20 January 2022. The HCM City health department announced three Omicron cases in the community, the first cluster of the highly contagious variant to be discovered in Việt Nam. As per Government requirements, all entries into Việt Nam will need to undergo rapid tests at airports, and positive tests will need to undergo genomic sequencing.https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40011302

20 January 2022. Thailand Ministry of Public Health reported that there are 8,129 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 214 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad. Death toll increased by 19, while 6,978 patients were cured.https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011297

19 January 2022. Lao health authorities have lifted restrictions on COVID-19 patients discharged from hospital, allowing them to resume their lives without further testing or isolation. The move is part of changes made by health sector towards a “new normal” way of life, and follows a decline in number of new COVID-19 cases reported in country.https://www.xinhuanet.com/english/asiapacific/20220119/a01ed98590ba468dbe77c15d8a7d6bb9/c.html

19 January 2022. Chinese health authorities have adopted faster-pooled tests for the coronavirus that allow professional labs to process 20 samples at a time. The new testing approach will be introduced across the country while ensuring quality results.https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202201/19/WS61e7d496a310cdd39bc82176.html

19 January 2022. The Cambodia national Covid 19 vaccination committee is continuing to push for an increase in at-home vaccinations for those who live in remote areas and cannot access designated sites. https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-plans-mobile-teams-remote-rural-vaccinations

19 January 2022. Vietnam recorded 15,959 cases of COVID-19, including 23 imported ones. Hanoi continued to record the highest number of infections with 2,909 cases, followed by Da Nang with 892 and Khanh Hoa with 652. The national tally reached 2,078,087, including 108 infections of Omicron.https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnam-confirms-15959-covid19-cases-on-january-19/220953.vnp

19 January 2022. Vietnam recorded 15,959 cases of COVID-19, including 23 imported ones. Hanoi continued to record the highest number of infections with 2,909 cases, followed by Da Nang with 892 and Khanh Hoa with 652. The national tally reached 2,078,087, including 108 infections of Omicron.https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnam-confirms-15959-covid19-cases-on-january-19/220953.vnp

17 January 2022. Thailand registered 13 more Covid-19 fatalities and 6,929 new cases during the previous 24 hours. There were 6,720 cases in the general population and 209 among prison inmates.https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2248647/6-929-new-covid-cases-13-more-deaths

17 January 2022. China approved a new COVID-19 testing kit, developed by Tsinghua University, that can accurately diagnose 15 common strains of the novel coronavirus, including the Delta and Omicron variants.https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202201/17/WS61e4c54ba310cdd39bc815e0.html