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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40006427

The Liberal Democratic Party’s rank-and-file members and members of affiliated groups appear to favor Taro Kono to be the party’s next leader, according to a Yomiuri Shimbun poll conducted over the weekend.

When asked which candidate they intend to vote for, 41% chose Kono, the minister in charge of administrative and regulatory reform. In second at 22% was Fumio Kishida, a former LDP Policy Research Council chairperson, followed closely at 20% by Sanae Takaichi, a former communications minister, with LDP Executive Acting Secretary General Seiko Noda at 6%.

As for the LDP’s Diet members, a separate poll appears to show their preference for Kishida, Kono, Takaichi and Noda in that order.

The results suggest that there will be no clear winner after the first round of voting, likely leading to a runoff between the top two finishers.

The nationwide telephone poll of rank-and-file members was conducted Saturday and Sunday, with valid responses received from 1,514 such members and members of affiliated groups who were confirmed to have the right to vote for the party president.

In the actual voting to take place Sept. 29, 382 votes will come from each of the LDP’s Diet members, and an equivalent value of 382 votes will be calculated based on the percentage each candidate receives of the ballots cast by rank-and-file members.

Extrapolating from the sample size of the poll, rank-and-file members appear to give 177 votes to Kono, 94 to Kishida, 86 to Takaichi and 25 to Noda. The calculation did not include the 11% of the respondents who did not disclose their intentions.

As for their reasons for choosing a particular candidate, 25% said they supported the candidate’s zeal for reform, 23% said they had strong expectations for the candidate’s policies and 13% said the candidate was trustworthy.

Asked what they thought the LDP needed most in the future, 37% said a generational turnover, 19% said dissolution of factions and 15% said transparency in political funds.

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When it came to Diet members’ favored candidates, however, the poll started on Sept. 6 and ended Sunday. Of the 382 LDP lawmakers, responses were received from 379, with 30% saying they were undecided or had no comment.

From the lawmakers’ responses, 94 backed Kishida, 83 supported Kono, 71 answered Takaichi. Noda, who officially announced her intention to run on Sept. 16, received 16 votes.

While Kono is a popular choice, the combined poll results appear to show that he does not have 40% of the votes.

If none of the candidates receives over 50% of the vote on Sept. 29, a runoff will take place with 429 votes available: 382 from Diet members and one each from the party’s 47 prefectural chapters.

Published : September 21, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40006426

Police and security authorities are placing strict controls on travel and many roads in the capital are now blocked off following new restrictions imposed as a result of the latest lockdown.

Vientiane authorities ordered a full lockdown of the capital on Sunday following new clusters of locally-transmitted Covid cases at several factories.

Police and security officials are now stationed on city streets to check people’s movements, especially in the four central districts of Sikhottabong, Sisattanak, Chanthabouly and Xaysettha, and some areas of Xaythany, Hadxaithong and Naxaithong.

There are now 14 checkpoints across the capital, including at Thongkhankham, the Comcenter roundabout, Nongbone, Donekoy, 23 Singha Park, Chao Fa Ngum Park, Dongdok, Km3, Nonvai, Nongnieng, Dondaeng-Huayhong, Km7, Lao-ITECC, and Km15 in Dongsang-hin village.

Travel is banned on roads in the capital from 10pm to 5am. Exceptions will be made for essential trips such as the transport of goods, food and medical equipment, ambulances, fire-fighting trucks, and emergency rescue vehicles.

Authorities are calling on people to stay at home while the lockdown is in place, to prevent the spread of Covid-19. This means everyone should stay at home except to buy essential goods such as medicine and to carry out duties authorised by the government.

The lockdown follows new clusters of cases at several factories, with over 430 cases being reported at a garment factory over the weekend. Most of the cases were identified as the Delta variant of Covid-19.

Violators of the rules will be subject to fines, with an individual to be fined 3 million kip per offence and an entity such as a business fined 10 million kip for each offence.

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The owners of restaurants that stay open in breach of the rules will be fined 3 million kip and service users will be fined 4 million kip or more.

While carrying out checks, police found the Homyen restaurant in Dongdok village, Xaythany district, was open and selling alcoholic beverages, while 17 people were drinking beer inside the restaurant.

Police fined the restaurant owner 3 million kip and fines amounting to 4,150,000 kip were issued to customers.

Gatherings of all kinds, parties and all other activities including cultural events, weddings and religious gatherings are forbidden as part of lockdown restrictions.

All places of entertainment, including casinos, karaoke bars, gaming shops and cinemas, will be closed, in addition to internet cafés, massage and spa facilities, barber shops, beauty salons, snooker clubs, night markets, food gardens, tourist attractions, guesthouses, hotels and refreshment shops.

Published : September 21, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40006425

President Moon Jae-in will hold a meeting with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourlar in New York on Tuesday, during his five-day trip to the US for the UN General Assembly, Cheong Wa Dae said.

During the meeting, the president is expected to express his gratitude toward the US vaccine maker’s COVID-19 vaccine supply and ask support for future partnership.

Moon has held a series of meetings with leaders of global vaccine makers, including Moderna, AstraZeneca and Curevac, in recent months as part of his government’s efforts to speed up its vaccination campaign.

The president also plans to attend a signing ceremony for a Seoul-Washington vaccine partnership, an outcome of his first summit with President Joe Biden in May in Washington. Under the agreement, the two nations will work together to support vaccine development and production in both countries.

During the May summit, the two leaders agreed to boost their vaccine partnership by seeking synergy between the US’ vaccine development technology and Korea’s manufacturing capabilities. Korea, home to Samsung Biologics and SK Bioscience, is the world’s second-largest producer of biomedicines.

The strategic partnership is also key to Korea’s vision for hosting an Asian vaccine production hub.

The government recently unveiled a new 2.2 trillion won ($1.92 billion) plan to invest in vaccine development and production over the next five years, with the aim of debuting its first locally developed COVID-19 vaccine in the first half of next year and becoming one of the top five vaccine producers by 2025.

Besides vaccine-related meetings, Moon has a packed schedule for his US trip. He will deliver a keynote speech at the UN General Assembly that convenes Tuesday for two weeks and attend a separate SDG Moment session along with K-pop group BTS to discuss global challenges and urge action from future generations.

On the sidelines of the event, bilateral meetings, including summit talks with his Vietnamese and Slovenian counterparts, are expected to be arranged before he heads to Honolulu to attend a ceremony marking the return of the remains of US soldiers who died in the Korean War and other veterans’ events there.

He and first lady Kim Jung-sook are scheduled to return to Korea Thursday.

By Lee Ji-yoon/The Korea Herald

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Published : September 21, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40006424

India is likely to resume vaccine export under ‘Vaccine Maitri’ in the fourth quarter starting from October, said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya here on Monday.

He said that vaccine export will resume to fulfill the commitment towards COVAX in line with the motto ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family).

The decision to restart the vaccine export has come in view of the United States’ request, ahead of PM Modi’s visit to Washington starting Tuesday.

Mandaviya said that the surplus supply of vaccines will be used to fulfill the commitment towards the world for the collective fight against Covid-19. COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and WHO.

He added that it is due to the relentless efforts and guidance of PM Modi that India was simultaneously undertaking Research and production of Covid vaccines in line with the global developments.

India’s vaccination drive, he said, has been a role model for the world and it is marching ahead with great speed. More than 4 times we have crossed one crore mark since the drive commenced on January 16, Mandaviya said.

On vaccine production in coming months, the health minister said that more than 30 crore doses will be produced in October and more than 100 crore doses in the coming quarter.

India had stopped vaccine exports in April following second Covid second wave.

The Union Health Minister held a meeting with six All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) hospitals for better coordination among them so that the government could provide best healthcare facilities to the public across the nation.

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Mandaviya also visited the vaccination centre at AIIMS and held a review meeting with other AIIMS hospitals.

The minister also discussed the modern infrastructure works going on in different wings of these 6 hospitals across the nation.

BJP national president J P Nadda also visited the vaccination centre at AIIMS along with the Union Health Minister on Monday morning.

Published : September 21, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40006374

The debut solo release “Lalisa” from K-pop girl group Blackpink member Lisa was ranked No. 1 on global YouTube music charts in its first week, the singer‘s agency YG Entertainment said Sunday.

“Lalisa” was the highest-ranked song on YouTube‘s music chart for the week starting Sept. 10 — its release date — with 216 million views, pushing out “Raattan Lambiyan” by Tankshik Bagchi, Jubin Nautiyal & Asees Kaur from the top spot.

Its music video was also the most viewed clip in the world over the cited period, YG Entertainment added. The “Lalisa” music video attracted 73.6 million views within 24 hours of its release, a record-high among solo artists worldwide.

“Lalisa” also ranked 68th on the United Kingdom’s Official Singles Chart Top 100.

By Son Ji-hyoung/The Korea Herald

Published : September 20, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40006373

With the administration of 85,42,732 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage on Sunday surpassed the landmark figure of 80 crore.

Sustained and collaborative efforts by the Centre and the States and UTs continue the trend of less than 50,000 daily new cases being reported for 84 consecutive days now. 30,773 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, according to Health ministry update.

The testing capacity across the country continues to be expanded. The last 24 hours saw a total of 15,59,895 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 55.23 Cr (55,23,40,168) cumulative tests.

While testing capacity has been enhanced across the country, Weekly Positivity Rate at 2.04 per cent remains less than 3 per cent for the last 86 days now. The daily positivity rate is reported to be 1.97 per cent. The daily positivity rate has remained below 3 per cent for last 20 days and below 5 per cent for 103 consecutive days now.

More than 78.58 crore (78,58,15,125) vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far through Government of India (free of cost channel) and through direct state procurement category. Further, more than 1.16 Crore doses (1,16,11,210) are in the pipeline.

More than 5.16 Cr (5,16,98,785) balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.

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“The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country,” according to government reports.

The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain.

As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, the central government has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them Covid vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalisation of the COVID19 vaccination drive, the Centre will procure and supply (free of cost) 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to States and UTs.

Published : September 20, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40006372

HCM CITY — HCM City is committed to enforcing vigilant pandemic prevention measures when it reopens the economy after months of strict lockdown measures, said a city chief.

Speaking at a meeting with economic and medical experts last Friday (Sept 17), Nguyễn Văn Nên, secretary of the city Party Committee, said: “The city is under huge pressure to reopen the economy or it will be too late.”

The level of suffering of the economy and people has reached its limit due to prolonged lockdown measures. As such, the city will develop a roadmap for reopening so that it can adapt to and live safety with the virus, he said.

The city will gradually narrow down areas with very high risks and try to expand the number of low-risk areas, according to Nên. 

Vũ Thành Tự Anh, director of the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management, said that reopening for economic development and social security has become more urgent than ever as both businesses and people, especially the poor, are struggling due to the lockdowns.

“The economic cost is huge if we delay the reopening further,” he noted.

He said it was too expensive to conduct large-scale testing for the city’s entire population. In addition, the city’s revenue and central government revenue are facing challenges as the cost of pandemic prevention has been extremely high.

Anh called for the Ministry of Health to adjust regulations and safety criteria for the city’s reopening. 

Prof. Dr. Trần Hoàng Ngân, director of the HCM City Institute for Research and Development, pointed out that “when the city’s revenue is in trouble, it will also affect national financial resources.”

Economics expert Trần Du Lịch has called on the city to change its pandemic fighting strategy and not focus on tracing all close contacts of positive cases.

Focused testing

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Lê Trường Giang, chairman of the HCM City Public Health Association, said although the city has applied strict measures for months, the number of cases has not fallen as planned. 

Vaccines and medicines are the “two weapons to fight the pandemic,” he said.

“Testing will help to detect cases early so as to avoid the risk of becoming more seriously ill. It will also help bring the tested people back to normal life and restore social activities.” 

“Though the city has not been able to contain the outbreak according to the Ministry of Health criteria, it must consider gradually opening up,” he said. 

Prof Trần Diệp Tuấn, rector of the HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, said the number of new cases had not reached a “safe level” under the ministry’s criteria and the city must discuss the set of criteria and take adaptive measures.

Lê Hoàng Ninh, former director of the HCM City Institute of Public Health, said the city’s strategy is to vaccinate everyone because the city cannot remain in lockdown forever. 

Ninh said it was important to focus on testing high-risk groups, instead of mass testing, which he said was a waste of resources. “The city must find ways to live with the virus because it is not going to be eradicated.”

Dr Nguyễn Thế Dũng, former director of the city Department of Health, said the city needs to focus on setting basic goals such as reducing the number of deaths and seriously ill cases.

The city initially planned to ease lockdown measures after September 15 but the deadline was extended until the end of the month. 

It is speeding up vaccinations for its adult population aged 18 and over and consulting with medical and economic experts about a vaccine green card system that would allow people to travel and work with fewer restrictions.

According to the HCM City Centre for Disease Control, as of September 15, the city had administered 8,452,609 vaccine shots, including 6.6 million first shots and 1.7 million second shots. Nearly 1 million people aged 65 and over and people with underlying conditions have been vaccinated.

The rate of first-shot coverage in the city has reached 92.5 per cent. The city has set a target to vaccinate all adults aged 18 and above by the end of the year. — VNS

Published : September 20, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40006371

SINGAPORE – More than 1,000 new Covid-19 infections were reported in Singapore for the second day in a row on Sunday (Sept 19).

There were a total of 1,012 new Covid-19 cases, the highest daily number since April 23 last year when there were 1,037 new cases.

Of the local cases, 919 were in the community and 90 cases were among dormitory residents, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). Of these, 321 are seniors above 60 years old.

The remaining three cases were imported.

The total number of Covid-19 infections in Singapore now stands at 77,804.

There were also two new Covid-19 clusters reported at nursing homes, with transmission detected among residents and staff, said MOH.

Woodlands Care Home has a total of 12 cases, of which 11 are residents.

Windsor Convalescent Home in Pasir Panjang has 10 cases, of which nine are residents.

A new cluster also surfaced in My Little Campus (Yishun), with transmission detected among staff and pre-schoolers in the school. Of the 11 cases in the cluster, two are staff and nine are pre-schoolers.

MOH said two new cases were added to the cluster at Block 210 Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Market and Food Centre, which now has 41 cases. The cluster comprises 24 staff and 17 household contacts, the ministry said, adding that all workers at the market and food centre will be tested. 

These four new clusters are among 16 clusters that MOH is monitoring.

There are currently 873 Covid-19 patients in the hospital, up from 863 the day before.

Those in need of oxygen supplementation rose from 105 the day before to 118. There are also 21 in critical condition in the intensive care unit, up from 18.

Of the patients who have fallen very ill, 116 are seniors above the age of 60.

By Ang Qing / The Straits Times

Published : September 20, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40006370

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is experiencing its fourth and “most severe” wave of COVID-19 infections without any sign of the virus spread slowing down, the president of the Philippine College of Physicians warned on Sunday.

The current positivity rate, or the number of infected among tested individuals, was just too high at nearly 30 percent, as opposed to only 5 percent to indicate a situation is under control.

“Definitely at this point, and this is my personal (opinion), this is already unacceptable,” said Dr. Maricar Limpin.

She said the current wave was likely fueled by the Delta variant as cases continued to surge even when vaccines have become available.

In a text message, she said Delta was the most virulent so far and highly transmissible, with some fully vaccinated healthcare workers still succumbing to the disease.

Further rise

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In a health workers’ forum on Sunday, Limpin agreed with the Department of Health’s (DOH) assessment that the current wave has yet to reach its peak, even after a single-day case count of more than 26,000.

Limpin referred to a Sept. 9 article published in the online media platform “The Conversation” that identified the Philippines’ first wave in April 2020, which was “modest” with a peak of 316 seven-day rolling case average.

In August 2020, the Philippines experienced its second wave, peaking at 4,300 daily cases. It was also when doctors called for a “timeout.”

“We equated that ‘timeout’ to the last two minutes in a basketball game when you huddle and talk about (strategies) to win. At that time, we didn’t know much yet (in terms of treatment and quarantine). We did what the US and Europe were doing,” she said.

Limpin said the third wave occurred in April 2021 and it reached a peak of 11,000 average daily cases.

Hospital lack

The previous waves, however, were nothing compared with the present surge.

Limpin said that this time, the number of cases and deaths were much higher.

One contributing factor to the increase in fatality, she noted, was that patients were dying while looking for hospitals to help them.

The government reported a 77-percent utilization rate of intensive care units (ICUs), but Limpin said the situation was different in the hospital emergency rooms.

“I don’t know how they compute that. When we (doctors) talk among ourselves, everyone is saying ICU and (COVID) wards are full,” she said.

In a separate Facebook post, health advocate Dr. Tony Leachon said the government metrics were “wrong, misleading and dangerous for our policymakers (as they) give us a diluted picture of our health-care system.”

He said the DOH must conduct a daily census of the emergency rooms to see the new cases, hospital admissions, hospital transfers and even the rate of patients declared dead on arrival.

Booster shots

Given the current surge in cases and a waning efficacy against the Delta variant, healthcare workers said that — if they were to decide — they should already be given a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

They were not only willing to take boosters, but it was a part of their demands, along with better salaries and protection, from the government, said Jao Clumia, president of St. Luke’s Medical Center Employees Association in Quezon City.

“Our stand on this is that, based on emerging science, vulnerable sectors, especially health workers, should be given the most efficacious vaccine booster. But considering the (national) vaccination rate, it pains us to be demanding for boosters when a bigger segment of the population has not had a single (dose) yet,” said Sean Velchez, president of the National Orthopedic Hospital Workers Union.

National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government was working out a deal to buy a total of 90 million reformulated doses from Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Sinovac.

The booster rollout, however, may not happen until early next year.

The government’s Vaccine Experts Panel early this month recommended boosters for the highly exposed hospital workers as well as the immunocompromised individuals.

However, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire had said this was still being discussed, with many considerations such as the cost-effectiveness of a booster brand.

New cases

The DOH on Sunday reported 19,271 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total to 2,366,749 confirmed cases to date.

In the past week, an average of 20,000 daily cases have been reported.

The death toll rose to 36,788 after the DOH reported 205 more fatalities, including 94 people who were originally reported as recovered.

While 91 percent or 2,126,879 have recovered from the disease, 178,196 people were still infected with the virus. The majority or 92.3 percent of the active cases were mild.

The DOH reported a positivity rate of 25.1 percent out of 70,571 people who were tested last Sept. 17. Two laboratories did not submit the results.

By: Dona Z. Pazzibugan, Maricar Cinco – Philippine Daily Inquirer

Published : September 20, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40006346

Asean delivers Covid-19 medical aid to Myanmar

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama): The Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) had handed over US$1.1 million worth of medical supplies and equipment ready to be distributed by the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), for immediate support to the Covid-19 response in the country.

The delivery, which is the first batch of Asean’s Humanitarian Assistance in Myanmar, was a follow up to the Pledging Conference held on Aug 18, Asean Secretariat said in a statement published on its website www.asean.org.

Items in this batch were donated by the governments of Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, and Temasek Foundation International, it said.

In his remarks, Asean Secretary-General Datuk Lim Jock Hoi underscored the importance of the initiative to showcase the solidarity in the spirit of ‘One Asean, One Response’ to extend a helping hand to the people of Myanmar in the realisation of a people-oriented, people-centred Asean Community.

He also thanked the four donor countries and Temasek Foundation International, and expressed his confidence that the assistance would alleviate the sufferings of the people of Myanmar in this critical time.

Lim had further called for other countries to contribute to the humanitarian efforts for Phase 1 urgently and Phase 2 at a later stage.

The next batch for Phase 1 is expected to be provided through support from Brunei, Cambodia, Singapore and Vietnam, along with other donor countries and organisations, the statement said.

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Meanwhile, Special Envoy of the Asean Chair on Myanmar Datuk Erywan Yusof in his recorded remarks further emphasised that Covid-19 pandemic is “the common enemy” that has exposed the vulnerabilities not only of our socio-economic structures, but the fragility of human life.

He urged the international community to continue giving support and to complement Asean’s efforts, further highlighting that the “provision of humanitarian assistance is a true reflection of the “Asean Way”, and demonstrates our commitment to help our Asean family when they are in need”.

The Executive Director of the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre), representatives of Asean Member States, donor countries among others had attended the handing over ceremony, which was held virtually on Wednesday from Asean Secretariat in Jakarta.

The statement added that the AHA Centre, as the operational lead, will facilitate the delivery of assistance while the MRCS, as a local partner, supports ASEAN by providing last mile distribution of the medical supplies and equipment to the communities in need in Myanmar. – Bernama

Published : September 19, 2021