Locals in Bangkok, Thailand, receive COVID-19 vaccine shots. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Thailand on July 19 recorded 11,784 new casesof COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. This is the fourth day in a row the Southeast Asian country has logged the highest number of new cases since the pandemic broke out.
Thailand also reported 81 more deaths from COVID-19. To date, the country has recorded 415,170 infections and 3,422 deaths.
An opinion poll conducted by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University publishedon July 18 showed that the majority of Thai people think that the currentCOVID-19 situation in the country is extremely serious and it will take two yearsfor the economy to recover.
Regarding the severity of the current COVID-19 situation,60.93 percent of respondents considered it extremely serious, 24.12 percentsaid it was very serious, and 14.95 percent said it was quite serious.
Whenasked about how long it would take for Thailand to overcome the crisis,36.74 percent said that it will take more than two years; 27.60 percent said ittook one year and 9.73 percent said it took six months.
In Singapore, the Ministry of Health advised people who havenot been vaccinated against COVID-19, especially the elderly, to stay at homeas much as possible for the next few weeks, amid growing concerns about the newwave of community infection.
Singapore on July 18 recorded 88 new cases of COVID-19, with increased clustersof infections related to karaoke bars and Jurong fishing port.
About 73 percentof Singapore's population have received their first jab of COVID-19vaccine, and the government is stepping up vaccinations for the elderly.
On the same day, the Malaysian Ministry of Health conditionallyapproved the import and distribution of two types of COVID-19 testing kits, sold atcommunity pharmacies or registered medical centers.
Thesekits include the COVID-19 Salixium antigen rapid test kit manufactured byReszon Diagnostic (Malaysia) and the COVID-19 Gmate antigen rapid test kit ofPhilosys (the Republic of Korea)./.
