COVID-19 shows signs of abating in some SEA countries

Malaysia’s Ministry of Health reported 5,745 new cases of COVID-19 on October 19, the lowest in over 100 days and the second consecutive day that the number of new cases have stayed under 6,000.

COVID-19 testing sample collection in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Source: AFP/VNA)
COVID-19 testing sample collection in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Source: AFP/VNA)

The daily cases of COVID-19 in Malaysia has dropped continuously since October 3, while the recovery rate has increased to 92.6 percent and up to 98.2 percent of new cases have mild symptoms.

The vaccine coverage in the country has expanded with about 95 percent of adults fully inoculated with two shots of vaccine, while 78.2 percent of under-18 people have received at least one shot.

In the Philippines, the number of new COVID-19 cases on October 19 was 4,496 while 211 people succumbed to the corona disease, both the lowest daily since July 28.

However, COVID-19 cases in Laos has increased again with 657 cases recorded in the past 24 hours, the Lao Health Ministry announced on October 19.

The total caseload in Laos rose to 32,971.

The country also reported an additional five deaths, bringing the death toll to 45.