The coronavirus situation in Asia is getting deeper despite a decline in cases in South Korea and China. The crisis prompted an announcement from the Philippine government that President Rodrigo Duterte will get tested for potential CoVID-19 infection.
Duterte to Get Tested on Friday
Filipino senator and former aide to the Philippine president Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go said on Thursday that he will get tested along with Duterte for potential infection even if the president has not displayed any coronavirus symptoms, local news site ABS-CBN News reported.
Government spokesman Salvador Panelo further explained that Duterte's decision came as a precautionary measure to ensure that both he and Go are "fit and healthy" to handle their tasks.
Panelo went on to explain that local health officials raised the recommendation, considering that Duterte and Go often interact with Cabinet officials. Duterte's supposed Boracay trip was also canceled amid the CoVID-19 outbreak.
Some Cabinet members have already announced their decision to self-quarantine due to potential exposure to a coronavirus patient during a conference on March 5 in Caloocan City. A person who attended the event has since tested positive.
South Korea Reports 114 New Cases
On Thursday, South Korea reported 114 new confirmed CoVID-19 cases, marking another decline in infections across the country for the past several days.
Yonhap News reported that the new figures have brought the country's overall coronavirus toll to 7,869. Still, a big chunk of the country's total cases is linked to the Daegu branch of the Shincheonji church.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) noted that 73 of the new cases are in Daegu, the country's outbreak center.
South Korean health authorities and agencies are still on high alert despite the decline in new cases, especially after experts revealed that there is still a chance for repeat patients even after recovery.
Thailand Tourism Plummets Amid Coronavirus Crisis
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced earlier this week that tourist arrivals to the country plunged by 44.3 percent last month as the coronavirus situation in Asia peaked, particularly in China, Japan, and South Korea.
TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn warned that Thailand may experience a drop to 30 million tourists this year, compared to 2019's figures at 39.8 million as governments around the world impose travel restrictions.
Thailand only has 53 confirmed CoVID-19 cases as of Wednesday but the country's tourism sector is among the hardest-hit in Asia as the industry usually sees a lot of Chinese tourists.
The coronavirus prompted many Chinese tourists to cancel flights as Beijing urged its people to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel.
Briton is Indonesia's First Fatality
On Wednesday, Indonesian government spokesman Achmad Yurianto confirmed that the country's first coronavirus fatality is a British woman who had underlying health problems including a lung condition.
The 53-year-old patient traveled to Bali on February 29 and was admitted to a hospital on March 3 before succumbing to the disease this week. Her husband has since tested positive of the CoVID-19 strain but is now isolated and receiving treatment.
Indonesia only has 34 confirmed coronavirus cases.
Malaysia Tracks Down 5,000 People for Potential Exposure
The Malaysian health ministry announced on Wednesday that it is tracing around 5,000 people who may have been exposed to the coronavirus during a religious gathering outside Kuala Lumpur between February 27 and March 1.
According to Reuters, the ministry said the tracking down of citizens came after Brunei reported its first CoVID-19 case - a man who attended the same religious event at a mosque that attracted thousands of attendees.
Ministry secretary-general Noor Hisham Abdullah went on to reveal that initial data recovered by the authorities revealed that the event may have involved at least 10,000 people from around the world, including around half of Malaysians.
Malaysia reported a total of 149 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Wednesday.
Japan Retains Stance on Olympics
Meanwhile, Japan will reportedly push through with the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics as planned. Chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga was quoted to have said during a Thursday media briefing that "there is no chance to the government stand" that preparations for the events will continue.
Suga's comments came despite increasing fears that the Olympics in Tokyo this year may trigger further CoVID-19 infections in the country following the Diamond Princess crisis that saw one of the early biggest outbreaks outside China.
