Covid-19 Panorama: India reports more deaths, Laos cases unexpectedly increase

Relatives carry the body of a Covid-19 victim to be cremated in New Delhi, India, May 1, 2021. Photo: AP

According to the global statistics site Worldometers, as of 6:00 a.m. on May 3, the Covid-19 pandemic continued to rage in 220 countries and territories, infecting nearly 153.5 million people and claiming the lives of more than 3.21 million others.

Although the US leads in the number of infections (33.2 million) and deaths (591,000), the rate of spread and death of the new coronavirus in the country is on the decline, with about 29,300 new infections and more than 300 deaths in the past day.

India continues to be hit hardest by Covid-19, recording 370,000 more cases to its nearly 20 million total, and more than 3,400 more victims to its 219,000 deaths.

With the pandemic situation still severe, the government of Haryana state - one of the hottest epidemic centers in India - has imposed a complete 7-day lockdown, effective from May 3 and lasting for 1 week. Meanwhile, Delhi state has extended the lockdown for another 7 days until May 10.

Brazil recorded 29,000 new cases, bringing the total number of people positive for Covid-19 in this country to more than 14.7 million. The number of deaths increased by more than 1,000 to 407,600 cases.

Cambodia goes through dark days

Cambodian people register for Covid-19 testing. Photo: VOV

Cambodia has just experienced a dark day on May 2 with 730 new infections and 6 more deaths due to Covid-19. Thus, the country has recorded a total of 14,520 positive cases and 103 deaths due to the new coronavirus.

To date, of Cambodia’s 25 provinces, only Ratanakiri (bordering Vietnam) has not recorded any Covid-19 infections. Meanwhile, the capital Phnom Penh continues to be the most serious outbreak, with the most new infections – 454 cases.

Cambodian authorities are taking drastic measures to reduce the spread of the disease.

On May 1, Cambodia banned the import of frozen meat and meat products from India and required customs to disinfect vehicles and packaging of other products imported from this country of one billion people. The new regulation takes effect immediately.

New cases in Laos increase again to triple digits

After 5 days of decreasing trend, the number of Covid-19 infections in Laos suddenly increased sharply when Bokeo province in the North recorded 60 new cases, bringing the total number of new infections nationwide to 112 cases in 6 out of 18 provinces and cities.

What happened in Bokeo shows that the Covid-19 situation in Laos remains complicated and unpredictable.

Covid-19 virus variant from India appears in Malaysia

Malaysia has recorded its first case of the variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus discovered in India, Health Minister Adham Baba said. He said the B.1.617 variant was detected in an Indian citizen at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, but did not disclose when the case was detected.

Days ago, Malaysia banned flights to and from India and barred entry to all visitors who had been to the South Asian country to prevent the spread of the new variant.

Malaysia has had 3,418 new infections in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 415,012, including more than 1,500 deaths.

Number of new infections in South Korea increases continuously

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on May 2 that the country experienced the fourth consecutive day with more than 600 new infections per day.

South Korean authorities have warned of a serious outbreak as people gather for social activities during the warm weather, especially during major holidays in May.

The South Korean government has decided to extend social distancing measures and a ban on gatherings of more than five people until May 23. The capital Seoul and its surrounding areas are currently under Level 2 social distancing, the third highest level in the current five-level system in South Korea, while the rest of the country is under Level 1.5.