Coronavirus cases in Southeast Asia pass 170,000

JAKARTA, Indonesia

The number of coronavirus cases in Southeast Asian countries reached 172,094 on Tuesday, including 4,832 fatalities and 96,315 recoveries.

A total of 2,988 more cases, 74 deaths and 1,353 recoveries were recorded in member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over the past day.

Indonesia, the worst-hit in the region, reported 68 fatalities, bringing the nationwide death toll to 3,309.

The number of cases climbed to 66,226 with 1,268 additions, while recoveries rose by 866 to reach 30,785.

The Philippines reported six more virus-related fatalities, raising the country’s death toll to 1,309.

The number of infections increased by 1,540 to reach 47,873, while 201 more recoveries pushed the total to 12,386.

In Singapore, 157 new cases were registered over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 45,140.

The Health Ministry said a majority of the new cases are work permit holders residing in foreign workers’ dormitories.

In Malaysia, six more cases pushed the total to 8,674.

The death toll remains at 121, unchanged now for 23 consecutive days, according to top health official Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Also, five more patients were discharged from hospitals over the past day, raising the number of recoveries to 8,481.

Myanmar confirmed three new virus cases -- all people returning from overseas -- bringing the overall count to 316.

A total of 245 patients have recovered in the country so far.

Vietnam reported 14 new infections among people under quarantine after arrival from abroad.

The total number of cases now stands at 369.

Vietnam has not reported a case of domestic transmission for 81 days now due to successful measures to stem the virus’ spread.

The number of recoveries reached 341, while no fatality has been reported in the country to date.

There were no reports of more COVID-19 infections or fatalities in Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei Darussalam, and Laos.

While Thailand and Cambodia have 65 and 10 active cases, respectively, Brunei Darussalam and Laos are the only ASEAN member countries that are currently coronavirus free.