Several countries in Asia and the Pacific did well in the first corona wave, but in the face of increasing infection, strict restrictions are now being introduced at a rapid pace.
The last few months have shown that the coronavirus is on the rise in several areas, and the authorities in countries such as Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam announced or introduced measures before the weekend that they hope will stem a new wave before the health service kneels.
This is a rhythm that has characterized coronary heart disease in most of the world, where repeated waves have led to great strains on health care and many deaths. But many countries in Asia avoided this cyclical development by introducing strict travel restrictions at an early stage, combined with extremely strict requirements for quarantine, curfews, distance and face masks at home.
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Increase
Now some of these countries are experiencing a record increase in infection and many more deaths. The authorities refer to the infectious delta variant, low vaccination rate and previous decisions to ease the harsh domestic restrictions.
Although the numbers as a whole are far from those registered in the worst-affected areas in Europe and the USA, the rapid increase has sounded the alarm bells. This is happening at the same time as many western countries with a high degree of vaccination are breathing easier and opening up more and more.
By the end of last week, Thailand had around 75 dead a day. South Korea reported a record number of new cases of infection last Friday with 1,316 infected. For the first time, the Indonesian authorities reported that hospitals had to reject patients and that their oxygen stores ran out.
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Only since April
Since the start of the pandemic, Thailand has reported 317,506 cases and 2,534 deaths, over 90 percent of them since April this year.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s handling of the pandemic has provoked strong criticism. In particular, his decision to let the Thais travel to the Songkran Festival in April to celebrate Thai New Year has been met with anger and frustration.
See chart of infection rates for Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam:
Thailand already has strict requirements for masks and other measures in everyday life to prevent the spread of infection, but before the weekend, the government announced ten new measures to close or reduce grocery stores, various types of salons and in the transport sector.
– There is obviously something wrong with the government’s policy. The vaccination is too late, and we should get better vaccines, says the 60-year-old IT analyst Cherkarn Rachasevet as she hurries off to the super’n to stock up on goods. She was equipped with several masks and a visor. She will not receive her first dose of vaccine until the end of the month.
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Vaccination is slow
Across Asia and the Pacific region, vaccination has been slow for various reasons. Production and distribution have not been at their peak, and the countries first adopted a wait-and-see attitude when infection rates were low and there was no sense of urgency.
In South Korea, which was first praised everywhere for its rapid response to testing and infection tracing, critical voices have now said that the ongoing increase is due to the government easing measures for economic reasons. At the same time, there is a shortage of vaccines. As many as 70 percent of the population are waiting for their first dose.
Before the weekend, there was a sharp increase in the Seoul area, and the authorities quickly introduced the most stringent measures so far during the pandemic. After kl. 18 social gatherings of more than two people are prohibited, nightclubs and churches are closed, visitors are not allowed in hospitals and nursing homes, and weddings and funerals are only allowed to those closest to the family.
Indonesia worst out
No country has been hit harder than Indonesia, where infection rates and deaths have doubled in two weeks.
Health experts say that the partial shutdown on July 3 came too late and warns that the ongoing wave, which is currently strongest on the islands of Java, Bali and parts of Sumatra, will soon spread throughout the archipelago. The health care system is already struggling on the edge of its performance.
In Malaysia, there are strict rules that require people to stay at home. Only one person from each household can go to the store to shop for the most necessary things.
Despite this, infection rates continued to rise sharply after 1 July. Before the weekend, around 9,200 cases were reported daily. Since July 1, the death toll has doubled to almost 6,000.
Large costs
This is the second major shutdown in Malaysia in less than a year. Authorities say it will be maintained until the number of infected is below 4,000 daily, and at least 10 percent are vaccinated.
But the costs to society are great. The economic crisis is getting worse with each passing day, dozens of companies are popping up and thousands are losing their jobs.
Before the weekend, Vietnam also introduced stricter restrictions. Ho Chi Minh City was almost completely shut down for two weeks, which hit the country’s economic and financial center hard. The city’s nine million people are only allowed to go out to buy food and medicine, as well as perform other critical chores.
In the first year, Vietnam managed to limit the death toll to 2,800, and no new cases of infection were reported in the first three months of the year.
But then the numbers rose rapidly. In the last two months, 22,000 new cases of infection have been registered. Only 4 percent of the population has received one dose, but the government hopes it will be able to vaccinate 70 percent of the country’s 96 million people by the end of the year.
The worst over
In India, where the delta variant was first discovered, the traumatic period in April and May has been replaced by a period in the hope that the worst is over. Earlier this year, India experienced an almost galloping spread of sky-high death tolls, overcrowded hospitals that ran out of beds and oxygen, and crematoria that ran out of firewood for cremation.
Now the number of infected and dead is falling, but only 5 percent are fully vaccinated. The authorities are struggling to distribute vaccines, at the same time as temporary hospitals are being built in the districts and the stocks of oxygen are being replenished.
Japan and Australia have also introduced new restrictions. The world is paying close attention to what is happening in Japanese society, where the Olympic Summer Games will be held later this month.
Before the weekend, the authorities decided that the exercises should be carried out completely without the audience in the arenas.
(©NTB)
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