COVID-19: Philippines maintains Alert Level 2, Indonesia plans to produce vaccine in late 2022
The Philippines will remain under Alert Level 2, the second most-relaxed in its five-tier COVID-19 alert level system, until January 15; while Indonesia aims to produce its own vaccine against the corona virus in the second half of 2022.
Collecting samples for COVID-19 testing in Manila, the Philippines. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Philippines will remain underAlert Level 2, the second most-relaxed in its five-tier COVID-19 alert levelsystem, until January 15; while Indonesia aims to produce its own vaccineagainst the corona virus in the second half of 2022.
According to Philippines' Cabinet Secretary and actingpresidential spokesman Karlo Nograles, under Alert Level 2, the maximumoperational capacities for several businesses and activities is 50 percent forindoor venues, and 70 percent for outdoor venues provided all workers of theestablishments are fully inoculated against COVID-19.
The Philippines is seeing an increase in COVID-19 infectionsas more people go out and join gatherings this holiday season, the local Departmentof Health said. On December 29, it reported 889 additional cases, the highestsince November 27.
Local authorities have so far detected four cases of therapidly-spreading Omicron variant, all among international arrivals.
Meanwhile, in Indonesia, head of the National Agency of Drugand Food Control (BPOM), Penny Lukito, has said that the agency is aiming tostart production of the Merah Putih (Red and White) vaccine against the virusin the second half of 2022.
She said the agency will soon issue emergency-use authorisationfor booster vaccines. Currently, vaccines that are in the registration processto be used as boosters are Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Zlifivax, and CoronaVac or Biofarma’sCOVID-19 vaccine.
The Indonesian Government launched a nationwide vaccinationprogramme on January 13. According to data provided by the Health Ministry, as ofDecember 29, nearly 159,269,210 citizens have received their first COVID-19jab, while 112,595,665 have been fully vaccinated against the virus.
Indonesia is planning to commence administering the thirddose or booster shot in January 2022./.
Thailand reported on December 24 its first domestic cluster of coronavirus infections from the Omicron variant in Kalasin province, officials have said.
Despite the spread of Omicron variant cases, Cambodia will continue to fully resume the re-opening of socio-economic activities which began on November 1, said Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techno Hun Sen.
In his article, Oscar Sanchez Serra highlighted President Ho Chi Minh’s founding of the Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper on June 21, 1925, which marked the birth of Vietnam's revolutionary press rooted in a bold and far-sighted vision.
Several ASEAN meetings are scheduled to take place in Port Dickson this September, including the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) for ASEAN Plus Three (APT), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the 15th ASEAN Maritime Forum, and the 13th Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum.
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered the urgent implementation of a national policy to crack down on all forms of call centre scams, online fraud, and illegal gambling, which are now considered threats to national security.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and EAEU Trade Minister Andrey Slepnev jointly declared the conclusion of FTA talks on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025), according to the statement.
The article stressed that throughout his revolutionary career, the founder of modern Vietnam consistently regarded the revolutionary press as a vital part of the Vietnamese Party’s and nation’s revolutionary struggle.
Pichai said the trade talks with the US are important and need to move forward professionally, without regard for any political changes in Thailand, believing that Thailand has clear principles, guidelines and procedures in place.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
The proposed venue is located in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok, featuring eight public sites, including Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal and several nearby parks.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Collecting samples for COVID-19 testing in Manila, the Philippines. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
