Hanoi (VNA) – The COVID-19 pandemic continues toravage several Southeast Asian countries, with hundreds of new cases reportedin a single day.

On January 5, Thailand confirmed 527 newinfections, most of which were reported among Myanmar migrants living in thecentral province of Samut Sakhon.

Thailand has so far reported 8,966 confirmed casesof COVID-19, of whom 6,900 were local infections and 2,066 others reported inpeople in quarantine, the Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration(CCSA) spokesperson Taweesin Visanuyothin said.

Of the total, 4,397 patients have fully recoveredand been discharged from hospitals while 4,504 others are currently beingtreated in hospitals. A total of 65 fatalities have been reported, he added.

The same day, the Department of Health (DOH) ofthe Philippines reported 937 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the country'stotal tally to 479,693.

The DOH has reported less than 1,000 dailyincrease for three straight days since Sunday. However, the departmentreiterated that the lower figures were due in part to a decrease in testsamples submitted to COVID-19 laboratories during the New Year holiday, addingthat a rise in cases in the coming weeks is possible.

The toll rose to 9,321 after 58 more patients diedfrom the pandemic on the day, the DOH said, adding that 114 more patients haverecovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 448,375.

Meanwhile, Cambodia’s provincial administrationsalong the Thai border are planning to seek intervention from the Ministry ofEducation, Youth and Sport to postpone the re-opening of schools scheduled forJanuary 11 as some have been converted to quarantine sites for migrant workersreturning from Thailand.

Battambang deputy provincial governor SoeumBunrith said that from December 28 to January 4, some 1,815 people returnedfrom Thailand through the province’s international border checkpoints. They arecurrently in quarantine with some sites located at schools.

Banteay Meanchey deputy governor Ly Sary said thatpeople were arriving to the province every day, and over 1,000 migrants hadbeen quarantined so far.

According to Sary, if the circumstances of COVID-19community transmission in Thailand cannot be brought under control, provincesbordering the neighbouring country must implement safety policies such aspreventing large gatherings, while school re-openings could be postponed.

Education ministry spokesman Ros Soveacha saidplans to re-open schools and resume the 2020-2021 academic year on January 11would proceed in accordance with safety measures.

The ministry will make a public announcement at anappropriate time, if anything changes, he said.

From late December 2020 to January 4, 6,465Cambodian workers returned home from Thailand. Of the total, 17 returningCambodians had tested positive for COVID-19./.