Topic: COVID Updates by National Medical Associations

2nd April, 2022, Saturday

9.30-10.30am 

• Singapore Update: Singapore is experiencing a big dengue outbreak since March. There are about 400-500 cases. Singapore has a very good mosquito eradication program, but despite best of efforts there is lot of mosquito breeding at homes. In 2020, there were more deaths from dengue than Covid.  The Dengvaxia vaccine is available, but it is given only to people who have had one attack of dengue. It is administered six months after the dengue episode. The Covid situation is coming down very nicely; there are about 5000 daily cases with a peak of 30,000. Hospitalization remains alright. ICUs are not full. The mortality is 1000-1060 in about 2 years. Genetically engineered mosquitoes were released to curtail the population of mosquitoes in Singapore. Wolbachia was introduced in the local population of mosquitoes to stop the transmission of dengue in Singapore.
• Australia Update: There have been five cases of Japanese encephalitis in the last few weeks. Ross River virus is endemic here. Covid cases are occurring every day, but there is no impact on hospitalization. New South Wales and Victoria are the two places where there are cases. The fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine is now available for 60 years and older and those in aged care facilities. With winter approaching, large number of flu cases are expected because in the last two years, there have been no cases of flu because of the lockdown. Rules have been relaxed except for masks for primary schools as they have not yet had their second dose, public transport and aged care facilities. Flu vaccination program is ongoing. By 18th of this month, testing for incoming international travelers will not be required. Restrictions are being relaxed and situation is slowly returning to normal. 
• Japan Update: Japan is shifting from BA1 to BA2. There seem to be no severe patients at all. So, now cities are opening up and there are no restrictions at all but almost everybody still wears masks.
• Philippines Update: We have one of the lowest cases of Covid-19 in our region for almost one and half years. Last week we had 4000-5000 cases, which means less than 300-500 cases per day. Wearing of masks is a must and there is still social distancing. For travelers, there is a quarantine period of 5 days. 70 million have been vaccinated with two doses and 5-17-year age group is  being encourage to get vaccinated. The 5-11 year-age group is getting Pfizer, but now Sinovac is also available. As of now, 13 million booster doses have been administered. We have to give booster to more than 50 million of the total population. The second booster is for senior citizens and immunocompromised population. There are 8-9 types of vaccines and there is a huge stock of vaccines, which will expire in this month and the coming months.
• India Update: Situation in India is very much under control. In the last 24 hours, cases were 1260. Positivity rate is 0.22%. All restrictions have been removed, schools are reopened, public gathering number restriction no longer exists. Some states like Maharashtra and Delhi have made masks optional. Hand sanitization is also not compulsory. Though the medical fraternity is cautious and continues to advocate masks and hand sanitization. The total number of cases since the first case is 4.3 crores and deaths are 4 lakh. Immunization is still on; 184 crore doses have been given. Booster dose or 3rd dose is also being given. Vaccine manufacturers have slowed down the production of vaccine as demand is low. Pediatric age group vaccination is going on but is not vigorous. No RTPCR is required for international travelling; one can carry the vaccination certificate. No restrictions also for domestic travel.
• South Africa Update: Situation is much better and is improving every day. In the last 24 hours, there were 1692 new cases and 10 deaths. Total positive cases reported 3.7 million. About 3.6 million have recovered so far. Total death rate is just over 100,000 and active cases are 12,500. Recovery rate is 97%. The average testing for last 7 days is 23,000+ positive cases. Positivity rate is 6.1% in the last week. 1926 people were admitted in hospitals around the country, both public and private. 169 cases were in ICU and 61 patients were on ventilator. Total vaccination is 33.8million. In the province of KwaZulu-Natal, there were only 406 new cases with no deaths. We are worried about winter. The government has acknowledged under reported covid deaths. The National State of Disaster will be lifted as from the 5^th April.
• Malaysia Update: We have 18,000 cases daily; 99% are category 1 and less than 1% are category 2, 3 and 4. Deaths have come down to 30-40 a day. On 1st April, the country has opened its borders but international travelers have to be fully vaccinated. RT PCR 2 days before arrival and a swab test within 24 hours of arrival is still required. The government has reduced it from pandemic to endemic. Except for mandatory mask wearing all other restrictions for public gatherings like weddings, dinners etc. no longer mandatory. Malaysia has more dengue deaths than Covid. Dengue is a major threat.
• Hong Kong Update: We have passed the peak of omicron BA.2. Death toll has climbed up to 7945. More than 10,200 patients were hospitalized and 79 are in ICU. Yesterday, the confirmed positive cases were 5800. This is only one-tenth of the peak when we had more than 58,000 confirmed positive cases a day last month. But we cannot be complacent because two cases of XE have been detected in the middle of March, the newest mutant strain in UK in incoming residents from UK. There is no community outbreak as yet. The government is relaxing the rules. We are opening the borders. Yet we must be very careful and not be complacent. 7700 people died in the fifth wave. Previous waves there were  just 213 deaths. 92.5% population has received the first dose of the vaccine and 84.5% has received the second dose. For the third dose, it is 40%. The vaccination rate among elderly aged 80 years and older is only 55% for the first dose and less than 40% for the 2nd dose. 
• Bangladesh Update: The daily new infections are  less than 100. The number of deaths in last two weeks is only 11. In the last two weeks the number of cases is less than 2000. Vaccination is 75% for 1st dose and 65% for the second dose; booster dose has been given to 8.5%. Only the vaccination pass is required for travelers; no RT PCR. Masking is still required but most people do not wear masks.
• Pakistan Update: Life is back to normal in Pakistan. The national health authorities have lifted all restrictions. However advisory to wear mask in crowded and closed spaces and social distancing is still advocated. 132 million have been partially vaccinated, 115 million are fully vaccinated; 6 million have taken the booster dose. The total confirmed cases are 1.5 million, recovered cases are 1.5 million. There were no critical cases in last 24 hours are none. Total deaths in Pakistan are 20,000. In last 24 hours there was a single death. Total testing is 27 million. Last 24 hours we had 29,000 testing and positivity rate was 0.6 %. There are no travel restrictions.
• Taiwan Update: There has been an increase in the number of cases in the last one week. The government is looking to open border controls and regular life. Yesterday there were 136 cases, 100 were domestic and the remaining were imported.

 

Participants

 

Member National Medical Associations

 

Dr Yeh Woei Chong, Singapore, Chair of Council CMAAO

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

Dr Wasiq Qazi, Pakistan, President-elect CMAAO

Dr Marthanda Pillai, India Member World Medical Council, Advisor CMAAO

Dr Ravi Naidu, Malaysia

Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa, South Africa

Dr Angelique Coetzee, South Africa

Dr Akhtar Hussain, South Africa

Dr Muh-Yong Yen, Taiwan

Dr Marie Uzawa Urabe, Japan

Dr Salma Kundi, Pakistan

Dr Ashraf Nizami, Pakistan

Dr Benito Atienza, Philippines

Dr Marie Uzawa Urabe, Japan

Dr Md Jamaluddin Chowdhury, Bangladesh 

 

Invitees

 

Dr Russell D’Souza, Australia UNESCO Chair in Bioethics

Dr Patricia La’Brooyi

Dr EC Ng

Dr Yeo Khoon Hui

Dr Ng Choon Khim

Dr Lim Chong Sing

Dr Heng Boon Liat Brian

Dr Joshua Lim 

Dr S Sharma, Editor IJCP Group

 

Moderator

Mr Saurabh Aggarwal