Category: Medical

South Korea’s new coronavirus cases fell below 10,000 on Monday due to fewer tests over the weekend as the country is well on track to pre-pandemic normalcy.

The country reported 5,027 cases, including 20 imported cases, bringing the total caseload to 31,083,586, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.

Monday’s tally fell from 11,834 cases a day earlier but is higher than the 4,946 a week ago. The daily caseload had stayed above 10,000 for the past six days through Sunday.

The country added eight COVID-19 deaths Monday, raising the death toll to 34,427. The number of critically ill patients came to 146, up from 144 a day earlier, the KDCA said.

Last month, South Korea eased most of its virus curbs, including the indoor mask mandate on public transportation.

As a next step, the government plans to reduce the mandatory COVID-19 isolation period to five days from the current seven in May.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Health expert Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama reminded people to eat a balanced diet while celebrating Eid al-Fitr to maintain health and fitness.”In the joyous time of this Eid al-Fitr, of course, we need to always maintain health,” he said here on Sunday. ccording to the director of the Postgraduate School of YARSI University, one of the things that people must avoid is overeating and consuming too much junk food. “Do not ‘do revenge’ (after fasting) by overeating on Eid al-Fitr and days after it. Remember, anything that is excessive is not good,” he said. One of the guides to eating a balanced diet is to fill half of the plate with vegetables and fruits, fill a quarter of the plate with rice or other choices such as corn and wheat, and fill the other quarter with proteins. “Also, be careful when eating food that is strong in taste, spicy, or has too much fat,” he added. Meanwhile, for travellers, he advised them to anticipate tourist attractions and malls packed with visitors and avoid visiting them during the peak period. baca-jugaRelated news: Implement healthy living behavior during homecoming: Ministry ditama, who is concurrently the former director of Communicable Diseases at the World Health Organization (WHO) Southeast Asia Regional Office, also advised people to balance between doing activities and have enough rest. “We notice the current increase of COVID-19, not only its is above 1,000cases but on April 21, they even surpassed 2,000 people in a single day,” he remarked. While awaiting the results of the scientific study regarding the rise in COVID-19 cases, vulnerable groups like older adults and people with comorbidities need to stay vigilant, he said. He added that wearing a mask in indoor and public places is an important measure to prevent COVID-19 infections. He also reminded people with disease symptoms to consult with medical professionals and those with chronic diseases to regularly take their medicines. “Remember, Eid exodus travelers will undergo some return flows that are potentially packed and tiring, therefore, it requires good physical (health),” he said. baca-jugaRelated news: Homecoming travelers must follow health protocols: minister Related news: Returning Eid travelers must maintain health: police

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian Health MinisterBudi Gunadi Sadikinstated that Indonesia’s success in finding 74 percent of tuberculosis (TB) cases in 2022 has become a global pilot achievement.Based on a written statement issued by the ministry on Thursday, Indonesia participated in the 36th Stop TB Boarding Meeting in Varanasi, India, on March 25-26, 2023. The meeting, which is held annually, discusses progress in handling TB in the world, one of which is Indonesia’s success in finding 74 percent of TB cases by 2022. Through video tapping, the minister expressed belief that Indonesia could eliminate TB. “Indonesia has been supported by many multi-sectoral regulations and will continue to improve TB surveillance through developing digital innovations and utilizing the latest technology,” he remarked. ccording to Sadikin, Indonesia is one of the countries with the second-highest TB burden in the world and is fully committed to eliminating the disease. Meanwhile, the Ministry’s Director General of Disease Prevention and Control, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, stated that despite health services being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia continues its commitment to achieving the TB elimination target. “This can be seen that in 2022, Indonesia has succeeded in finding 74 percent of the estimated target of TB cases that have been achieved by intensifying active case finding, public and private collaboration, and taking a multi-sectoral approach,” Rondonuwu remarked. Indonesia also conveyed its full support for the United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) on TB that will be held in September 2023, as an effort to provide the best treatment for TB patients through shorter treatments, more affordable diagnostic tools, and innovative prevention, he stated. This was also conveyed by Brazil’s deputy health minister, who underscored the need for TB prevention, such as through vaccinations, that should be easily accessible for developing countries to realize health equity for all. Meanwhile, Indian Health Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, noted that India is highly committed to eliminating TB by 2025, which will be monitored specifically by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi. Coinciding with World TB Day on March 24, 2023, Rondonuwu, along with representatives of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), attended the One Health TB Summit held by Indian PM Modi in Varanasi, India. t this Summit, PM Modi expressed his commitment to eliminating TB in India by 2025 through one of his strategies realizing active case finding in both special and general populations. The Indonesian entourage also had the opportunity to directly review the handling of TB in a community that is 40 kilometers from the City of Varanasi. During the visit, they saw the condition of TB services where health services are carried out right from primary health service to finding TB cases, with additional support to help speedy recovery of patients by providing additional nutrition and support from community health workers in treating TB in India, Rondonuwu stated. baca-jugaRelated news: TB case detection in 2022 highest on record: ministryRelated news: Ministry asks regional govts to optimize tuberculosis control programsRelated news: East Java Governor commits to supporting TB elimination program

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Health Ministry urges people to reactivate the three main health protocols — wearing mask, washing hands, and maintaining distance — to anticipate a spike in cases in the country amid the latest coronavirus mutation.”People should be active in wearing masks again, especially for those who are sick, people who have come in close contact with people who are sick, and when we are in crowds. Do not forget to take care of your health to prevent cases from rising again,” spokesperson of the Ministry of Health Mohammad Syahril noted in Jakarta, Friday. He pointed out that a surge in the number of cases was currently occurring in neighboring countries, such as Singapore. Another country that has also been hit by COVID-19 again is India. To this end, the Ministry of Health has appealed to the public to wear masks again and lead a healthy life to prevent a potential spike in cases, especially in the elderly and groups that have not received COVID-19 vaccinations. “Although new cases have decreased to 1,145, from previously 1,242 cases, (the number of) deaths has increased to 13, from previously 12 people,” he stated. Furthermore, the number of active cases as of Thursday (Apr 20) rose to 10,881, from 10,448. Meanwhile, the number of patients treated in the last seven days had increased to 1,617, from the earlier recorded count of 1,573. “We are obliged to protect the elderly as a group that is vulnerable to infection and hospitalization,” he stated. Syahril, who concurrently serves as president director of RSPI Sulianti Saroso, stated that the increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks was triggered by the latest highly transmittable Arcturus or XBB 1.16 subvariant. baca-jugaRelated news: KAI asks exodus travelers to follow COVID health protocols Some of the symptoms of this variant include cases of conjunctivitis or pink eye, especially in children, fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, fatigue, muscle or body ache, headache, loss of sense of taste or smell, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. The Ministry of Health reported that currently, 10 provinces with high confirmed cases included DKI Jakarta, West Java, East Java, and Central Java, with more than 100 cases. Meanwhile, tens of cases were recorded in Banten, Yogyakarta, Bali, South Sulawesi, and South Sumatra, being entirely dominated by local transmission. rcturus has been detected in at least 29 countries, with India ranking first with the highest number of cases, followed by Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia. “This Arcturus is indeed found in India. If you look at the history of the rise and fall of COVID-19 cases, Indonesia has always followed the pattern that has occurred in India, which is currently experiencing a sharp spike in cases,” he stated. India was reported to have experienced a spike in cases of up to 20 percent in a day, with cases per day on Thursday (Apr 20) reaching over 12,500. “History also shows that in Indonesia, cases of COVID-19 have increased not because of travel and holidays, but because of new variants. For this reason, people should not be careless, and let us wear masks again,” he stated. baca-jugaRelated news: Homecoming travelers must follow health protocols: minister Related news: Indonesia adds 616 COVID-19 cases: Task Force

Source: Antara News Agency

South Korea’s new coronavirus cases stayed above 10,000 for the second straight day Wednesday amid eased virus curbs aimed at regaining pre-pandemic normalcy.

The country reported 16,508 cases, including 34 imported cases, bringing the total caseload to 31,025,769, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.

Wednesday’s tally is slightly higher than the 15,713 a day earlier and higher than the 13,920 a week ago. Daily infections fell to 4,946 on Monday after staying above 10,000 for the previous six days through Sunday.

The country added six COVID-19 deaths, raising the death toll to 34,392. The number of critically ill patients came to 135, down from 136 the previous day, the KDCA said.

South Korea eased most of its virus curbs in March, including the indoor mask mandate on public transportation.

The government plans to reduce the mandatory COVID-19 isolation period to five days from the current seven in May as the next step in the return to pre-pandemic normalcy.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

More Covid-19 cases were reported over the past week but the number of Covid-19 cases did not significantly increase, said permanent secretary for Public Health Opas Karnkawinpong.

The Disease Control Department found more new Covid-19 infections but most of them did not experience severe symptoms. The cumulative number of Covid-19 patients on ventilators was fewer than 20 and there were two Covid-19 related deaths in the past week.

The higher number of infections was in accordance with the current situation when people go out for outdoor activities.

The response is moving towards endemic stage. The ministry has prepared to offer annual Covid-19 shots, starting from May1 with vulnerable groups, he added.

Source: Thai News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The stigmatization of children with HIV/AIDS (ADHA) is still high and it is even causing some children to lose out on the opportunity to get the education they are entitled to.ssistant deputy for child protection for special conditions at the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child ProtectionElvi Hendranidelivered the remarks at a webinar on the “Technical Guidance on the Role of Society in the Protection of Children with HIV/AIDS.” “Stigmatization often accompanies children with HIV/AIDS, or what we call ADHA. Because of this stigma, the cases are very high and have an impact on many things, such as the loss of opportunities to get an education,” she said at the webinar, which was followed from Jakarta on Monday. There have been many cases of schools expelling children after finding out their ADHA status out of fear that the children would infect other students and teachers, she noted. “The stigma has an impact on the violence they receive, exclusion, and so on,” Hendrani said. The ministry is encouraging community groups to care for and protect children who are included in special protection groups, especially those affected by HIV/AIDS. “If the community group is strong, it becomes a strong foundation for the protection of children who are included in special protection groups, especially those affected by HIV/AIDS. Because their vulnerability will multiply if we don’t act immediately to protect them,” she said. For this reason, the ministry provided technical guidance on the protection of children with HIV/AIDS. The guidance was attended by Community-Based Integrated Child Protection (PATBM) activists, Women and Children’s Friends (SAPA) Volunteers, the Task Force for the Protection of Women and Children (PPA Task Force), as well as other community activists. “This will also support child-friendly districts/cities or child-friendly villages and child-friendly sub-districts,” Hendrani said.

Source: Antara News Agency

Shares in Taiwan closed slightly lower Wednesday after recouping most of their earlier losses sparked by hawkish remarks from U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powel at a congressional hearing.

The Taiex, the Taiwan Stock Exchange’s (TWSE) weighted index, ended down 39.69 points, or 0.25 percent, at 15,818.20 after moving between 15,740.98 and 15,821.49. Turnover totaled NT$245.36 billion (US$7.97 billion).

The market opened down 0.24 percent and dropped by 116 points to hit the day’s low during the mid-morning session.

Selling was sparked by a 1.72 percent plunge on the Dow Jones Industrial Average in the wake of congressional testimony from Powell, who told lawmakers that the Fed was likely to increase the speed and length of its current rate hike cycle on the back of better-than-expected economic data.

However, investors appeared to shrug off fears of an overly aggressive Fed, with buying emerging in the late trading session to bring the Taiex off its earlier low

According to Moore Securities Investment Consulting analyst Adam Lin, the rally was a product of options holders seeking to push up the spot market on the day that weekly contracts are settled.

Lin said that while many foreign institutional investors have turned cautious about further rate hikes by the Fed, local investors, both retail and institutional, remained willing to pick up bargains on the local main board.

According to the TWSE, foreign institutional investors sold a net NT$16.47 billion worth of shares on the main board Wednesday.

“To me, many local investors appeared bullish for the moment despite the continued Fed rate hike cycle so that the Taiex outperformed,” Lin said.

The market consensus seems to be that the Fed will raise its key interest rates by 50 basis points, instead of a previously expected 25 basis point increase, in the next policymaking meeting set for March 21-22.

On the back of bargain hunting, the bellwether electronics index fell 0.30 percent to close at 742.94, off a low of 739.03.

The semiconductor subindex declined 0.46 to end at 355.88, recovering from a low of 353.73, after contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the market’s most heavily weighted stock, lost 0.51 percent to close at NT$521.00, off a low of NT$518.00.

United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC), a smaller contract chipmaker, rose 0.97 percent to end at NT$52.10, while UMC’s display drive IC design subsidiary Novatek Microelectronics Corp. lost 0.23 percent to close at NT$429.50.

IC packaging and testing services provider ASE Technology Holding Co. lost 0.90 percent to end at NT$109.50.

Application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) designer Alchip Technologies Inc. gained 4.49 percent to close at NT$1,000.00, but smartphone IC designer MediaTek Inc. fell 2.54 percent to end at NT$768.00.

Also in the electronics sector, iPhone assembler Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. fell 0.95 percent to close at NT$104.00, while Largan Precision Co., a supplier of smartphone camera lenses to Apple Inc., rose 0.61 percent to end at NT$2,455.00.

“Due to strong buying from local investors, certain stocks in the areas, including energy storage and military-related device suppliers, continued to move higher today,” Lin said.

In the machinery electric sector, where many firms have engaged in energy storage development, Allis Electric Co. gained 2.66 percent to close at NT$42.40, and Chung-Hsin Electric & Machinery Manufacturing Corp. rose 2.03 percent to end at NT$100.50.

Among the military-related device suppliers, meanwhile, unmanned aerial vehicle brand Thunder Tiger Corp. soared 4.19 percent to close at NT$62.10, and aero and industrial engine developer Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. also surged 4.06 percent to end at NT$41.00.

It was a mixed bag for old-economy stocks, with Taiwan Cement Corp. losing 0.53 percent to close at NT$37.75, while Universal Cement Corp. rose 0.20 percent to end at NT$24.45.

In addition, Wei Chuan Foods Corp. fell 0.24 percent to close at NT$21.10, and rival Uni-President Enterprises Corp. ended down 0.51 percent at NT$68.90.

“Powell will continue to speak Wednesday but I do not expect he will provide more information than what he said overnight,” Lin said.

“So, investors should shift their attention to the upcoming U.S. job data due Friday for a clearer picture about the American economy,” he said.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel

Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported 11,060 new cases of COVID-19 and 40 deaths from the disease on Wednesday.

Among the new infections, 10,876 were domestic, which represented a 9.3 percent drop from the same day a week earlier, according to the CECC.

CECC spokesperson Lo Yi-chun (???) said COVID-19 cases were expected to remain flat at around 10,000 per day for the foreseeable future.

If this trend holds, it will allow for the continued easing of COVID-19 control policies, such as possibly lifting the quarantine for people with mild infections, Lo said in a call with reporters.

To date, Taiwan has recorded 10,134,211 COVID-19 infections and 18,322 deaths from the disease since the pandemic began in early 2020.

The CECC announced on Feb. 23 that it would stop releasing more detailed daily information on new COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel

Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported 10,120 new cases of COVID-19 and 40 deaths from the disease on Tuesday.

Among the new cases, 9,908 were contracted domestically, which represented a 41.4-percent drop from the same day a week earlier, CECC data showed.

According to CECC spokesman Lo Yi-chun (???), the decrease resulted partly from the extended holiday for Tuesday’s 228 Peace Memorial Day, during which many medical institutions were closed.

The daily number is expected to rebound to about 15,000-20,000 on Wednesday and Thursday, Lo said.

However, he went on, the local outbreak is declining as expected and the face mask mandate for schools is set to be eased on March 6 as scheduled.

Further easing of COVID-19 restrictions

Asked about Hong Kong’s decision to lift its mask mandate Wednesday, Lo said there would be no discussions on whether Taiwan will further ease its mask mandate until mid-April.

Under Hong Kong’s new mask rules, people in the former British colony will not have to put on face masks whenever they go indoors, outdoors, or take public transportation, but will still have to wear them in medical institutions.

Lo explained that Taiwan’s face-mask mandate was recently relaxed on Feb. 20 to allow people to be mask-free in most indoor settings. The next step will be easing quarantine and reporting rules for people who are infected, he said.

CECC head Victor Wang (???) has said a full lifting of mask requirements could take place in May, but stressed that actual implementation would depend on vaccine coverage and the status of the local outbreak at that point.

To date, Taiwan has recorded 10,043,227 COVID-19 infections and 17,948 deaths from the disease since the pandemic began in early 2020.

The CECC has stopped providing daily information on the age distribution and health status of the deceased and the number of vaccine doses they received. It is also no longer releasing daily infection numbers for each of Taiwan’s cities and counties.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel