Flights from the Chinese province of Guangdong have been blocked, where there is an increase in cases from Covid-19. Infections are also on the rise in Malaysia. Children especially affected.
Singapore (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The local government has decided to block the arrivals of travellers from Guangdong, where Covid-19 cases are on the rise.
Health Minister Ye Kung, announced that starting tomorrow, anyone passing through the Chinese province in the previous 21 days will not be able to enter Singapore. Singaporean citizens, long-term residents and frequent travellers will instead have to undergo a diagnostic test upon arrival at Changi Airport and then comply with a seven-day quarantine. All other travellers from China, on the other hand, will simply have to undergo a PCR test.
Guangdong is considered one of the most important manufacturing centres in China; since the end of May it has been the epicentre of a new small wave of Covid-19 cases. In the last period there have been more than 50 cases, some neighbourhoods are in lockdown and anyone who wants to leave the province must show a negative test carried out in the last 72 hours.
Coronavirus cases also continue to increase in other Southeast Asian countries. In Malaysia, the total death toll has exceeded 3 thousand. Health authorities have raised concerns especially about infections involving children. In recent days, the deaths of three minors under the age of five have been recorded: as many as the total number for all of 2020.
Between January and May, 27 children were treated in intensive care units. Last year there were only eight. Last month Singapore warned of the development of some Indian-like variants that would predominantly affect children.
Yesterday 8,000 new cases were registered in Malaysia. After the peak of 9,020 new infections on May 29, Kuala Lumpur has imposed a two-week lockdown, which will remain in effect until June 14.