HONG KONG, Aug 13 (NNN-XINHUA) – The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread in Asia-Pacific countries, as Japan logged an all-time high of 17,196 new cases yesterday and Thailand reported its record high daily cases.
India’s COVID-19 tally rose to 32,077,706, as 41,195 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country, showed the federal health ministry’s latest data. Besides, as many as 490 deaths, since Wednesday, took the total death toll to 429,669. There are still 387,987 active cases in the country with an increase of 1,636 during the past 24 hours.
Thailand reported a record 22,782 new cases and 147 more fatalities over the past 24 hours, according to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
The new infections and deaths brought the country’s total number of infections to 839,771, and the death toll to 6,942, according to the CCSA. Over the past 24 hours, 23,649 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals, the highest daily recoveries in a single day, since the pandemic hit Thailand. The situation in Bangkok remained worrisome with 4,854 new cases and 70 fatalities reported.
Japan confirmed 17,196 infections as of yesterday, with 4,989 cases in Tokyo, as the number of severely ill patients strike a record high for the capital, local media reported.
Among the new cases in Tokyo, 1,490 cases are in their 20s, accounting for the largest group, followed by 1,031 in their 30s and 865 in their 40s. The number for those aged 65 or older was 161, obviously lower, compared to younger generations, thanks to a higher rate of vaccination.
The number of patients with severe symptoms under the metropolitan government’s standards increased to another record high of 218, up from 197 on Wednesday. Tokyo has secured 392 beds for seriously ill patients.
The Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) reported 12,439 new infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 1,700,363. The death toll climbed to 29,539, after 165 more patients died from the disease, DOH added.
The DOH confirmed detecting 177 new Delta variant cases, bringing the total to 627, including 11 deaths.
Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, placed Metro Manila and some areas, under two-week hard lockdown since Aug 6, to curb the Delta variant’s spread and prevent crowding in hospitals.
Pakistan on Wednesday confirmed 4,934 new cases and 102 more deaths, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said yesterday. The NCOC, a department leading Pakistan’s campaign against the pandemic, said that the country’s total cases have risen to 1,085,294, including 975,474 recoveries.
The number of active cases has risen to 85,633, including 4,584 critical patients. According to the NCOC, the pandemic killed 102 people on Wednesday, increasing the overall death toll to 24,187.
South Korea reported 1,987 more cases as of midnight Wednesday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 218,192. The daily caseload was down from 2,222 the previous day, but it hovered above 1,000 for 37 straight days. The daily average tally for the past week was 1,785.
Three more deaths were confirmed, bringing the death toll to 2,138. The total fatality rate stood at 0.98 percent.
Authorities of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) announced three more local government areas (LGA) as “areas of concern” with tougher restrictions to be imposed. The decision came, after NSW recorded 345 new locally acquired cases yesterday, among which the source of infection for 217 cases is still under investigation. The state also recorded two deaths, two men in their 90s.
The three LGAs, namely Strathfield, Bayside and Burwood, located in southwest and south Sydney, will join the nine LGAs that were deemed “areas of concern.”
Laos’ National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, reported 202 cases and one new death over the past 24 hours, bringing the national tally to 9,363 cases and nine deaths.
The National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, reported 190 imported cases and 12 new locally transmitted cases. As of yesterday, a total of 5,267 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.– NNN-XINHUA
