Topic: COVID-19 Update from National Medical Associations

July 30, 2022, Saturday

9.30-10.15am

• Pakistan Update: The positivity rate is  3.65%. There were 7-10 deaths per day in the last week, but yesterday there was only one death. The number of new cases in the last 24 hours was 693. About 30,000 tests per day have been carried out. There are 177 critical cases in hospital. 138 million have taken the initial dose of the vaccine and 129 million are fully vaccinated. 3.5 million have taken the booster dose. Pfizer vaccine is being given as booster. The gap between two booster doses is 28 days. The general public has accepted Covid as a new normal. No masks in mass gatherings. For travel into Pakistan, PCR test is no more required, but full vaccination is essential. All necessary information has to be uploaded into the Pass Track App. There are no monkey pox cases in the country, but dengue is a problem. Gastroenteritis is on the rise because of the monsoons.
• Japan Update: Yesterday there were 200,000 cases. There have been 100 deaths. This surge in cases is due to the BA.5 omicron subvariant. Most of the infected persons were in elderly homes or were already hospitalized prior to getting the infection. The country is open for business but not for sightseeing. A negative PCR two days before the date of departure is required to enter Japan. If 3 vaccine doses have been taken, then no testing at the airport, but if not fully vaccinated then tested again at the airport. If positive, then quarantine. There are two cases of monkeypox in the country
• South Africa Update: Overall, the situation has improved. In the last 24 hours, there were 354 new cases and 5 deaths. In the whole of the last week, the cases ranged from 200-500. The number of deaths also varies from 2 to 10. Deaths are mostly in persons with comorbidities. The recovery rate is 97.3%, active cases are 5000. 25 million have been tested; positive cases are 4 million. Deaths are over 100,000. There are very few hospitalizations. The vaccination rate is very slow. 37 million have been vaccinated. The vaccination rate among the 50-60 years and older age group is 55-60%. Now only the vaccination card is needed. In-flight masking is not required. Borders are open. People do not wear masks. The new problems are the rising cases of influenza, RSV, parainfluenza. There were very few cases in the last two years, but now these infections are coming back. Two cases of monkeypox have been diagnosed.
• India Update: Incidence is stabilizing, the numbers have decreased and now there are around 20,000 cases daily though the numbers are more in certain states/regions. There are now localized pockets of infection. The total number of active cases have reduced from more than 2L to 1.4 L. Deaths are more in cases with comorbid conditions. There are no restrictions; masking is voluntary. 230 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far. However, there is still a small deficit where eligible persons have not taken the vaccine. There are no travel restrictions; no limitations on public gatherings. 3-4 cases of monkeypox have been detected in persons who have travelled into India. These cases are recovering and are in isolation. The monkeypox virus strain in India is 2. In Europe, the virus strain is B.1.
• Singapore Update:  There are 1.7 million cases; total 1500 deaths. Around 8000 new cases are occurring daily. There are 600 patients in hospital. Of these, 64 are on oxygen, 19 are in ICU and 13 of the ICU patients are critically ill. The elderly people (70-79 and ≥80 years) are the biggest challenge. About 3-5% of them are still unvaccinated so cases are mainly from the unvaccinated elderly. 5 million people have received the full series; 4.25 million have received the 2^nd booster or the 3^rd There are no travel restrictions, if fully vaccinated. Masking is still required indoors but outdoors no masking. There are 11 cases of monkeypox; 3 are Singaporeans, while the rest are imported. 

Participants

Member National Medical Associations

Dr Yeh Woei Chong, Singapore, Chair of Council CMAAO

Dr Wasiq Qazi, Pakistan, President-elect CMAAO

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

Dr Akhtar Hussain, South Africa

Dr Qaiser Sajjad, Pakistan

Dr Marie Uzawa Urabe, Japan

Invitees

Dr EC Ng

Dr Patricia La’Brooy

Dr Janti Susanna Wong

Dr S Sharma, Editor IJCP Group

Moderator

Mr Saurabh Aggarwal