Coronavirus cases in Asia reached a quarter of a million on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally, spurred by outbreaks in Singapore, Pakistan and India, even as China, South Korea and Japan significantly slowed the spread of the disease.
With 250,372 cases, Asia now accounts for just 7% of global cases, compared with 40% for Europe and 34% for North America, although experts worry that unreported cases are masking the true extent of the pandemic. Reuters Jane Wardell reported.
Related: Global coronavirus deaths exceed 250,000 as several countries ease restrictions
Some countries in Southeast Asia have begun to slowly ease lockdown restrictions as the rise of novel coronavirus cases has started to slow, according to local reports.
Malaysia reported 55 additional COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 6,353.
Singapore reported 573 new cases of COVID-19 as of noon on Monday, bringing the country’s total to 18,778, with the majority of new cases being holders of work permits residing in foreign worker dormitories, the Ministry of Health said in its daily update of preliminary figures.
Thai authorities on Monday reported 18 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 2,987.
Vietnam confirmed no fresh coronavirus case Tuesday morning, starting the country’s 19th day without any community transmission. The country has recorded 271 coronavirus cases to date, of which 50 are active. The active cases include 14 relapses.
The country had stayed clear of new coronavirus patients nine days in a row as of Sunday morning. The latest case reported Sunday evening is a British expert, who arrived in HCMC this week to work on a project of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petro Vietnam).
Over 3.52 million virus cases have been reported worldwide since first appearing in Wuhan, China last December, with the death toll surpassing 248,000 and more than 1.13 million recoveries, according to data compiled by the US-based Johns Hopkins University.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
Most people who fall sick with COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment.
How it spreads
The virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or exhales. These droplets are too heavy to hang in the air, and quickly fall on floors or surfaces.
You can be infected by breathing in the virus if you are within close proximity of someone who has COVID-19, or by touching a contaminated surface and then your eyes, nose or mouth.
Compiling by Vietnam Insider staff
Discover more from Vietnam Insider
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.