COVID-19 pandemic continues worsening in Thailand, Indonesia
Thailand on July 16 reported a daily record of 9,692 COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the total number to 381,907 since the start of the pandemic, as authorities are struggling to tackle the country's biggest wave of infections so far.
People queue for free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests at a mass testing station in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: Reuters)
Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand on July 16 reported a daily record of 9,692COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the total number to 381,907 since the start of thepandemic, as authorities are struggling to tackle the country's biggest wave ofinfections so far.
The Southeast Asian country also reported 67 more COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total number offatalities to 3,099.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment LuhutPandjaitan said the Indonesian Government was preparing for worst case scenarios shouldthe country see a further surge in confirmed COVID-19 infections up to 100,000 cases per day.
Some of the countermeasures deployed by the government are to send fresh graduate doctors andnurses to treat COVID-19 patients and increase the number of COVID-19vaccine to 1 million doses per day.
Facing the complicated epidemic situation, the Indonesian Government hascalled for support from six countries, including Japan, Singapore, the UnitedArab Emirates (UAE), China, Australia and the United States. Indonesia alsorequested support from the COVAX Facility.
Indonesia reported 56,757 new COVID-19 cases on July 15 - the world's highest rise in a single day, bringing to the country's tally to 2.7 million./.
Thailand’s Cabinet has approved a proposal to allow four groups of migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar to legally stay and work in Thailand until July 27 next year, in order to allow them to sort out their employment status and work permits as required by a previous order, according to local media.
Thailand’s Cabinet has recently approved a financial package of 42 billion THB (1.3 billion USD) for citizens and businesses impacted by the partial lockdown, currently implemented in Bangkok and nine provinces to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
People queue for free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests at a mass testing station in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: Reuters) 
