Asia battles Covid variants, virus surges
18 August 2021
Around the world, the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases has risen to 208 million and across Asia, nations are battling with the virus and rolling out vaccines. At the Asia Media Centre, we're helping you keep track of what's happening with a roundup of media coverage from across the region.
Vaccination rollout around the world and in Asia:
Source: ourworldindata.org
India
The Hindu: 'Rapid response teams' to tackle new variants
Times of India: Three sub-lineages of Delta-plus in circulation in Maharashtra
Thailand
Bangkok Post: Curbs 'needed' to flatten curve, 60,000 to 70,000 daily cases predicted through September
The Nation: Thai vaccine ChulaCov19 generates similar level of immunity as Pfizer, say researchers
Indonesia
The Jakarta Globe: Indonesia reports lowest daily Covid tally in 53 days
Antara: Five million Covid-19 vaccines arrive in Indonesia
As many as five million doses of the Sinovac vaccine arrived in Indonesia earlier this week. Photo by Mufid Majnun (https://unsplash.com/@mufidpwt?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/s/photos/sinovac?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)
Singapore
Today: Covid-19: Dip in patients who require oxygen support
Channel News Asia: Hospital visits to resume; visitors need to be fully vaccinated or show negative Covid-19 test result: MOH
China
Caixin: More than half of China is fully vaccinated against Covid-19
Xinhua: Inflatable labs speed up Covid-19 testing in east China's Yangzhou
Myanmar
The Irrawaddy: Ousted Mandalay chief minister in intensive care with Covid-19
Frontier Myanmar: Junta tries - and fails - to use pandemic to tighten grip on power
South Korea
The Korea Herald: 'Will Covid-19 end?' Top vaccine expert urges hopeful patience
The Chosun Ilbo: Thousands of leftover vaccines thrown away
An estimated 15,000 doses of usable AstraZeneca vaccines have been thrown away in South Korea, the Chosun Ilbo reports. Photo by Mika Baumeister (https://unsplash.com/@mbaumi?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/s/photos/astrazeneca?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)
Japan
The Asahi Shimbun: Panel: Covid-19 situation in Japan becoming 'natural disaster'
The Asahi Shimbun: Japan's first Lambda Covid variant brought by Olympic staff
Philippines
Philippine Star: Cebu administers one million Covid-19 vaccines
Rappler: Philippines' first Lambda case is local. How it got here is the question
Vietnam
Viet Nam News: Accelerate testing, detection of Covid-19 cases to end lockdowns soon: PM
SGGP Online: Ho Chi Minh City has more than 5200 locked-down points related to Covid, as cases rise above 150,000
Malaysia
New Straits Times: Umno political party suggests formation of 'war cabinet' of sorts to tackle Covid-19
The Star: Muhyiddin: Country still on track for herd immunity by end October if next government continues momentum
