Southeast Asia COVID-19 cases reach new heights, Malaysian doctors protest

KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 (Reuters) – Thailand on Monday reported a record number of coronavirus cases, while Malaysia has recorded more than one million infections, as the virulent Delta variant makes its way to death through Southeast Asia – now a global epicenter for the virus.

Thailand has recorded 15,376 new cases of the coronavirus, a daily record for the second consecutive day in the country of more than 66 million.

Malaysia, which has one of the highest per capita infection rates in Southeast Asia, reported 17,045 new cases on Sunday, bringing the total to 1,013,438 and nearly 8,000 deaths, despite a confinement since June.

Like many parts of the region of more than 650 million people, Malaysian hospitals and medical staff have borne the brunt of the outbreak due to shortages of beds, ventilators and oxygen.

Thousands of Malaysian contract doctors held a walkout on their terms of employment on Monday, although they promised patients would not be affected by the protest.

The doctors, who want permanent positions, as well as better wages and benefits, said that an offer by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to extend their contracts did not go far enough.

The vaccine rollout in Malaysia, however, has overtaken that of many neighbors, with around 16.9% of its 32 million people fully vaccinated.

The Thai government last week imposed stricter lockdowns in the capital, Bangkok, and 12 high-risk provinces, suspending most domestic fighting and expanding the curfew zone.

Thailand’s central bank said the wave of infections is expected to reduce gross domestic product in the tourism-dependent country by up to 2% this year.

INDONESIA RELAX A FEW BORDERS

Indonesia, the most populous country in the region, with more than 270 million people, has the highest number of cases in Southeast Asia. It has reported more than 3.1 million infections and 83,000 deaths.

Yet, amid economic pressures, the government announced on Sunday that although coronavirus restrictions would be extended by a week, some measures would be relaxed, including allowing the reopening of traditional markets and restaurants with outdoor spaces.

Hospitals have been filled with patients over the past month, especially on the densely populated island of Java and Bali, but President Joko Widodo on Sunday said infections and hospital occupancy declined, without specifying of how much.

“The decision does not appear to be linked to the pandemic, but to the economy,” said Pandu Riono, an epidemiologist at the University of Indonesia, urging people to maintain health protocols.

Indonesia last week reported record deaths on four separate days, the latest of which was 1,566 deaths on Friday, bringing the cumulative death toll to more than 83,000, as authorities pledged to add more. intensive care units.

After successfully containing the virus for much of the pandemic, Vietnam is facing a new outbreak, with the southern shopping center of Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding provinces accounting for most of the new infections.

The Health Department reported 7,531 infections on Sunday, down from Saturday’s record daily increase of 7,968.

Myanmar has also seen an increase in infections since June and reported 355 deaths on Sunday, a new record, while daily cases surpassed 6,000 on Thursday last week.

Doctors and people working in the funeral industry there say the actual death toll is much higher, with unrest since the February military coup hampering the response to the pandemic.

In the Philippines, authorities have worked to curb the spread of the Delta variant.

Infections recently started to rise and authorities this week suspended travel from Malaysia and Thailand, along with tighter restrictions in the Manila area. Read more

Supplementary Reports from South East Asia Offices Written by Ed Davies and Gerry Doyle

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