Laos intensifies pandemic prevention in capital, Malaysia to give booster shots
Laos has completely locked down four central districts in its capital city of Vientiane in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, while Malaysia has planned to offer booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines to frontline forces and the elderly to increase their immunity.
Hanoi (VNA) – Laos has completely locked downfour central districts in its capital city of Vientiane in a bid to curb the spread ofCOVID-19, while Malaysia has planned to offer booster shots of COVID-19vaccines to frontline forces and the elderly to increase their immunity.
The Lao Ministry of Health on September 19 confirmed 371new infections in the past 24 hours, including 303 found in the community. The number of cases in Vientianeaccounted for the lion’s share of the daily caseload, at 225.
Travel, except for those with permissions, is banned in thecapital’s locked-down areas. Vientiane is also intensifying its pandemicprevention measures, including 14-day quarantine for people from otherCOVID-19-hit localities and prohibition of traveling to localities with highlevel of pandemic situation.
Laos has so far logged 19,185 cases, including 16 deaths.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s administration of the booster shots tohigh-risk groups such as frontliners, the immunocompromised and the elderlywith comorbidities will begin once the COVID-19 mass immunisation coverage hascovered 80 percent of the adult population nationwide, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.
According to official statistics, as of September 18, 78.2percent of Malaysian adults completed their vaccinations.
Also on September 18, 15,549 new cases brought the country’stally to 2,082,876 ca. A total of 324 newfatalities were recorded, raising the country's death toll to 23,067./.
Indonesia and the Philippines have received more COVID-19 vaccine aid via the COVAX Facility, while Thailand is confident in realising its goal of vaccinating 70 percent of the population.
Singapore is working to boost its stock market, startups and entrepreneurs via a slew of new initiatives aimed at enhancing the country’s role as a financing hub.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on September 17 asked the Tourism Ministry to consider reopening tourism for vaccinated international tourists to visit Cambodia with a seven-day quarantine period.
Laos logged a total of 467 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours including 383 local transmissions, the highest ever daily tally since the pandemic broke out in the country.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
The proposed venue is located in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok, featuring eight public sites, including Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal and several nearby parks.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
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The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
COVID-19 testing in Vientiane, Laos. (Photo: VNA) 
