A passenger from Johor, Malaysia, via the land Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) leaves after getting negative test results for the antigen rapid test (ART) at Singapore's Queen Street bus terminal in November 2021. (Photo:Xinhua/VNA)
Singapore (VNA) – Singapore’s Ministry ofHealth on December 26 announced new COVID-19 control measures, saying itadjusted its approach to managing Omicron cases.
International evidence indicates that the Omicron variant islikely to be more transmissible but less severe than the Delta variant, andthat vaccines, especially boosters, retain substantial protection against hospitalisationscaused by Omicron, the ministry said in the latest statement.
Accordingly, Singapore allows Omicron cases to follow medicalrules applicable for other COVID-19 cases from December 27. Omicron cases willbe placed on the Home Recovery Programme or managed at community carefacilities depending on their clinical presentation, instead of being isolatedin dedicated facilities by default.
Unwell cases would follow a time-based discharge of 10 days(for vaccinated persons or children less than 12 years old) or 14 days(unvaccinated persons). Close contacts of Omicron cases will be issued a 7-dayHealth Risk Warning and be required to self-test with ART daily before leavingtheir homes.
Contact tracing efforts would shift back towardsself-reporting by family members and leveraging digital tools such as TraceTogether,and tight ringfencing of vulnerable settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, elderlyhomes and preschools.
The same day, Singapore started inoculating students of fourthto sixth grades with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at seven paediatricvaccination centres. More other centres will begin operation in early Januarynext year.
Some 40 percent of the students of the age band have beenregistered by their parents to receive the doses. COVID-19 vaccinationregistration for the first to third graders will begin on January 5./.
The Thai Government announced on December 21 that it would suspend “Test and Go” - quarantine-free programme, amid concerns about the Omicron variant situation worldwide.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on December 22 asked COVID-19 prevention and control groups and other relevant forces to double efforts in vaccinations, support patients and ensure that those under home quarantine and treatment enjoy the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has decided to cancel the official New Year countdown event and prayer ceremony planned to be held on the night of December 31 and January 1, 2022 due to concerns over the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
Thailand reported on December 24 its first domestic cluster of coronavirus infections from the Omicron variant in Kalasin province, officials have 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.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
A passenger from Johor, Malaysia, via the land Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) leaves after getting negative test results for the antigen rapid test (ART) at Singapore's Queen Street bus terminal in November 2021. (Photo:Xinhua/VNA) 
