The Philippines is now classified as a "low risk area" for Covid-19, a Health official said Thursday.
According to Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau chief Alethea De Guzman, growth rate of the virus in the country has been at minus 9% in the past two weeks, while the average daily infection rate, from June 13 to 26, was only at 5.42.
Areas within the National Capital Region, once the epicenter of the virus in the country, "are the ones showing the lowest cases," De Guzman said.
In Vietnam, the country's continuing health crisis worsens with almost 190 new local cases confirmed early Thursday - including 158 cases in Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnam has inoculated more than 3.7 million people, including 193,041 who have received two shots.
In Malaysia, health authorities say restrictions must continue considering daily infections continue to remain around 5,000, with about 80 deaths.
Malaysia has extended its restrictions until the pandemic is contained. The country has been under lockdown since June 1.
In China, a biotech company developing a protein-based Covid-19 vaccine has signed an advance purchase deal to supply up to 414 million doses for global use by 2022.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, announced the agreement with Clover Biopharmaceuticals on behalf of the Covax Facility, according to the South China Morning Post.
The vaccine is waiting for approval by the World Health Organization for emergency use authorization. If granted, the Chengdu-based Clover will distribute 64 million doses this year.
Over in Hong Kong, around 60,000 people were immunized Wednesday, setting a new daily record, while health officials announced those aged 60 or older would be allowed shots without an appointment.
The proposal was made shortly before officials confirmed two imported cases, from the UK and Bangladesh. Hong Kong's tally of confirmed infections now stood at 11,923, with 211 deaths, SCMP said.
In Singapore, a new virus cluster was reported Wednesday and was linked to a 76-year-old woman who tested positive when she visited a hospital for an unrelated medical condition.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said the country was "teetering on the edge of a Covid-19 catastrophe."
In all, Singapore health officials reported 16 new infections, according to Channel News Asia.
In Indonesia, authorities announced a lockdown on Java and also the tourism destination of Bali.
Indonesia recently recorded 2 million cases of the virus, attributed to increased holiday travel and the Delta variant, the BBC said.
In Australia, the virus scare reached the far-flung town of Alice Springs, as health authorities issued stay-at-home orders.
Alice Springs joined four large cities by locking down to prevent a potential outbreak of the Delta variant, Reuters said.
Worldwide, there are 182 million cases of the virus, with 3.95 million deaths.
