Southeast Asian nations maintain vigilance against COVID-19

Laos recorded 10 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, including one community infection in Vientiane and nine imported cases, the Lao Health Ministry said on June 27.
Southeast Asian nations maintain vigilance against COVID-19 ảnh 1National lockdown measures in Malaysia had been set to end on June 28. (Photo: Reuters)
Hanoi (VNA) – Laos recorded 10 new cases ofCOVID-19 over the past 24 hours, including one community infection in Vientianeand nine imported cases, the Lao Health Ministry said on June 27.

The local case was reported after Laos had gone throughtwo consecutive days without new infections. Its COVID-19 case count nowreaches 2,110, with three fatalities.

Given the complex developments of the pandemic in neighbouringcountries, the ministry has urged people to maintain vigilance against the diseaseand cooperate with competent forces in the combat.

Meanwhile, the Philippines' Department of Health (DOH)reported on June 27 6,096 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number ofconfirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 1,397,992.

The death toll climbed to 24,372 after 128 morepatients died from the viral disease, the DOH said.

Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega urged people to bevigilant amid the threat of more infectious coronavirus variants such as theDelta variant first found in India.

"We are not out of the woods yet. There is agradual decrease of cases in Metro Manila but only slowly," Vega said in aradio interview, warning that some central and southern Philippine areas areexperiencing a surge of infections.

Thailand also ordered restaurants in its capital cityBangkok and nearby provinces to suspend dine-in services for a month asauthorities tightened curbs to tackle the nation’s deadliest wave of COVID-19outbreak.

The ban on dining in from June 28 is in addition tothe previously announced sealing of residential camps of construction workersin the Bangkok metropolitan areas and four other provinces after they becamemajor clusters of infections.

Shopping malls in Bangkok and its neighbouringprovinces must be closed by 9pm. All gatherings of more than 20 people,seminars and conferences are banned in Bangkok and the five provinces,according to a Royal Gazette statement late June 26.

Thailand reported 3,995 new infections in the past 24hours, taking the cumulative caseload since the pandemic began to 244,447,official data showed on June 27. Total fatalities topped 1,900 with theaddition of 42 new deaths.

Malaysia will extend a national lockdown beyond June 28to curb the spread of COVID-19, state news agency Bernama reported on June 27,citing Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Lockdown measures were set to end on June 28. ButMuhyiddin said they will not be eased until daily cases fell below 4,000,Bernama said.

Malaysia reported 5,803 cases on June 26./.
VNA

See more

Semiconductor wire production at an industrial park in former Hoa Binh province (now Phu Tho province). (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam’s GDP growth impressive amid global headwinds: Chinese media

It said with these results, the Vietnamese Government still has ample room to adjust monetary policy, unleash market vitality, and push ahead with institutional reforms. This, the paper noted, could enable Vietnam to achieve double-digit economic growth during the 2026-2030 period.

A voter casts her ballot in the general election at a polling station in Yangon, Myanmar. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Myanmar begins second round of general election

This is the first election in Myanmar since the military government assumed power five years ago. A total of 57 political parties are participating in the election, including six parties running nationwide, with around 5,000 candidates vying for seats in the parliament.

A healthcare worker performs a swab test on a patient during influenza symptom screening at a community health centre in Banten, on January 7, 2026. (Photo: antaranews.com)

Indonesia reports first death related to so-called super flu

Yovita Hartantri, head of the New and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases Team at Hasan Sadikin Regional Hospital in Bandung, said the hospital treated 10 patients with influenza A subclade K between September and November last year. The patients exhibited a range of symptoms, with at least three developing severe complications.

Thailand enters technical deflation: Expert

Thailand enters technical deflation: Expert

Associate Professor Thanavath Phonvichai, President of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting, attributed the current bout mainly to lower production costs, particularly cheaper fuel and persistently low agricultural prices.

Indonesia spots four Sumatran tigers at national park

Indonesia spots four Sumatran tigers at national park

Camera traps installed in Bukit Tigapuluh National Park of Indonesia have recorded four individual Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae), providing strong evidence that the conservation area's ecosystem remains well preserved.