Singapore's COVID-19 cases rise sharply, Philippine capital to further ease restrictions
Singapore's health ministry reported a record 26,032 COVID-19 infections on February 22, saying it may take a few weeks before the current transmission wave peaks and subsides.
People wearing face masks cross the road at Pickering Street in Singapore on September, 2021. (File photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Hanoi (VNA) - Singapore's health ministryreported a record 26,032 COVID-19 infections on February 22, saying it may takea few weeks before the current transmission wave peaks and subsides.
While the number of patients needing oxygensupplementation and intensive care unit (ICU) care is not high, there is asurge in demand for hospital beds, mostly for patients with underlying chronicillnesses to recover, the health ministry said.
It suggested that people with mild or no symptoms whohad tested positive should consider self-recovery at home to reduce thepressure on healthcare workers.
Of the nearly 294,000 cases over the last 28 days,99.7 percent had mild or no symptoms.
About 91 percent of Singapore's 5.5 million populationhave been fully vaccinated, with a further 66 percent receiving a booster jab.
Meanwhile, the Metro Manila mayors of the Philippineshave unanimously agreed to ease further the pandemic alert level in the capitalregion to 1 on a scale of 5 starting March 1 as COVID-19 cases dip, the MetroManila Council said.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authorityofficer-in-charge Don Artes said the 17 mayors will discuss on February 24 theproposed new restrictions with the inter-agency coronavirus task force whichwill decide whether to implement the lowest pandemic restrictions that allowmore businesses in the capital region to reopen./.
New COVID-19 infections have been on the rise in Ho Chi Minh City in recent days, and Omicron is currently the dominant variant here, according to the city’s centre for disease control (HCDC).
The State visit to Singapore by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc from February 24 to 26 is a very special and highly anticipated event in the city state, according to Assoc. Prof. Vu Minh Khuong from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
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.
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.
People wearing face masks cross the road at Pickering Street in Singapore on September, 2021. (File photo: Gaya Chandramohan) 
