Indonesia's easing of COVID-19 curbs seen driven by economics - CNA

Indonesia's decision to relax some COVID-19 curbs this week, despite reporting record-high deaths in recent days, is being driven by social and economic concerns rather than epidemiological advice, public health experts said on Monday (Jul 26).

As the country grapples with the worst coronavirus outbreak in Asia, President Joko Widodo announced on Sunday that while overall curbs in place since July would be extended for a week, some measures would be eased.

READ: COVID-19 emergency restrictions in Indonesia extended until Aug 2: President Jokowi

Businesses, including salons, garages, traditional markets and restaurants with outdoor areas will now be allowed to conditionally reopen, while malls will be permitted to operate at 25 per cent capacity outside of designated higher-risk "red zones".

"The decision doesn't seem to be related to the pandemic, but to economics," said Pandu Riono, an epidemiologist at the University of Indonesia, urging people to maintain health protocols.

Hospitals have been filled with patients in the past month, particularly on the densely populated island of Java and in Bali, but the president on Sunday said infections and hospital occupancy had declined, without specifying by how much.

READ: Uneven distribution, bureaucracy hamper Indonesia's COVID-19 national vaccination efforts

The move to ease some curbs comes as the government has faced pressure from business groups to act to avoid mass layoffs, and with several relatively small-scale street demonstrations last week.

"The problem is that compared to last year the impact of the pandemic, not just on the health sector, but on socio-economic and political aspects is getting bigger by the day because of the Delta variant," said Dicky Budiman, an epidemiologist at Queensland’s Griffith University.

As the Delta variant, first identified in India, has spread across Indonesia cases have surged to the highest levels since the start of the pandemic.

READ: As spike in COVID-19 cases taxes healthcare system, some Indonesians have little choice but to isolate at home

Southeast Asia's biggest economy posted a record of more than 56,000 daily cases in mid-July, and while reported case numbers have dipped slightly Indonesia registered record-high COVID-19 deaths on four days last week.

But with more than 50 per cent of Indonesians employed in the informal sector and with limited financial support and mounting pandemic fatigue, the government has few choices, says Dr Dicky.

"Is it the correct decision? Based on the epidemiological situation, no. But then the government doesn’t have any option because of the complexity of the situation."

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2021-07-26 07:43:43Z
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Govt to review Covid-19 restrictions in early August; any easing to be only for fully vaccinated persons: Lawrence Wong - TODAYonline

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Govt to review Covid-19 restrictions in early August; any easing to be only for fully vaccinated persons: Lawrence Wong  TODAYonlineView Full coverage on Google News
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2021-07-26 08:22:41Z
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China urges Washington to stop 'demonising' it during US official visit - CNA

BEIJING: Beijing urged Washington to stop "demonising" China on Monday (Jul 26) as rancour marked the start of talks with the highest-level US envoy to visit under President Joe Biden's administration.

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman's visit to the northern city of Tianjin is the first major meeting between the world's leading economies since March discussions in Anchorage between the countries' top diplomats collapsed into mudslinging.

Sherman's trip aims to seek "guardrails" as ties continue to deteriorate on a range of issues from cybersecurity and tech supremacy to human rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

"The hope may be that by demonising China, the US could somehow ... blame China for its own structural problems," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng told Sherman, in a readout issued by China's foreign ministry early on Monday.

"We urge the United States to change its highly misguided mindset and dangerous policy," the statement quoted Xie as saying, adding that Washington views China as an "imagined enemy".

Xie also described relations as at a "stalemate" and facing "serious difficulties".

He claimed that Chinese people view the United States' "adversarial rhetoric as a thinly veiled attempt to contain and suppress China", in comments reminiscent of the fiery exchange between Washington and Beijing's top diplomats Antony Blinken and Yang Jiechi in Alaska.

COMMENTARY: US must give up on containing China when accommodation is unavoidable

Sherman will also meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

She tweeted on Sunday that she had spoken with US businesses about "the challenges they're facing in China", and also sent her "heartfelt condolences" to flood victims in Henan province.

The United States said last week it was hoping to use the "candid" talks as an opportunity to show Beijing "what responsible and healthy competition looks like", but wanted to avoid the relationship veering into conflict.

The Jul 25 to 26 trip is shorn of the trappings of a full-fledged official visit. Sherman will not go to Beijing, but instead spend two days starting Sunday in Tianjin, a north-eastern port city.

The visit is widely viewed as a preparatory step for an eventual meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as US-China ties continue their freefall with little sign of improvement.

ROCKY START

A day prior to Sherman landing in China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi vowed to "teach the US a lesson" in treating other countries equally, foreshadowing a rocky start to talks.

"China will not accept any country's self-proclaimed superiority," he was quoted as saying in a foreign ministry statement on Saturday.

John Kerry, the former secretary of state turned US climate envoy, is the only other senior official from the Biden administration to have visited China.

The two sides pledged to cooperate on climate change, despite their numerous differences.

READ: US businesses 'fear Internet curbs in Hong Kong'

Biden has largely kept the hawkish stance on China of his predecessor Donald Trump as Washington has sought to build a united front of democratic allies against Beijing.

Last week, China and the United States traded sanctions over Beijing's repression of freedoms in Hong Kong, in the latest round of an ongoing tit-for-tat saga that has targeted individuals including former US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross.

Washington last week issued an advisory warning to businesses operating in Hong Kong over the city's deteriorating autonomy.

The United States also rallied allies including NATO for a rare joint condemnation last week of alleged large-scale cyberattacks from China.

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2021-07-26 03:22:30Z
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117 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in Singapore; 2 new clusters identified - CNA

SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 117 new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections as of noon on Sunday (Jul 25), including 46 cases linked to the Jurong Fishery Port cluster and five to the cluster in KTV lounges.

A total of 43 infections were linked to previous cases and already placed in quarantine, and 36 were detected through surveillance testing.

The remaining 38 infections were not linked to previous cases, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Two cases were people above the age of 70 who were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, and are at risk of serious illness, MOH added.

The Health Ministry also reported two new clusters, both with three infections each. The new clusters were linked to Cases 65893 and 65846.

MOH did not give further information on these two cases. 

Three clusters have been closed as there have been no cases linked to them for the past two incubation periods, it added. 

These were the clusters linked to 115 Bukit Merah View Market and Food Centre, 119 Bukit Merah View and Case 64394. 

READ: About half of COVID-19 cases in Bukit Merah View market cluster not vaccinated

A total of 94 infections were linked to the cluster at 115 Bukit Merah View Market & Food Centre, while eight were linked to 119 Bukit Merah View. 

The Health Ministry said last month that COVID-19 transmission at the market and food centre could have taken place through long queues and surfaces in toilets. 

READ: Bukit Merah View COVID-19 cluster: Virus could have spread via long queues, surfaces in toilets, says MOH

There were four cases in the cluster linked to Case 64394, an 81-year-old Singaporean retiree who was partially vaccinated. He tested positive for COVID-19 on Jun 22. 

There are currently 25 active COVID-19 clusters in Singapore ranging between three and 792 cases. 

With 792 infections, the Jurong Fishery Port/Hong Lim Market and Food Centre cluster is the largest active cluster in Singapore. 

ART SELF-TEST KITS FOR THOSE NEAR TWO NEW MARKETS

MOH said it is working with the People’s Association to distribute antigen rapid test (ART) self-test kits to people who had visited selected markets and food centres in the last 14 days. 

This is part of the ministry's investigation into cases of COVID-19 infection involving markets and food centres which are likely seeded by fishmongers who visited Jurong Fishery Port to collect their stock and sell at the markets and food centres. 

The collection will run from Jul 26 to Jul 27 July at Residents’ Committee Centres in the vicinity of two new markets - Geylang Bahru Market and Food Centre and 146 Teck Whye Avenue Market.

LIKELY TO SEE HIGH NUMBER OF CASES IN COMING DAYS: MOH

MOH said the overall number of new cases in the community has increased from 324 in the week before to 1,056 cases in the past week.

"We are likely to continue to see high number of cases in the coming days as we step up efforts to detect them to contain their spread in the community," it added. 

The number of unlinked cases in the community has also increased from 24 cases in the week before to 136 cases in the past week.

A total of 524 cases are currently in hospital, with most well and under observation.

There are now 12 cases of serious illness requiring oxygen supplementation, and two in critical condition in the intensive care unit. None of the 14 cases is fully vaccinated. 

Seven people above 60 years old, who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, have fallen very ill, said MOH.

"There is continuing evidence that vaccination helps to prevent serious disease when one gets infected," said the ministry.

"Over the last 28 days, 15 local cases required oxygen supplementation, were admitted to ICU or passed away. Six are unvaccinated, nine are partially vaccinated and none was fully vaccinated."

There were also eight imported cases, who were placed on stay-home notice or isolated upon arrival. Four of these infections were detected upon arrival in Singapore, while four developed the illness during their stay-home notice or isolation.

In total, Singapore reported 125 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday.

READ: Singapore reports 37th COVID-19 fatality; woman was unvaccinated and linked to 121 Bukit Merah View cluster

An 83-year-old woman died from complications due to COVID-19 on Saturday, becoming Singapore's 37th fatality from the disease.

The Singaporean woman was unvaccinated and was linked to the 121 Bukit Merah View cluster, the Health Ministry said.

In a video posted on social media on Saturday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged senior citizens to get vaccinated against COVID-19, assuring them that the vaccines are safe.

“Don’t wait till it’s too late,” Mr Lee said. “Most people your age are already vaccinated, including many of your friends and neighbours. Protect yourself, and your family too.” 

As of Sunday, Singapore has reported a total of 64,182 COVID-19 cases and 37 fatalities from the disease.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its developments

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2021-07-25 16:08:47Z
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COVID-19 emergency restrictions in Indonesia extended until Aug 2: President Jokowi - CNA

JAKARTA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Sunday (Jul 25) that the current restrictions put in place to curb COVID-19 will continue until Aug 2, but several adjustments related to community activities and mobility will be made.

Under the PPKM (community-level public activity restrictions enforcement) Level 4, people’s movements are restricted according to the sectors they work in, and only employees in critical sectors such as energy and health are allowed to go back to the workplace.

However, in a televised address President Widodo said there will be certain adjustments, taking into account health and economic aspects as well as social dynamics.

“Traditional markets that sell daily basic necessities may be open as usual under strict health protocols.

“Traditional markets that sell other than daily basic necessities, may be open with a maximum capacity of 50 per cent until 3pm and further arrangements will be made by the local government,” said Mr Widodo.

READ: Uneven distribution, bureaucracy hamper Indonesia's COVID-19 national vaccination efforts

He added that street vendors, grocery stores, mobile phone voucher agents or outlets, barbershops, laundromats, hawkers, small automotive repair shops, car wash, and similar small businesses are allowed to open under strict health protocols until 9pm. Further arrangements will also be made by the local governments.

Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, also said that food stalls, street vendors, hawkers, and other similar outlets that are operating outdoors or in an open space can stay open for business until 8pm, with each patron allowed to visit for a maximum of 20 minutes.

He stated that the government has increased social assistance for the community and small businesses, and the details will be announced by relevant ministers.

READ: Commentary: Overwhelmed Indonesian hospitals with COVID-19 cases behind high doctor fatalities

PPKM Emergency, which was subsequently renamed to PPKM Level 4, has been imposed from Jul 3 to Jul 25 in Java and Bali as Indonesia is battling a surge in COVID-19 cases.

The restrictions were later extended to 15 other regions outside of Java and Bali.

The Indonesian government has classified regions in the country into four levels - with level 1 being the safest and level 4 showing the highest levels of transmission.

This is in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines that 50 confirmed cases daily per 100,000 people would be classified as level 4, said the government.

Speaking at a virtual press conference also on Sunday, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan said that from Jul 26, there will be 95 cities and regencies in Java and Bali which will be classified level 4. But he did not reveal which cities and regencies are at this level.

READ: As spike in COVID-19 cases taxes healthcare system, some Indonesians have little choice but to isolate at home

Meanwhile, there will be another 33 cities and regencies in Java and Bali which are at level 3, said Mr Pandjaitan who was appointed by the Mr Widodo to oversee the restrictions there.

Export-oriented industries which are in regions at level 3 are allowed to open in shifts and each can operate with a maximum of 50 per cent capacity under strict health protocols. 

“So if there are two shifts, it can operate 100 per cent in the production facility,” said Mr Pandjaitan.

Malls in cities and regencies at level 3 can also operate with a maximum capacity of 25 per cent until 5pm.

Furthermore, places of worship in cities and regencies at level 3 can also open with a maximum capacity of 25 per cent or a maximum of 20 people.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto who also heads the COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN) Committee said at the same press conference that the government has now identified 45 cities and regencies at level 4 outside of Java and Bali.

He added that starting Monday, 276 regions will be at level 3 in 21 provinces outside of Java and Bali.

COVID-19 infections in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy are currently among the highest in the world.

Indonesia has recorded more than 3 million infections and 83,000 deaths.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its developments

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2021-07-25 14:48:45Z
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Malaysia sees record 17045 new Covid-19 cases, as Delta variant spreads - The Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia recorded 17,045 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday (July 25), setting a new record for the third consecutive day as the country surpassed one million cumulative cases since the pandemic started. 

After recording more than 15,000 cases in each of the previous two days, Malaysia now has 1.013 million Covid-19 cases. 

The Klang Valley region - consisting of Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur and its most populous state Selangor - continued to contribute the bulk of infections, collectively recording more than 10,500 cases. 

The northern state of Kedah set its own record high after it logged 1,216 cases. Penang too set a new record high of 573 cases. 

Malaysia’s Covid-19 numbers have continued to soar, despite it entering a third month of movement restrictions that started in May. 

Infections fuelled by more transmissible variants of concern, chiefly the Delta variant first identified in India, have defied a more stringent lockdown introduced on June 1. 

Earlier on Friday, the eastern state of Kelantan detected its first case of the Delta variant, involving a woman in Pasir Puteh, reported The Star.

The state’s Housing and Health Committee chairman Izani Husin said the woman had been infected with Covid-19 before.

“I expect that this Delta variant infection is already present in the community and this is very worrying,” he said at a press conference on Sunday.

New infections continued to outpace daily recoveries, which stood at 9,683 on Sunday. Meanwhile the total number of active cases rose to more than 160,000, continuing to strain the country’s stretched healthcare system. 

Nearly 1,000 people are in intensive care units, with more than half of them requiring ventilator support. 

However, the country saw its daily death toll dip to 92 on Sunday, after consistently recording more than 100 deaths a day for much of last week. Nearly 8,000 people have died so far from the pandemic. 

On Sunday, a group of opposition lawmakers and activists led by lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan lodged a police report alleging the government had been negligent in managing the Covid-19 crisis. 

The group called for the government to be more accountable, saying Health Minister Adham Baba and other relevant ministries involved in the country’s pandemic response needed to take the issue seriously. 

Meanwhile, the country’s vaccination rate has picked up pace, with nearly half of its eligible adult population having received at least one dose of vaccine as at Saturday. 

About 23 per cent of the adult population has been fully inoculated. 

The country administered 417,738 doses of vaccine on Saturday, and has consistently inoculated 400,000 people a day for the past few days. 

Malaysia is expected to fully inoculate all eligible adults in the Klang Valley by the end of next month. It hopes to vaccinate the rest of the country by the end of October, as more vaccines arrive in the coming months. 

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has said that the authorities are expected to ease Covid-19 restrictions for fully vaccinated people soon. 

Related Stories: 

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2021-07-25 11:42:41Z
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China promises US a ‘tutorial’ in treating countries equally - South China Morning Post

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1. China promises US a ‘tutorial’ in treating countries equally  South China Morning Post
2. US to stress need for 'guardrails' in Sherman's talks in China  CNA
3. US, China head into first talks in months still trading blows  The Straits Times
4. In upcoming talks, US diplomat to stress need for ‘guardrails’ with China  South China Morning Post
5. Timeline: Major events in US-China relations since 1949  Al Jazeera English
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2021-07-25 06:32:13Z
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