Asian Countries Move to Stop Sharp Rise in Coronavirus Cases
2021-07-10
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1Several countries around Asia and the Pacific Ocean have moved quickly to stop a new increase in coronavirus cases.
2The number of infections has risen quickly in recent months in several countries.
3Officials in Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam announced new measures Friday to slow the spread of the virus.
4At the beginning of the pandemic, many Asian countries appeared to have fought the virus successfully after announcing travel restrictions and national shutdowns.
5Now, however, the highly contagious delta variant has hit these countries hard.
6They are setting records for new cases and deaths.
7The variant, combined with low vaccination rates and a rush to reopen economies, has led to new problems.
8While the numbers are high, they are not close to the numbers seen in Europe and the United States last year.
9But low vaccination rates in many Asian nations may signal problems to come.
10Thailand reported a record 75 deaths on Thursday and 72 on Friday.
11South Korea set a record for the number of new cases on Thursday, only to break it on Friday with 1,316 infections.
12Those numbers were reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
13Indonesia also has had an increase in infections that has hospitals turning patients away and oxygen supplies running low.
14Of Thailand's confirmed cases and deaths since the pandemic started, more than 90 percent have come since April.
15Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's handling of the crisis has been criticized, including the decision to permit travel for a major holiday in April.
16In addition to requiring face coverings and other measures, the government on Friday reduced working hours for public transportation and markets.
17"There is something wrong with the government policies, our vaccinations are too slow, and we should get better vaccines," said Cherkarn Rachasevet, a 60-year-old technology worker.
18She was in a store to buy additional face coverings before the new restrictions took effect.
19She said she would not get her first vaccination until the end of July.
20Across the Asia-Pacific area, the feeling of having successfully fought the pandemic last year led to low vaccination rates.
21There was little sense of urgency, so production and vaccination efforts fell behind.
22Many experts praised South Korea for its actions at the start of the pandemic.
23It tested citizens quickly and kept information on the sick.
24Now, as the delta variant spreads, critics say the government pushed to ease social restrictions too quickly.
25A shortage of vaccines has left 70 percent of the country waiting for their first shot.
26Officials in the Seoul area announced Friday that the strongest restrictions yet would start next week.
27Religious and social centers are closed. Visitors to hospitals and homes for retired people are banned.
28Private gatherings of more than three people are banned after 6 p.m.
29Coronavirus cases and deaths in Indonesia have increased by more than 100 percent over the last two weeks.
30New restrictions were announced July 3.
31The islands of Java, Bali, and Sumatra have been hit hard.
32The health system is under severe pressure.
33In Malaysia, the public has been told to stay home since June 1.
34But new cases continue to increase.
35The number of deaths has risen 100 percent since June 1.
36Vietnam also imposed stronger restrictions on Friday.
37In Ho Chi Minh City, the country's largest city, people are only permitted to leave home for food or medicine for two weeks.
38Vietnam reported almost no new cases for three months.
39Then, at the end of April as the delta variant spread, the numbers began to climb.
40In the last two months, the country has recorded 22,000 new cases.
41Admitting it was a difficult situation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that "it was necessary to curb the pandemic."
42Only four percent of the population has received at least one injection of the vaccine.
43Japan and Australia also announced new restrictions this week.
44Japan is being watched since its state of emergency means visitors will be banned from events in the upcoming Olympics.
45The only country in Asia that appears to be doing well is India, where the delta variant was first found.
46It had a large increase in cases and deaths in April and May.
47New cases and deaths are now decreasing, but only five percent of the country is fully vaccinated.
48I'm Susan Shand.
1Several countries around Asia and the Pacific Ocean have moved quickly to stop a new increase in coronavirus cases. 2The number of infections has risen quickly in recent months in several countries. Officials in Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam announced new measures Friday to slow the spread of the virus. 3At the beginning of the pandemic, many Asian countries appeared to have fought the virus successfully after announcing travel restrictions and national shutdowns. 4Now, however, the highly contagious delta variant has hit these countries hard. They are setting records for new cases and deaths. The variant, combined with low vaccination rates and a rush to reopen economies, has led to new problems. 5While the numbers are high, they are not close to the numbers seen in Europe and the United States last year. But low vaccination rates in many Asian nations may signal problems to come. 6Thailand reported a record 75 deaths on Thursday and 72 on Friday. South Korea set a record for the number of new cases on Thursday, only to break it on Friday with 1,316 infections. Those numbers were reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Indonesia also has had an increase in infections that has hospitals turning patients away and oxygen supplies running low. 7Of Thailand's confirmed cases and deaths since the pandemic started, more than 90 percent have come since April. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's handling of the crisis has been criticized, including the decision to permit travel for a major holiday in April. 8In addition to requiring face coverings and other measures, the government on Friday reduced working hours for public transportation and markets. 9"There is something wrong with the government policies, our vaccinations are too slow, and we should get better vaccines," said Cherkarn Rachasevet, a 60-year-old technology worker. She was in a store to buy additional face coverings before the new restrictions took effect. She said she would not get her first vaccination until the end of July. 10Across the Asia-Pacific area, the feeling of having successfully fought the pandemic last year led to low vaccination rates. There was little sense of urgency, so production and vaccination efforts fell behind. 11Many experts praised South Korea for its actions at the start of the pandemic. It tested citizens quickly and kept information on the sick. Now, as the delta variant spreads, critics say the government pushed to ease social restrictions too quickly. A shortage of vaccines has left 70 percent of the country waiting for their first shot. 12Officials in the Seoul area announced Friday that the strongest restrictions yet would start next week. Religious and social centers are closed. Visitors to hospitals and homes for retired people are banned. Private gatherings of more than three people are banned after 6 p.m. 13Coronavirus cases and deaths in Indonesia have increased by more than 100 percent over the last two weeks. New restrictions were announced July 3. The islands of Java, Bali, and Sumatra have been hit hard. The health system is under severe pressure. 14In Malaysia, the public has been told to stay home since June 1. But new cases continue to increase. The number of deaths has risen 100 percent since June 1. 15Vietnam also imposed stronger restrictions on Friday. In Ho Chi Minh City, the country's largest city, people are only permitted to leave home for food or medicine for two weeks. 16Vietnam reported almost no new cases for three months. Then, at the end of April as the delta variant spread, the numbers began to climb. In the last two months, the country has recorded 22,000 new cases. 17Admitting it was a difficult situation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that "it was necessary to curb the pandemic." Only four percent of the population has received at least one injection of the vaccine. 18Japan and Australia also announced new restrictions this week. Japan is being watched since its state of emergency means visitors will be banned from events in the upcoming Olympics. 19The only country in Asia that appears to be doing well is India, where the delta variant was first found. It had a large increase in cases and deaths in April and May. 20New cases and deaths are now decreasing, but only five percent of the country is fully vaccinated. 21I'm Susan Shand. 22The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 23______________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25contagious -adj. able to pass from person to person quickly and easily 26variant -n. different in some way from others of the same kind 27curb -v. to control or limit something 28We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page.