With input from Dr Monica Vasudev

1105: COVID Status in CMAAO Countries

INDIA 

• India continues to report a trend of steadily declining active cases. For the first time, after a month, active cases fall below the 9 lakh mark.
• India recorded 8.93 lakh active cases on October 9 after registering 8.97 lakh on September 9.
• The active cases at present stand at 8,93,592 and amount to only 12.94% of the total positive cases for the country, pointing to a steady falling percentage of the total cases.
• The total coronavirus cases rose to 69,06,151 and the death toll reached 1,06,490 with 964 people succumbing to the disease in 24 hours.
• New recoveries in India have exceeded the new cases for three continuous weeks. The total recoveries stand at 59,06,069, taking the recovery rate to 85.52%.
• The new confirmed cases over the previous 24 hours (on October 9) stood at 70,496.
• The COVID-19 case fatality rate was recorded at 1.54%.
• As per ICMR, a cumulative total of 8,46,34,680 samples have been tested up to October 8.
• Indias COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23 and 40 lakh on September 5. It went past 50 lakh on September 16 and crossed 60 lakh on September 28.
• Maharashtra continues to report a very high number of new cases with more than 13,000 cases, followed by Karnataka with over 10,000 cases.

(Business Standard, The Print, Mint)

SINGAPORE

• As of October 9, 2020, 12pm, the Ministry of Health (MOH) preliminarily confirmed 1 new case of locally transmitted COVID-19 infection. Based on the investigations, the case resides in a dormitory and there is none in the community.
• There were 9 imported cases; all of them have been placed on Stay-Home Notice or isolated upon arrival in Singapore.
• There were 10 new cases of COVID-19 infection in Singapore in total on October 9.
• The new cases took the national tally to 57,859.
• Two cruise lines will be allowed to offer the residents of Singapore "cruises to nowhere" from November, under a pilot scheme, with improved safety protocols and mandatory COVID-19 testing for crew as well as passengers. Genting Cruise Lines’ World Dream will offer the cruises on November 6, while Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas will start in December, stated the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) on October 8. The two vessels, with home ports in Singapore, will allow round-trips with no ports of call at a maximum capacity of 50% only to Singapore residents. The outcomes of the pilot sailings will be monitored by the Government in the coming months prior to deciding on the next steps for cruises, stated STB.

Novel Coronavirus cases in Singapore

[Source: Ministry of Health, Singapore; CNA] 

HONG KONG

• After a short pause following Hong Kong society’s overcoming the third wave of the pandemic, the coronavirus again caused a spike in cases of new infections.
• The health authority reported 8 new infections on Friday (9th Oct), 18 new cases on Thursday, and 11 cases on Wednesday.
• Cases with unknown sources of infection increased, with emergence of more clusters around town.
• Covid-19 clusters at a hotel, a care home for the disabled and bars in Hong Kong continued to grow on Friday, causing the five-star establishment closing and health officials widening coronavirus testing.
• Undersecretary for Food and Health Dr Chui Tak-yi warned of a significant rebound in the local epidemic, pointing to a 10-day run of infections of unknown origin since September 30.
• He added that there were invisible chains of transmission in the community.
• The latest rebound in confirmed cases was noted after several social-distancing measures were gradually eased following the receding of the third wave.
• The city’s has 5,169 confirmed cases, with 105 related deaths.
• How successful was COVID-19 mass testing in Hong Kong? The testing program across the city cost the Government an estimated HK$530 million (US$68 million). It identified only 42 new infections among the 1.78 million people who registered to be tested.
• Dual flu-COVID nasal spray vaccine to start trial in Hong Kong: An experimental dual vaccine for both influenza and COVID-19, given through a nasal spray will enter human studies in Hong Kong next month. The early-stage clinical trial will recruit nearly 100 adults, mentioned Yuen Kwok-Yung, chair of infectious diseases in the University of Hong Kong’s department of microbiology. The candidate vaccine is similar to a nasal spray flu immunization. The idea is to have both influenza and COVID-19 protection at the same time.

The dual vaccine is based on a temperature-adapted, weakened and replication-deficient flu virus that only grows in the upper airway. Genetic engineering was used to delete the NS1 protein and insert the receptor binding domain of the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It was shown to work in animals. In addition to protecting against two viruses at the same time, it stimulates an immune response at the site of the mucus membrane in the nose.

[Source: China Daily; Mint; scmp.com]

NEPAL

• Nepal’s COVID-19 cases crossed 100,000 on 9th October, after 2,059 new coronavirus infections were reported in a single day.
• The country also recorded 10 new coronavirus-related deaths, taking the death toll to 600.
• The Nepal government decided to allow tourists testing negative for COVID-19 72 hours prior to their departure, to visit the country without having to quarantine at a hotel for 7 days. The tourists will be required to take an antigen test immediately upon arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport.
• The government also decided to waive COVID-19 insurance of USD 5,000 for tourists. The travellers are required to assure that their medical costs would be covered by themselves or the agency handling their visit.
• The government decided to resume operation of international flights to and from Kathmandu, starting October 17.

[Source: Outlook] 

MALAYSIA

• Malaysia is entering the third wave of the pandemic.
• The country reported 354 new cases on October 9, representing the third consecutive decline in daily infections, as the country expanded targeted lockdowns.
• The new cases took the cumulative tally to 14,722 cases.
• Among the new cases, two were imported and rest were local transmissions.
• Six new deaths were reported.
• Malaysia has reported 147 clusters, out of which 101 have ended. At present, 46 clusters are active.
• A 14-day Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) has been imposed in four red zones across the country.

[Source: New Straits Times; The Telegram; CAN; The Edge Markets]

BANGLADESH

• Bangladesh reported 1,278 new COVID-19 cases and 17 new deaths on Friday (the lowest since May 28, when the country reported 15 deaths), taking the tally to 375,870 cases and death toll to 5,477, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) stated.
• Overall, 11,256 samples were tested over the previous 24 hours across the country.
• The total number of recovered patients was 289,912, including 1,596 new recoveries on Friday.
• The COVID-19 fatality rate stood at 1.46% and the recovery rate is 77.13%.
• At present, there are 80,214 active coronavirus cases in the country.
• In all, 2,050,669 tests have been conducted in Bangladesh till date, with an overall infection rate of 18.33%.
• According to a World Bank report, one in every 10 people in Dhaka might have already been infected with Covid-19. The World Bank has released a report titled "Beaten or Broken? Informality and Covid-19", which has come amid a steady number of daily infections and deaths in Bangladesh, increasing the likelihood of a second wave in the winter season.

 [Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com/; United News of Bangladesh; Dhaka Tribune; Somoy News]

PAKISTAN

• There have been 317,595 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 6,552 deaths.
• COVID-19 cases see fresh rise in Pakistan: Pakistani authorities have acknowledged a slight rise in COVID-19 deaths and infections weeks after government ended almost all restrictions.
• On Friday, the country reported 8 deaths in 24 hours and 661 persons were tested positive for COVID-19 in 24 hours.
• Pakistan said that there is no plan to shut down educational institutions again, amidst concerns of a second wave coupled with winter season. Last month, all educational institutions were reopened across the country which were closed for nearly six months due to the pandemic.
• The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) noted a slight increase in the positivity rate in the country.

[Source: The National Herald; nation.com.pk; The New Indian Express]

AUSTRALIA

• The state of Victoria reported 11 new cases and no new deaths.
• In New South Wales, five new locally acquired cases were reported; all five cases had been linked to known sources. On Friday afternoon, health alerts were issued for trains, venues across Sydney visited by COVID-19 cases.

[Source: The Sydney Morning Herald]

NEW ZEALAND

• There were 2 new cases of COVID-19 on 9th October.

o   Both cases arrived from India on September 26. The people have been in managed isolation and have a positive test result from their routine test around day 12.

o   There are no new cases in the community. This means it has now been 2 weeks since the last community-transmitted case of COVID-19 in New Zealand.

There are now 41 active cases - all imported cases, and no active community cases of COVID-19

All of New Zealand is at Alert Level 1.

o   Controls at the borders continue for those entering New Zealand, including health screening and testing for all arrivals, and mandatory 14 day managed isolation or quarantine.

o   Staying at home if one is sick.

o   Getting a test if one has symptoms.

o   Maintaining good hygiene: hand washing

o   While it is not mandatory to wear a mask on public transport during Alert Level 1, it is encouraged.

• Legally one must wear a face covering if travelling into, out of or through an Alert Level 2 region on public transport or aircraft.

[Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com/; https://www.tvnz.co.nz/; https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-system/alert-level-1/]

SOUTH KOREA

• South Korea reported 54 new COVID-19 cases, including 38 locally transmitted and 16 imported cases (9th Oct). This took the total number of cases to over 24,400.
• One more death was also reported, raising the death toll to 428.
• The government has been on alert as a three-day weekend with Hangeul Day (National holiday) starting Friday could incite another resurgence in the number of new coronavirus cases.

 [Source: The Korean Herald]

JAPAN

• Japan plans to lift the coronavirus travel ban that it imposed on 12 countries, next month. The country had earlier started business travel from limited Asian nations where the pandemic was under control, including Thailand, Viet Nam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Singapore. The country now plans to expand this list.
• After removal of the ban, the travellers entering the country will have to test negative for COVID-19, self-isolate for 14 days and avoid non-essential trips on public transportation. 
• The government would allow 1,000 foreigners to enter per day in the initial stages, which will be increased gradually.
• Japan’s decision to ease restrictions comes as the country recorded a fall in the rate of infections with 142 new cases reported on October 8.
• Japan’s cumulative tally stood at 26,869.

[Source: Daily Hunt]

Dr KK Aggarwal

President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA