MANILA, Philippines (AP) – Coronavirus infections in the Philippines have risen over the past 500,000 in a new bleak milestone with the government receiving criticism for not immediately launching a vaccination program amid a worldwide scramble for COVID 19 vaccines do not.
The health department on Sunday reported 1,895 new infections, bringing confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country to 500,577, the second highest in Southeast Asia. There are at least 9,895 deaths.
The Philippines has negotiated with seven Western and Chinese companies to secure 148 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, but uncertainty and confusion have taken a lot of effort. About 50,000 doses of Sinovac Biotech Ltd., based in China, could arrive later next month, followed by much larger shipments, but concerns have been expressed about its effectiveness.
President Rodrigo Duterte says securing the vaccines was difficult because rich countries have first secured massive doses for their citizens.
Duterte’s elite guards admitted that they had been vaccinated with a still unauthorized COVID-19 vaccine, in part to ensure they would not infect the 75-year-old president. Duterte’s spokesman and other officials denied that the president himself had been vaccinated.
The illegal vaccinations follow a wave of criticism, but few details have been released, including the vaccine used and how the guards obtained it. Some senators investigated, but Duterte ordered that his guards not appear before the Senate.
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday promised to keep the pandemic under control and to hold the already postponed Olympic Games this summer with adequate coronavirus protection. Suga said during a speech at a new parliament session that his government would review laws to make antivirus measures enforceable with fines and compensation. Early in the pandemic, Japan was able to keep its virus load manageable with non-binding requests for businesses to close or work with social distance and that people had to stay home. But over the past few weeks, there have been a number of highs in new cases per day, partly blamed for the eased stance on antivirus measures, and doubts are growing as more infectious variants spread as people wait for vaccines and the Olympics nader kom. The Ministry of Health also reported on Monday that three people who have not had a recent overseas trip tested positive for the new, more easily transmitted coronavirus variant first reported in Britain, suggesting it is making its way to Japan . Suga said his government plans to start vaccinations as early as the end of February. Japan has confirmed more than 330,000 infections and 4,500 deaths due to COVID-19, the numbers that have risen recently, although it is still much smaller than many other countries in its size.
A Chinese province struggling with an increase in coronavirus cases imposes strict restrictions on weddings, funerals and other family gatherings, and threatens offenders with criminal charges. The notice from the High Court in Hebei Province does not give details, but says that all kinds of social gatherings are now regulated to prevent the spread of the virus. Hebei has had one of China’s most serious outbreaks in months amid measures to curb further spread during the New Year holidays in February. Authorities urged citizens not to travel, and ordered schools to close a week early and conduct large-scale tests. Hebei recorded another 54 cases during the previous 24 hours, the National Health Commission said on Monday, while the northern province of Jilin reported 30 cases and Heilongjiang reported further north seven. Beijing has had two new cases, and most buildings and housing now require proof of a negative coronavirus test for entry.
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has introduced a new $ 15 billion ($ 3.7 billion) stimulus to boost consumption, and the economy is expected to recover from a second coronavirus shutdown and a state of emergency start. Muhyiddin received royal permission last week to declare a coronavirus emergency, which was slammed by critics as a desperate attempt to hold on to power amid his ruling coalition. The state of emergency, which is expected to last until August 1, involves no curfew or military intervention, but suspends parliament, stops the election and gives Muhyiddin’s government absolute power, including the enactment of new laws. It occurred at the same time as millions of people in Kuala Lumpur, and several high-risk states were placed under surveillance for two weeks to stem an increase in coronavirus cases. Muhyiddin acknowledged on Monday the concern about the emergency, but reiterated that it was only aimed at limiting the coronavirus. He said the economic impact of the exclusion would be manageable as more activities are allowed this time. He said the stimulus would provide more funds to fight the pandemic and support livelihoods and businesses. A businessman has filed a lawsuit against the emergency statement and the opposition plans to appeal to the king to revoke his support. Malaysia has recorded more than 158,000 cases of coronavirus, including 601 deaths.
Nepal’s health ministry says the country’s first cases of the new, more contagious coronavirus variant first found in the UK have been confirmed in three people who arrived from the UK. The ministry said on Monday that samples from six people who arrived in Nepal last week had been sent to a laboratory in Hong Kong with the help of the World Health Organization. Three of the people – two men and a woman – tested positive for the new variant. Two have recovered and one is still ill, the ministry said. Nepal recorded 267 322 cases of coronavirus, including 1,959 deaths.