we currently have good control. It doesn’t have to be this way and this is why the measures will likely be removed only gradually and slowly as vaccination rates pick up,” Dr Fisher said.

The chances of infection after vaccination depends on the prevalence of the disease, said the president of the Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Paul Tambyah.

He gave the example of the “pivotal” Pfizer-BioNTech study conducted in the United States, Europe, South America and South Africa. It showed that there were nine cases of COVID-19 at least seven days after the second dose among 19,965 vaccine recipients and 169 among 20,172 placebo recipients.

“Bottom line is that it is rare to get the disease after vaccination but not impossible,” said Professor Tambyah.

Q: Why do people get infected with COVID-19 after completing vaccination?

This happens because the strength of the immune response varies across individuals after vaccination, Assoc Prof Hsu said.

“For those whose immune systems are compromised, and even for some ... that have otherwise normal immune systems, an adequate immune response that would prevent infection might not develop after exposure to the virus, resulting in infection,” he added.

Singapore COVID-19 vaccine 3 — A healthcare worker at National Centre for Infectious Diseases prepares to administer one of the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Singapore on Dec 30, 2020.

The mRNA vaccines teach cells how to make at least a piece of a protein that triggers an immune response inside the bodies of those who are vaccinated.

Dr Fisher added that the vaccine is not 100 per cent effective. If it is 90 per cent effective, 10 per cent are still vulnerable, he said.

“This is fully expected. The World Health Organization initially set a target of at least 50 per cent efficacy,” he said.

If a person falls sick after vaccination, it is “very, very acceptable, very expected because of vaccine failures”, said Dr Leong Hoe Nam, infectious diseases expert from Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital.

Q: Is it a cause of concern if someone who has completed their vaccination gets COVID-19?

This depends on a few factors, said Prof Tambyah.

If the person gets severe COVID-19, then it would be a “good idea” to check the lot number or batch of the vaccine to make sure that there was no cold chain break during transport or defect in the manufacture of that particular batch of vaccine, he said.

“That has happened in the past with a number of vaccines. If the disease is mild or the person is asymptomatic, I would not be particularly concerned unless there were more than one case – in which case I would definitely investigate the batch of vaccines used,” he said.

Dr Fisher said that it is “not at all (cause for concern) if numbers are low”.

“If we see large numbers getting infected, especially if there are severe cases, then we would have to consider vaccine failure either because it has worn off or it is ineffective against variants, current or future. Currently, the vaccines are still very effective,” he said.

READ: Commentary: ‘Variant-proof’ COVID-19 vaccine key to a pandemic exit

Q: How does vaccination help then?

A person who has not been vaccinated will have more severe symptoms, while a person who has been vaccinated will have much milder symptoms, said Dr Leong.

“The vaccine has converted a life-threatening illness to a moderate illness, moderate illness to mild illness and mild illness to asymptomatic illness, which is great because you effectively control hospitalisations, you prevent them (hospitalisations),” he added.

“If you think about it, no one dies of it, almost everybody is asymptomatic, then we have converted the disease from a bad critical illness to that of a mild cold."

Dr Fisher cautioned that while the disease is mild in vaccinated people, they would still be infective and therefore a risk to those who are not vaccinated.

Nevertheless, vaccination is still the most effective way of preventing infection, "not just in the individual, but also at a population level”, said Dr Hsu.

Vaccination goes hand in hand with other measures like safe distancing, he added.

“There are millions of people worldwide who have been vaccinated (against COVID-19) but those who have been infected post-vaccination number in the low thousands at most. That is pretty good,” Prof Tambyah said.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy9zaW5nYXBvcmUvY292aWQtMTktZ2V0dGluZy1pbmZlY3RlZC1hZnRlci12YWNjaW5hdGlvbi1mYXEtMTQ2MDg5NTjSAQA?oc=5

2021-04-15 00:00:29Z
52781516997364

US delegation to Taiwan will look to ease tensions, observers say - South China Morning Post

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

US delegation to Taiwan will look to ease tensions, observers say South China Morning Post
Commentary: How China will try to subdue Taiwan – without firing a bullet CNA
Taiwan president tells Biden's emissaries island will counter China's 'adventurous manoeuvres' with US The Straits Times
Is China really about to invade Taiwan? Al Jazeera English
Taiwan says its chip firms will adhere to new US rules blacklisting China supercomputing entities CNA
View Full coverage on Google News

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMidGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNjbXAuY29tL25ld3MvY2hpbmEvZGlwbG9tYWN5L2FydGljbGUvMzEyOTUzNS91cy1kZWxlZ2F0aW9uLXRhaXdhbi13aWxsLWxvb2stZWFzZS10ZW5zaW9ucy1vYnNlcnZlcnMtc2F50gF0aHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuc2NtcC5jb20vbmV3cy9jaGluYS9kaXBsb21hY3kvYXJ0aWNsZS8zMTI5NTM1L3VzLWRlbGVnYXRpb24tdGFpd2FuLXdpbGwtbG9vay1lYXNlLXRlbnNpb25zLW9ic2VydmVycy1zYXk?oc=5

2021-04-14 22:00:26Z
52781516178646

China accuses US of sending 'wrong signals' as Biden's unofficial delegation arrives in Taiwan - CNA

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiK2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnlvdXR1YmUuY29tL3dhdGNoP3Y9YnJTaEVJTTVmaU3SAQA?oc=5

2021-04-14 13:04:20Z
52781507802792

As Biden's emissaries go to Taiwan, China terms exercises 'combat drills' - CNA

BEIJING: China described its military exercises near Taiwan as "combat drills" on Wednesday (Apr 14), upping the ante as senior former US officials arrived in Taipei on a trip to signal President Joe Biden's commitment to Taiwan and its democracy.

Taiwan has complained over the proximity of repeated Chinese military activity, including fighter jets and bombers entering its air defence zone and a Chinese aircraft carrier exercising off the island, claimed by Beijing.

Twenty-five Chinese air force aircraft including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers entered Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on Monday, the largest reported incursion by Taipei to date.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office said Taiwan's government and separatists were colluding with "external forces", seeking provocation and to damage peace and stability.

"The People's Liberation Army's organising of actual combat exercises in the Taiwan Strait is a necessary action to address the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and to safeguard national sovereignty," spokesman Ma Xiaoguang said.

"It is a solemn response to external forces' interference and provocations by Taiwan independence" forces, he added.

READ: Taiwan says it tracks intruding Chinese aircraft with missiles, not always scrambling

"The PLA's military exercises and training operations are sending a signal that our determination to curb Taiwan independence and Taiwan-US collusion is not just talk."

China has previously offered little public comment on its recent military movements near Taiwan. Its defence ministry referred to them only as "military activities" in late January.

The United States, which like most countries only officially recognises China's government and not Taiwan's, is however Taipei's strongest international backer and has watched tensions mount with growing alarm.

Commentary: Taiwan is becoming the biggest test in US-China relations

Former US Senator Chris Dodd and former Deputy Secretaries of State Richard Armitage and James Steinberg arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday in an unmarked private jet, in what a White House official called a "personal signal" of the president's commitment to Taiwan and its democracy.

They are due to meet Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday, on a trip that is further straining Sino-US relations.

Taiwan presidential office spokesman Xavier Chang said the trip "again shows the Taiwan-US relationship is rock solid, and is a full expression of cross-party support for Taiwan in the United States".

Tsai has repeatedly said Taiwan is an independent country called the Republic of China, its formal name.

READ: Blinken warns of China's 'increasingly aggressive actions' against Taiwan

Ma, the Chinese spokesman, said the meeting of the US officials with Tsai "will only exacerbate the tense situation in the Taiwan Strait", and that it did not matter whether this was being cast as an official or unofficial visit.

"We resolutely oppose the US' exaggeration of the so-called 'Chinese military threat' argument, and resolutely oppose the US playing the 'Taiwan card' and continuing to send wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces," he added.

"Taiwan independence is a dead end and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party are trying to use arms to seek independence," Ma said.

"That is to drink poison in the hopes of slaking one's thirst, and will only push Taiwan towards disaster."

Washington has diplomatically recognised Beijing over Taiwan since 1979.

But it maintains relations with Taipei and is bound by an act of Congress to sell the island defensive weapons. It also opposes any attempt by China to change Taiwan's future by force.

This week's delegation comes on the 42nd anniversary of that legislation - the Taiwan Relations Act - which Biden signed when he was a young senator.

It also comes after the State Department said on Friday it was issuing new guidelines allowing US officials to meet more easily with Taiwanese counterparts.

READ: Taiwan says it will fight to the end if China attacks

Biden's predecessor Donald Trump ramped up contacts and visits to Taiwan by US officials as relations between Washington and Beijing plunged over a host of issues.

Biden has made clear he wishes to cooperate with China on common causes such as climate change.

But concerns about China under President Xi Jinping have become a rare bipartisan issue in Washington and Biden has maintained a tough line with Beijing over its human rights record and threats towards Taiwan.

US climate envoy John Kerry will visit China later this week in the first trip there by the Biden administration, seeking to raise global ambitions despite soaring tensions with Beijing on other fronts.

"We have big disagreements with China on some key issues, absolutely. But climate has to stand alone," Kerry told CNN.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy9hc2lhL2JpZGVuLWVtaXNzYXJpZXMtZ28tdGFpd2FuLWNoaW5hLXRlcm1zLWV4ZXJjaXNlcy1jb21iYXQtZHJpbGxzLTE0NjE4Mjg20gEA?oc=5

2021-04-14 07:44:58Z
52781507802792

Myanmar anti-coup protesters throw red paint in the streets as death toll mounts - CNA

YANGON: Anti-coup protesters in Myanmar sloshed red paint in the streets on Wednesday (Apr 14) to symbolise the blood spilled and more than 700 lives lost in a brutal military crackdown.

The country is barely functioning, and the economy has stalled since the military seized power from civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb 1.

The military junta has sought to quell mass protests with lethal force, and a local monitoring group has verified at least 714 civilian deaths but warns the toll is likely to be even higher.

This week is Myanmar's New Year festival of Thingyan, but normal holiday festivities such as public water fights have been cancelled.

Instead, protesters have been using Thingyan as a rallying point, as bus shelters and pavements were sprayed red on Wednesday in cities and towns nationwide.

"The purpose of the "bleeding strike" is to remember the martyrs who died in the struggle for democracy", a protest participant from Yangon told AFP.

"We should not be happy during this festival time. We have to feel sadness for the martyrs who are bleeding and we must continue to fight this battle in any way we can."

READ: UN fears Myanmar heading towards Syria-style 'full-blown conflict'

READ: Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi hit with new criminal charge

In Mandalay, red paint was also spilled on the streets amid signs saying: "Hope our military dictatorship fails", "overthrow the era of fear" and "blood has not dried on the streets".

Protesters spray-painted a pavement red in a Yangon suburb and left a note that read: "Dear UN, How are you? I hope you are well. As for Myanmar, we are dying."

Protesters spray-painted pavements red in a Yangon suburb and left a note that read: "Dear UN, How are you? I hope you are well. As for Myanmar, we are dying." (Photo: AFP/Handout)

"ECHOES OF SYRIA"

The United Nations human rights chief warned on Tuesday that Myanmar could be spiralling towards a "full-blown" Syrian-style conflict.

Flagging possible crimes against humanity, the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urged countries to take immediate action to push Myanmar's military to stop its "campaign of repression and slaughter of its people".

"I fear the situation in Myanmar is heading towards a full-blown conflict," Bachelet said in a statement.

"There are clear echoes of Syria in 2011," she warned, referring to the start of a civil war that over the past decade has killed around 400,000 people and forced more than six million to flee the country.

READ: Myanmar activists call for New Year defiance

Commentary: Solution to Myanmar's political crisis lies beyond Aung San Suu Kyi or the military

The bloody crackdown has brought widespread international condemnation and calls for restraint, as well as sanctions from some countries on the Myanmar armed forces and their extensive business interests.

But diplomatic bickering has stalled concrete action, with the European Union's top diplomat blaming Moscow and Beijing for blocking tough measures, such as a UN arms embargo.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, activists in Monywa, Sagaing and Dawei cities and small towns in the Mandalay region rallied on motorbikes carrying red flags of Aung San Suu Kyi's political party.

At a military tribunal in Yangon, seven protesters accused over the murder of a suspected informer were sentenced to death, state media said on Tuesday. Three of the demonstrators were tried in absentia.

READ: China, Russia undermine international Myanmar response, EU's top diplomat says

READ: Myanmar youth fight Internet outages with underground newsletter

The junta also announced on Tuesday that dozens more people had been added to an arrest warrant list of 260 celebrities, doctors and ordinary citizens.

Many are accused of spreading dissent against the military, while medical professionals are wanted over their work at private clinics, which have taken in injured protesters, according to state media.

Meanwhile, in the north-western Sagaing region, a couple were shot dead while delivering milk after junta troops stormed the town of Tamu, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a local monitoring organisation.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy9hc2lhL215YW5tYXItYW50aS1jb3VwLXByb3Rlc3RlcnMtdGhyb3ctcmVkLXBhaW50LWluLXRoZS1zdHJlZXRzLTE0NjE5ODI00gEA?oc=5

2021-04-14 07:47:49Z
52781509126749

Singapore finalising details of air travel bubble with Hong Kong: Ong Ye Kung - CNA

SINGAPORE: Singapore and Hong Kong are in “active discussion” on starting the long-delayed air travel bubble between the two cities, confirmed Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung on Wednesday (Apr 14).

"We are finalising the details of our revised agreement and hope to announce our plans soon," he said in a statement issued by Singapore's Ministry of Transport.

This comes after Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that the territory plans to allow only residents who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to travel to Singapore under the travel bubble, describing this requirement as the "basis for discussion" between the two cities.

This is despite authorities in Singapore not requiring mandatory vaccinations for Hong Kong travellers under the arrangement, she noted.

“We want to provide incentives to encourage Hong Kong citizens to get vaccinated," said Ms Lam.

Mr Ong had last month said that Singapore was studying a proposal from Hong Kong to reopen borders safely, after the territory had managed to bring the pandemic under control.

The air travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore was originally scheduled to begin in November last year, but was deferred due to a spike in infections in Hong Kong.

READ: Singapore studying proposal from Hong Kong to reopen borders safely: Ong Ye Kung

READ: More than 18,200 people visited Singapore through unilateral border openings; 70% from China

The scheme would have allowed people to travel between the two cities with no restrictions on the purpose of travel and no requirement for a controlled itinerary or sponsorship.

Travellers would be subject only to COVID-19 tests, without the need for quarantine or stay-home notices.

Earlier this month Hong Kong had announced that Singapore Airlines (SIA) passenger flights departing from Singapore would not be allowed to land in the territory between Apr 3 and Apr 16.

This came after a passenger onboard an SIA flight was confirmed to have COVID-19, while three others had failed to comply with pandemic requirements.

In response to CNA's queries, SIA said the four passengers were transit passengers, all of whom had negative pre-departure test results.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the coronavirus outbreak and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMieGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy9zaW5nYXBvcmUvc2luZ2Fwb3JlLWZpbmFsaXNpbmctZGV0YWlscy1vZi1haXItdHJhdmVsLWJ1YmJsZS13aXRoLWhvbmcta29uZy0xNDYxOTc0ONIBAA?oc=5

2021-04-14 07:29:36Z
52781515519616

Rabu, 14 April 2021

Cases keep rising in Japan, with no end in sight

Fourth wave looms in South Korea

Call to ban Hari Raya exodus for 2nd year in Malaysia

Rising cases put Phuket’s re-opening under scrutiny

India's virus fight thwarted by big rallies, religious gatherings

Migrant workers, fearful of lockdowns, head home in India

Lockdown in the Philippines slows spread of virus but devastates jobs

Related Stories: