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Minutes of an International Weekly Meeting on COVID-19 held by the HCFI Dr KK Aggarwal Research Fund in association with experts from CMAAO Nations

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eMediNexus    23 July 2021

Topic: Covid situation in CMAAO countries: An update from all NMAs

17th July, 2021, Saturday, 9.30am-10.30am

Key points from the discussion

  • Malaysia Update: Cases are increasing, delta variant – 12-13,000 cases per day, with 120-130 daily deaths. The country is in a total lockdown since 1st July, but the number of cases has not come down. The government will revert to phased lockdowns (phase 1,2,3,4). About 350,000-400,000 people are being vaccinated every day, h vaccination has been stepped up. There are many vaccination centers including mobile vaccine centers. The specially challenged people are given the vaccination at their home. GPs and Private sector have been recruited to help with the vaccination. Currently, 4-5 million people have been vaccinated; the total population of Malaysia is 32.7 million. The vaccines currently in use are Pfizer and Sinovac. The target is to vaccinate maximum people.
  • Australia Update: Half of the country is under total lockdown; two states (New South Wales and Victoria) are reporting sharp increase in cases with the delta variant. Vaccination is slow. The main vaccine is AstraZeneca (for above 70 years), but now Pfizer vaccine In Victoria, only 19 cases recorded in the last two days. is also being administered. About 12-13% of population is fully vaccinated. Not enough vaccine is available. The gap between two doses of the vaccine has been reduced to six weeks for AstraZeneca.
  • Hong Kong Update: More than 2.7 million (~40%) citizens have received the first dose; about 20-30% people have been fully vaccinated. The middle-aged are more energetic to take the vaccine up till now. The percentage of vaccination is also not very high in the young. The vaccination rate is around 25% in the elderly (>60 years) so the government has more incentives to encourage the elderly to take the vaccine. Breakthrough infections are occasionally reported, although Hong Kong was very vigilant in mitigating spread of alpha and delta variants in the country, for the last two months. The government has initiated vaccination (Pfizer) for teenagers (12-15 years), but the uptake is unsatisfactory. Mass vaccination could not be carried out in schools because of summer holidays. The government is thinking of linking vaccination with employment.
  • Singapore Update: Till a week back, there were zero cases. A new cluster of about 120 cases has been reported, which has been linked to night clubs and karaoke outlets and it is growing. People who have visited these night spots have been asked to get themselves tested. Around1000 have come forward for testing. The Health ministry has adopted a four-ringed approach to contain this new cluster. The first ring is the first 120 confirmed cases and the patrons of these places in contact with the cases, which number around 2000. About 71% of population is vaccinated. Vaccination has been extended in 12-16 years age group; first priority was been given to children who are taking exams. The uptake of vaccine is good. New rules for dining out have been introduced. Only fully vaccinated individuals and people who have recovered from Covid-19 will be able to dine in groups of five, otherwise only two vaccinated persons can dine out.
  • India Update: There is slow decline of second wave; around 40,000 daily cases are being reported. Two states – Maharashtra and Kerala – are reporting 80% of cases. The current focus is on Testing, Tracking and Treatment. A recent ICMR study has shown very encouraging results. There have been breakthrough infections (predominantly delta variant, B.1.617.2), but the numbers are small and the disease is mainly asymptomatic, mild or moderate. But there are some cases of immune escape where the disease is moderate to severe. Less than one percent breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated persons required hospitalization. The death rate in vaccinated persons is 0.8%. The focus is on Covid-appropriate behavior and vaccination. There is a shortage of vaccines; 2-3 million vaccines are administered every day, though the target is 8 million daily. Around 39 crore have been vaccinated so far, but a large population is still unvaccinated and are therefore vulnerable to the virus. Early experience with monoclonal antibodies has been good, in cities like Mumbai. Hospitalizations have been saved, if used within the first three days.
  • Pakistan Update: The total cases are 983,000, total deaths are 22,720, active cases are 43,670; new cases in the last 24 hours are 2327. The positivity rate is increasing. Presently it is 6.17%.
  • About 5% of the population has been vaccinated so far i.e. about 2.1 crore vaccines have been administered; the total population is 22 crores. The vaccines in use are Sinopharm, Sinovac and CanSino. Now, Pfizer and AstraZeneca have been started in the private sector. Cases are rising; 50% cases are of Delta variant. There are public awareness messages about wearing masks, taking the vaccine and sanitising and hygiene on television.
  • Bangladesh Update: Last week, there were around 12,000 new infections and more than 200 deaths. This is alarming as cases are spreading mostly in the border areas. The delta variant is also prevalent. The lockdown has now been relaxed for one week because of the festival. The lockdown will be imposed again from 22nd The vaccination is continuing and everyone above 18 years will be eligible for vaccination.
  • Japan Update: About 70% of persons aged 65 years and older will be vaccinated soon. There are about 3000 cases, but only about 50 are intubated and in ICUs. Half of them are delta variant. Severe cases are mostly in the 30-and 40-year old age group. The Olympics will open this week, but the event will be without spectators.
  • South Africa Update: There are about 26,000 cases per day. The country is facing a double epidemic of Covid-19 and violence and looting (particularly in two provinces). Hospitals are full of Covid patients as well as trauma patients, victims of shooting. Three million people have been vaccinated so far. Vaccination is now halted in the two provinces. Delta variant is the dominant strain. The health care workers are being given the J&J vaccine, the rest of the population is being vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. Sinovac vaccine has just been approved. There are breakthrough infections in health care workers.
  • USA Update: Cases are rising especially in those states where the vaccination rates are low. Vaccination has slowed down. There are incentivising programs to encourage people to get vaccinated.

Participants

Member National Medical Associations

Dr Yeh Woei Chong, Singapore, Chair CMAAO

Dr Ravi Naidu, Malaysia, Immediate Past President CMAAO

Prof Ashraf Nizami, Pakistan, First Vice President CMAAO

Dr Alvin Yee-Shing Chan, Hong Kong Medical Association, Treasurer, CMAAO

Dr Marthanda Pillai, India Member World Medical Council

Dr Akhtar Hussain, South Africa

Dr Qaiser Sajjad, Pakistan

Dr Marie Uzawa Urabe, Japan

Dr Salma Kundi, Pakistan

Dr Md Jamaluddin Chowdhury, Bangladesh

Invitees

Dr Russell D’Souza, Australia UNESCO Chair in Bioethics

Dr Shashank Joshi, Mumbai, India

Dr Monica Vasudev, USA

Dr Mulazim Hussain Bukhari, Pakistan

Dr S Sharma, Editor IJCP Group

Moderator

Mr Saurabh Aggarwal

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