Regional AlertPM pushes Covid vigilance amid new variants January 26, 2023By MBDS Team23 January 2023. Like all viruses, Covid-19 can mutate into new forms or variants. To date these variants have tended towards increased transmissibility with lesser severity of disease, but it is possible that one could emerge that is deadlier. According to the ministry, as of January 22 Cambodia had vaccinated 95.34 % of estimated population of 16 million. More than 10.47 million people have received their third doses, over 4.5 million their fourth, around 1.4 million their fifth, and over 50,000 their sixth. READ MORE
Regional AlertThailand reports 100% increase in Chikungunya in 2022 January 26, 2023By MBDS Team22 January 2023. Thailand health officials reported a doubling in chikungunya infections in 2022 compared the year prior. Officials reported 1,370 total cases in 48 provinces in 2022. This compared to the 671 cases in 39 provinces seen in 2021, or a 104 % increase. READ MORE
Regional AlertLaos sees sharp increase in dengue fever cases in 2022 January 26, 2023By MBDS Team21 January 2023. A video was released by the Centre of Information and Education for Health under the Lao Ministry of Health earlier this month, reporting on dengue fever cases in 2022 that infected 32,364 people and caused 24 deaths. READ MORE
Regional AlertTwo new Covid cases in Cambodia January 17, 2023By MBDS Team16 January 2023. Cambodia Ministry of Health reported two new Covid-19 community cases, with three new recoveries. As of January 16, Cambodia had recorded a total of 138,664 Covid-19 cases with 135,592 recoveries and 3,056 fatalities. READ MORE
Regional AlertChina links Covid to 60,000 recent deaths January 17, 2023By MBDS Team16 January 2023. China recorded 59,938 Covid-related deaths between Dec 8, 2022 and Jan 12 this year. It includes 5,503 deaths caused by respiratory failure directly due to the virus, and 54,435 deaths caused by underlying diseases combined with Covid. READ MORE
Regional AlertVietnam’s Health Ministry warns of risks of Covid-19 outbreaks due to new variants January 17, 2023By MBDS Team16 January 2023. Vietnam’s MoH has warned of the potential risk of Covid-19 outbreaks due to the emergence of new variants. However, the Covid-19 was still under control, and Vietnam has not recorded any Covid-19-related fatalities for two consecutive weeks. READ MORE
Regional AlertEntry requirements clarified for overseas visitors January 11, 2023By MBDS Team10 January 2023. The government clarified the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand’s rules for incoming international passengers on Monday, scrapping a rule which required inbound travellers to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination. While incoming passengers won’t be asked to produce a Covid-19 vaccination certificate upon arriving in Thailand, travellers are urged to take note of additional rules which might impact their journey. READ MORE
Regional AlertCambodians roll out the welcome mat January 11, 2023By MBDS Team10 January 2023. Cambodia is rolling out the welcome mat for Chinese tourists after Beijing eased travel restrictions under its optimized COVID-19 strategy. Both public and private sectors have been in discussions on how to prepare for potential influx of visitors. READ MORE
Regional AlertVietnam – China border gates resume operation January 11, 2023By MBDS Team9 January 2023. Visitors entering China are required to provide a negative PCR test result within the previous 48 hours, and fill in the health declaration form required by China Customs. For visitors entering Vietnam, neither medical declaration nor COVID-19 testing results are required. READ MORE
Regional AlertHigher elderly vaccination rate aided change in COVID management January 11, 2023By MBDS Team9 January 2023. In China, downgrading the COVID-19 management from Class A to Class B is a proactive measure taken in view of the higher vaccination rate among the elderly. The vaccination rate in Hong Kong was around 86 percent while the rate was only 15 percent for the elderly. That’s the crux, because the vaccination rate in the mainland was also around 80 percent while less than 40 percent for the seniors. READ MORE