A survey conducted by the Indonesian Zoo Association (PKBS) this month showed that 92 percent of the association’s members in Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok and Borneo – 55 zoos – had stocks to feed their animals only until mid-May.

The survey also showed that only three zoos would be able to provide food for one to three months, while only two had enough for more than three months.

The zoos within the association house more than 70,000 animals from 4,912 species endemic to Indonesia and those from other parts of the world. The captive animals include protected species such as the Sumatran tiger, the Bornean orangutan, the Sumatran elephant and the anoa.

“Not all zoos receive money from the government. Some are privately owned and rely on the revenue from ticket sales,” PKBSI spokesperson Sulhan Syafi’i told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

The association’s secretary-general Tony Sumampau said four zoos recently signed up to join the PKBSI so they could solicit the government’s help. In order to register for PKBSI membership, zoos must have contingency plans for unexpected risk in the future.

“We do have a contingency plan—but only for one to two months. It has been already a month since zoos started seeing zero attendance as a result of COVID-19,” said Tony.

The association has written to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and related ministries and agencies, asking the government to pay more attention to the condition and welfare of zoos and other conservation centers during the outbreak.

In the meantime, members are sharing strategies with each other regarding animal feed management, including reducing the amount given to the animals and changing the composition of the feed.

Sulhan, who is also a member of the management of the Bandung Zoological Garden in West Java, said zoos could feed their animals for up to four months by using alternative foods.

“For example, we used to feed a leopard every two days with three to four kilograms of [beef and mutton]. For now, we’ve changed its diet to beef and chicken.”

This change has been implemented by zoos that house many carnivorous animals, such as Taman Safari Indonesia (TSI) in Bogor, West Java, which has 134 carnivores including Javan leopards, lions and cheetahs. The zoo has stopped importing meat to feed them.

“The tigers usually eat six days a week, but now we only feed them five days. It is possible that we will only feed them four days a week if conditions remain like this,” said Tony who is also the director of TSI.

The Environment and Forestry Ministry’s biodiversity conservation director, Indra Exploitasia, said zoos were required to feed animals according to the animal welfare protocols stipulated in a 2019 ministerial regulation on conservation centers.

“Some zoos have tried to adapt to the difficulties, such as by adjusting the frequency of feeding and changing food composition without diminishing nutrient value,” she said.

Indra said the ministry had sent letters to the coordinating economic minister, the finance minister and the home minister regarding tax relaxations for zoo management. “We’re preparing the legal basis to deliver government aid to zoos affected by COVID-19.”

However, she acknowledged the possibility of sacrificing zoos’ herbivores to feed carnivores with the ministry’s permission.

If authorities decided to take such measures, the zoo would have to ensure that the sacrificed animals were, among other criteria, not endemic or protected species and had the ability to breed quickly.

“This should only be the last resort,” Indra went on to say. “We don’t want that to happen. We hope the pandemic will be over soon.” (aly)

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, the ministry’s disease control and prevention director general, Achmad Yurianto, added that 23 more people had died of the disease, bringing the death toll to 743. The total number of recovered patients has also increased to 1,107.

The capital city recorded 114 new confirmed cases, bringing the total tally to 3,798. Meanwhile, Central Java reported 28 new cases, East Java 15, West Nusa Tenggara 15 and North Maluku 12.

The virus has spread to all of the country’s 34 provinces. (dfr/mfp)

The country also reported zero deaths caused by COVID-19 so far.

The two latest COVID-19 cases in Việt Nam were confirmed last Friday – two Vietnamese students who flew from Japan on flight VN311 of Vietnam Airlines which arrived at Vân Đồn Airport in Quảng Ninh Province on April 22. The two patients and all passengers on the flight were taken to quarantine at a military academy in Thái Bình Province right after landing.

On Saturday morning, five people who had previously been given the all-clear reportedly tested positive again. The five relapse cases include two being treated at the National Tropical Disease Hospital’s branch in Hà Nội’s Đông Anh District – Patient 188 and Patient 137, two other cases treated at Quảng Ninh No2 Hospital – Patient 52 and Patient 149, and the last one – Patient 36 who is treated at Bình Thuận Traditional Medicine Hospital.

Of the total 270 COVID-19 cases in Việt Nam, 225 cases have recovered, 45 active cases are being treated at six health facilities nationwide.

Among the active cases, 13 have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once and three have tested negative twice.

On Friday, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc signed a directive on continued implementation of COVID-19 prevention and control measures while social distancing has been eased since April 23.

Under the directive, people are asked to frequently wash hands with soap or antibacterial products, wear face masks when outdoors, keep a safe distance and avoid gathering in public places.

Festivals, religious events, sports events or any non-necessary gathering in public places are continued to be halted.

Non-essential business like entertainment venues, beauty salons, karaoke, bars and clubs are still suspended. Other non-essential business including retail stores, hotels, restaurants and food stalls can resume operation if ensuring protective measures such as protective suits for staff, checking temperatures for consumers/clients, and making soap/antibacterial products available for hand washing.

When students return to school, the number of students in each class/canteen must be reduced and safe distance among students must be ensured.

Localities facing the risk of infection like Hà Nội, HCM City, Bắc Ninh and Hà Giang continued discouraging people from going out if not necessary. Gatherings of more than 20 people in public places or outside of offices/schools/hospitals is banned. Distance from people to people must be at least one metre.

In other localities which are classified in the low-risk group, gatherings of more than 30 people is banned in public places or outside of offices/schools/hospitals. The minimum safe distance among people is one metre. — VNS

Two of the injured showed no signs of breath before arriving at a hospital and have been in critical condition while seven others were unconscious, the fire department added.

The fire broke out at around 10:57 am on the fifth floor of the 14-floor building, which was part of a karaoke bar, and was put out about half an hour later. A total of 156 people were rescued from the fire while about 200 were evacuated.

A preliminary investigation found that one of the elevators was being repaired and the fire control systems, such as fire alarms, ventilation system and sprinklers, were shut down when the fire broke out, the fire department said.

The actual cause of the fire is still under investigation, the department added.

Cashbox Partyworld Co Ltd, the operator of the karaoke bar, said in a statement that it will fully cooperate with the authorities in the investigation.

“All the citizens are fighting the war against Covid-19 in their own way. You can also join the fight as Covid warrior by logging in to covidwarriors.gov.in”, said PM  Modi.

Strict laws have been introduced to ensure action against those attacking the health workers. Health staff including, doctors, nurses, paramedics are the frontline fighters in this war against COVID-19. Hence such a step was necessary for their protection, said Prime Minister.

“In the middle of this pandemic, the farmers are ensuring that no one sleeps hungry in our country. Each person is fighting this war as per their capacity. Some are waiving off house rent, also some labourers who are in quarantine at a school are whitewashing the school among others,” said PM Modi. Talking about exporting medicines to different countries amid pandemic, PM said, “Nobody will blame India if the country don’t export medicines to other countries. But we have extended help to countries abroad after ensuring adequate supplies in India.”

“Due to COVID-19, masks are becoming a part of our lives. It doesn’t mean that all of those who are wearing are sick. Masks will become a new symbol of a civilised society. If you want to protect yourselves and others from the disease, the use of a mask is important,” said PM Modi.

PM Modi said, “I commend the State Governments for their proactive role in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic. Also, people are getting aware about the harmful effects of spitting in public. Such habits should go now.”

In his last Mann Ki Baat on March 29, just days after he announced the first phase of the lockdown, he had apologised for the inconvenience caused to people by the unprecedented decision which he said had to be taken as “there was no other way to wage a war against corona”. “Nobody likes to take such strong measures but it is the only option, seeing other countries and learning that the disease must be dealt with at the beginning before it becomes incurable,” he said.

Referring to the mass migration of labourers and daily wagers from the country’s urban centres to their rural hometowns, he said, “We should be more sensitive towards the poor. Our humanity lies in the fact that we should feed the poor first in this time of difficulty. India can do this. This is our culture.” However, he assured that the steps taken were for actually for the safety of the citizens. “This lockdown is for your own protection,” he said. “Those who are breaking the law are actually playing with their lives,” he added.

The Health Ministry (MOH) confirmed 931 new cases as of noon, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 13,624.

The vast majority of the new cases are work permit holders in foreign worker dormitories. Fifteen are Singaporeans and permanent residents. More updates will be provided tonight, said MOH.

This is even as experts say that it will take at least a week of sustained decline in local community cases, which excludes migrant workers, before Singapore can say that it has turned the corner.

The latest numbers on Sunday reined in any optimism that Singapore may be beginning to see some early signs of the infection curve flattening.

On Saturday, nine community cases were confirmed, marking the first time numbers have dropped to the single digits this month.

Numbers at dormitories also dropped to 597, down from about an average of a thousand daily in the five days before.

This followed a generally downward trajectory since the middle of last week.

Experts told The Straits Times that the slide in community cases needs to be sustained until at least the first week of May, and even then, the clusters at dormitories may remain a challenge.

Dr Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious diseases expert from Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, said he would like to see fewer than five local cases daily in the coming week, and then several days of zero transmissions in the first week of May.

“Only then would I say we are truly out of the woods. We realised that all you need is a tiny spark in the right setting and it can blow up, so even one new case is one too many,” he said.

Similarly, Professor Wang Linfa, director of the emerging infectious diseases programme at the Duke-NUS (National University of Singapore) Medical School, said one to two weeks of continuous data is needed to make sure the “trend is real”.

Speculations swirled Sunday that Kim may be incapicitated, following a media report citing Shijian Xingzou, a vice director of Hong Kong Satellite Television, based on a “very solid source.”

Separately, Japanese magazine Shukan Gendai reported the 36-year old leader was in a “vegetative state” after undergoing heart surgery earlier this month, and that he is not expected to recover. South Korean media outlet Monthly Chosun also reported the leader was in coma.

The South Korean government maintains that “no unusual activity has been detected in North Korea.”

North’s closest ally China also downplayed reports that Kim is critically ill.

Despite the speculations, North Korea has kept mum on Kim’s health and whereabouts. The only mention was that he expressed thanks to workers building facilities in Samjiyon, situated near Paektusan, according to the North’s official Korea Central News Agency on Sunday.

Amid growing conjecture, a train likely belonging to Kim was spotted at Wonsan, a resort town along the country’s east coast where Kim has a holiday compound.

A satellite image unveiled by 38 North, the US-based North Korean monitoring website, said the 250-meter-long train has been parked outside of a railway station reserved for Kim’s family since at least April 21.

“The train’s presence does not prove the whereabouts of the North Korean leader or indicate anything about his health, but it does lend weight to reports that Kim is staying at an elite area on the country’s eastern coast,” it added.

South Korean officials also said Kim is believed to be staying in Wonsan now.

Reuters on Friday reported that China had dispatched a team, including medical experts, to North Korea to advise Kim. But the report said it could not determine whether the dispatch was indicative of Kim’s health status.

The rumors concerning Kim’s health arose when he skipped an annual event at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on April 15 to commemorate the birth of his late grandfather, national founder Kim Il-sung. Kim Jong-un was last seen April 11, when he presided over a politburo meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party.

Multiple reports followed after Kim’s unusual absence at one of the country’s most important events, including that the regime’s leader is in “grave danger” after botched cardiovascular surgery.

This, however, is not the first time Kim has been out of sight from the public eye. In 2014, he was absent for about six weeks from state media reports, leading North Korean watchers to believe he had health issues. Later, he reappeared with a cane, with South Korea’s National Intelligence Service saying he had a cyst removed from his ankle.

Speculation about North Korea is difficult to verify from the outside due to tight controls of information. But this time, the unconfirmed coverage is gaining traction once again because Kim has been suffering health problems and has a long family history of heart issues.

Kim, who is a heavy smoker, has put on weight rapidly since he assumed power in 2011 and is also believed to suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes.

Both Kim’s father and grandfather died of heart failure, in 2011 and 1994, respectively.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)

PETALING JAYA: UK-trained surgeon Dr Nur Amalina Che Bakri has joined a team at the Imperial College in London to develop a vaccine for Covid-19, which has infected over two million people globally.

Dr Nur Amalina is tasked at finding suitable volunteers to take part in the vaccine trials, which is being conducted at the Imperial College’s National Institute of Health Research (NIHR).

“The first of the UK vaccine trials has started at the NIHR Imperial Clinical Research Facility led by Dr Katrina Pollock.

“I’m involved in recruiting healthy volunteers and vaccinating them in the next few weeks, ” she tweeted on Thursday (April 23).

The UK government had pledged to provide a £22.5mil (RM121.1mil) grant to fast track the college’s development of a vaccine for Covid-19, according to an article by Imperial College.

The announcement was made by UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who said “in the long run, the best way to defeat Covid-19 is through a vaccine”.

“The UK is at the forefront of the global effort… and for all the efforts around the world, two of the leading vaccine developments are taking place here at home, at Oxford and Imperial, ” he was quoted as saying.

At present, there is no vaccine for Covid-19 and experts have said that it will take up to two years to find one.

It discussed customized support measures for each industry at the crisis management meeting led by Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki as a follow-up measures to President Moon Jae-in’s announcement of a 40 trillion won ($32.5 billion) worth relief package.

Airlines are virtually paralyzed due to restrictions on entry into 183 countries. As of the second week of April, international passengers and cargo plunged 98.1 percent and 35.2 percent, respectively, from a year earlier.

In the case of cars, export disruptions are expected to begin in April due to the closure of dealers in the US and other major countries. The management crisis is expected to begin in earnest for shipping in the second quarter when the volume of supplies will be reduced after COVID-19.

As a quick remedy, large airlines will be provided with emergency funds by the Korea Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of Korea. Low-cost carriers will be funded with 300 billion won in emergency liquidity which was announced in February and additional liquidity will be provided if necessary.

The government has already provided 54.4 billion won to Air Seoul and Air Busan, 30 billion won to Jin Air, 40 billion won to Jeju Air and 6 billion won to T’way, respectively. It will provide 150 billion won to 200 billion won to Eastar Jet after the nation’s antitrust watchdog’s screening on the tie-up with Jeju Air.

Payments for using airport facilities will be reduced or suspended for air carriers and ground operators until August. Landing fees will be reduced by 10 to 20 percent and payment for on-site business fees will be fully exempted.

The automobile industry will be given tax benefits. The government will extend tariffs related to parts imports and the payment of value-added taxes for the first half of the year by up to 12 months.

In order to lure demand, the government and public agencies will purchase about 8,700 vehicles and pay up to 70 percent in advance on contracts.

In the case of shipping, the government will focus on supplying liquidity.

The Maritime Ministry has set aside 1.25 trillion won to support shipping companies. The funds include a plan to provide up to 470 billion won to HMM, a flag carrier, to repay maturing ship financing.

In order to help small and medium-sized shipping companies facing a liquidity crisis, the Korea Ocean Business Corp. will purchase up to 100 billion won in corporate bonds.

The government will also provide 200 billion won in refund guarantee for small and medium-sized shipbuilders.

In the case of the oil refining industry, the government will delay the deadline for paying taxes, including oil taxes and tariffs. It is expected to have an effect of postponing the payment of 1.4 trillion won in oil taxes every month and 900 billion won in value-added taxes every month.

“As the global economic downturn begins in earnest in the second quarter of this year, there is a growing concern that real and employment shocks will expand,” said Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki.

“The government will continue to take special measures to ensure that domestic demand and exports show signs of recovery in the second half of the year and make all-out efforts to respond to the policy in a timely manner.”

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Wednesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s for his ‘leadership and the proactive measures’ taken to combat the coronavirus pandemic in India.

“We commend your leadership and the proactive measures you and your government have taken to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 infection rate in India,” Gates said in a letter to Modi.

“Grateful to see that you’re seeking to balance public health imperatives with the need to ensure adequate social protection for all Indians,” he added.

The billionaire said that he was glad to see how the Modi-led government was utilising digital means to combat the pandemic.

“I’m glad your government is fully utilizing its exceptional digital capabilities in its COVID-19 response and has launched the Aarogya Setu digital app for coronavirus tracking, contact tracing, and to connect people to health services,” he said.

As of on Thursday afternoon, the total number of COVID-19 fatalities in India is 681, while the number of confirmed cases are at 21,393 out of which 16,454 are active cases.