Coronavirus Update

(I)The Chronology (July-December 2021)

Coronavirus Update

July 4

July 6 (1) The Lao government extends lockdown for 15 days until July 19 as the spread of the Delta variant has been confirmed in the country and the situation in neighboring countries remained risky. The government has introduced the “Lao Su Su" application. People can check-in and check-out the venues, book a Covid test, and reserve a vaccine via this application.

(2) More than 1.29 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines had been administered in China, according to the National Health Commission (NHC).

(3) 1 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine arrive in Thailand. 97 percent of 67,992 Sinopharm vaccine recipients in the country did not experience abnormal symptoms, according to Secretary-General of the Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA) Prof. Nithi Mahanonda. Only 0.1 percent had an adverse reaction such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath within 30 minutes of vaccination. The National Research Council of Thailand and National Vaccine Institute reveal that more than 20 vaccines are being researched and developed, while 3 vaccines, including ChulaCov19, HXP-GPOVac, and Covigen, have started human trials.

Cambodia receives a new batch of the Sinopharm vaccine purchased from China. 3.33 million people were fully vaccinated, while 4.6 million people had received the first jab. The Health Ministry reports 56,122 confirmed cases. The death toll rises to 779.

July 7 (1) 2 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine arrive in Thailand, according to the Chinese Embassy.

(2) The WHO has recorded more than 4 million Covid-19 deaths globally, according to Director-

July 9 General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a virtual press conference.

Vietnam plans to vaccinate 50 percent of people aged 18 and above by the end of this year and 70 percent by the end of March 2022, according to the Health Ministry. Nearly 4 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered nationwide and around 250,000 people have been fully vaccinated so far.

July 10

July 11 (1) The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reports 326,832 confirmed cases with 2,625 deaths in Thailand. The country ranks 62nd on the global list of most cases. The top is the US, followed by India, Brazil, France, and Russia.

(2) Cambodia receives new batches of Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines purchased from China, according to the Health Ministry. The country has vaccinated 4.79 million people, 47.9 percent of 10 million adult people. The country reports 59,978 confirmed cases with 881 deaths.

Thailand’s Public Health Ministry reveals that 618 of 677,348 medical workers who received 2 doses of the Sinovac vaccine have been infected. A nurse has died and another medical worker is in critical condition.

July 12 (1) Thailand’s Public Health Ministry announces that the vaccine strategy has switched from 2 doses of the Sinovac vaccine to a combination of the Sinovac vaccine for the first jab and AstraZeneca vaccine for the second jab. The new strategy was approved by the National Communicable Disease Committee to fight the Delta variant which is becoming dominant in the country.

(2) The global Vaccine Alliance Gavi announces that China will provide 110 million doses of Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines to participants of the COVAX.

July 13

July 14

July 15

July16

July 17

July 18

July 20

July 22 The Vietnamese government says that the country will offer the Pfizer vaccine as a second jab for people who first get the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Myanmar reports 212,545 confirmed cases with 4,346 deaths. The country faces a severe shortage of oxygen machines.

Vietnam starts inoculating the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine to Chinese nationals in the country under China’s “Spring Sprout” vaccination program.

The NHC reports 92,213 confirmed cases in China. The number of deaths remains at 4,636.

Myanmar receives 3,000 tons of liquid oxygen purchased from China to fight against the pandemic in Mandalay, according to the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar. The country reports 218,739 confirmed cases with 4,536 deaths. It lacks oxygen to treat Covid-19 patients that increase rapidly.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) suspends most domestic flights, starting from July 21 to decrease inter-provincial travel and prevent the spread of the virus.

(1) The Sinopharm vaccine has been approved for emergency use for young people aged 3-17 by China’s Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council after it had completed the firstand second stages of clinical trials in Henan Province.

(2) The CCSA reports 426,475 confirmed cases with 3,502 deaths in Thailand. The country ranks 52nd on the global list of most cases.

(1) Manoon Leechawengwongs, head of Vichaiyut Hospital’s intensive care unit and a respiratory expert, calls on the Thai government to stop buying the Sinovac vaccine as it cannot protect against all coronavirus strains and the immunity reduces over time. However, Secretary to the Public Health Minister Watcharapong Khuwijitsuwan defends the

quality of the Sinovac vaccinestatingthat the Health Ministry found the vaccine 75 percent effective against the Delta variant.

(2) Cambodia receives a new batch of the Sinopharm vaccine purchased from China. The country has vaccinated 6.33 million, 63.3 percent of the 10 million adult population so far. The Health Ministry reports 70,419 confirmed cases with 1,188 deaths.

July 23

July 25

July 28

July 31 The virtual Covid-19 meeting is held by the Chinese Consulate General in Mandalay, Myanmar, and China's Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai government for Chinese enterprises and communities in Mandalay. Zhang Wenhong, head of the Shanghai Covid-19 medical team, warns the Chinese community in Myanmar to remain on high alert for the local spread of the virus, get the vaccination, and decrease contact with others.

Thailand’s CRA receives 1 million doses of the Sinopharmvaccine purchased from China. The cost of the vaccine per person is 777 baht per dose.

Myanmar starts the vaccination for inmates for the first time. 2,500 of more than 9,000 inmates had registered for jabs.

China’s NHC reports 92,930 confirmed cases with 4,636 deaths. Thailand reports 597,287 confirmed cases with 4,857 deaths. There are 299,185 confirmed cases with 9,334 deaths in Myanmar, 6,299 confirmed cases with 7 deaths in Laos, 77,243 confirmed cases with 1,397 deaths in Cambodia, and 145,686 confirmed cases with 1,306 deaths in Vietnam.

August 1 (1) Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen says that Cambodia will give AstraZeneca vaccine as a booster dose for people vaccinated with Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines. The country begins the vaccination for people aged 12-17 with the Sinovac vaccine.

(2) Chinese cities conducted mass testing of millions of people and impose travel restrictions to contain the spread of the Covid-19. This round of infection started in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.

(3) Thailand opens online registration for vaccination of expats via the website “http://expatvac.consular.go.th,” according to the Department of Consular Affairs. The country extends lockdown measures for 14 days from August 3 in 29 provinces in the dark red zone. Moreover, the CRA receives 1 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine purchased from China.

August 2 Vietnam reports 174,000 confirmed cases with 2,071 deaths. Only 744,000 people have been fully vaccinated so far, according to the Health Ministry.

August 3 Wuhan launches comprehensive nucleic acid testing for all residents as the pandemic returns to the city. China also imposes massive travel restrictions to fight against the Delta variant.

August 5 The number of Covid-19 cases worldwide is 200,174,883. The death toll is 4,255,892, according to the WHO. The top 3confirmed cases are in the US, India, and Brazil.

August 6 More than 1.74 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines had been administered in China, according to the NHC.

August 10 The CCSA reports 795,951 confirmed cases with 6,588 deaths in Thailand. The country ranks 36th on the global list of most cases.

August 11 (1) China donates a new batch of anti-epidemic materials to Cambodia. Chinese Ambassador Wang Wentian hands over the items to Phnom Penh Governor Khoung Sreng. China has provided 18.7 million doses to Cambodia, 3.2 million of them were donations, according to the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia. Cambodia has administered at least 1 dose of Covid-19 vaccines to half of its population,

8.3 million out of a population of 16 million. 6.4 million of the populationhave been fully vaccinated.

(2) Vietnam has administered morethan 1.4 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, according to the Health Ministry. 1,036,102 people have been fully vaccinated. The country started the vaccination on March 8. The 4th wave of the pandemic started on April 27.

(3) The WHO announces that it will test 3 new drugs for Covid-19, including artesunate, imatinib, and infliximab, according to Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Researchers at more than 600 hospitals in 52 countries are involved in the test. The WHO has tested 4 drugs in the previousround, including remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir, and interferon. But they resulted in little or no effect on Covid-19 patients.

August 12 (1) A new batch of 3 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine purchased by Cambodia arrives in Phnom Penh.Health officials say that Chinese-made vaccines are highly effective against the Delta variant.

(2) More than half of the Chinese population, 777 million people, have been fully vaccinated, according to the NHC. More than 1.83 billion doses of Coivd-19 vaccines had been administered.

August 13 (1) Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam starts administering the Sinopharm vaccine to its citizens, according to Deputy Head of the Municipal Health Department Nguyen Hoai Nam. The country reports 246,568 confirmed cases. Over halfof the cases are in Ho Chi Minh City. The death toll is at 4,813.

(2) More than 22.50 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered in Thailand, according to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. 7,350,243 people were given the first jab of the Sinovac vaccine, while 3,443,840 peoplewere given a second jab. 1,254,460 people were given the first jab of the Sinopharm

vaccine, while 488,150 people were given a second jab.

(3) The Haudongcheng market in Ganzhou City, China finds the Covid-19 virus on the surface of durian packages imported from Thailand, according to the Office of Agricultural Affairs under the Thai Embassy in Beijing. Authorities of China's General Administration of Customs said that they will not suspend the import of products from the Thai supplier.

August 15 (1) 2 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine and 1 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine arrive in Thailand, according to the Chinese Embassy. China had already delivered 24.55 million doses of vaccine to Thailand.

(2) Laos reports 10,092 confirmed cases with 9 deaths.

August 16 Thailand extends lockdown measures for Bangkok and 28 provinces until the end of August, according to the CCSA.

August 17 Vietnam reports 293,301 confirmed cases with 6,472 deaths. The government has extended lockdown measures in Ho Chi Minh City until August 31 due to the spread of the Delta variant.

August 18 A study from Thailand’s Department of Disease Control found that 2 doses of the Sinovacvaccine are 98 percent effective in preventing death and severe symptoms from Covid-19 and 72 percent effective in stopping infections, according to Dr. Thaweesub Sirapraphasiri.

August 19 Myanmar reports 365,759 confirmed cases with 13,945 deaths.

August 20 The number of Covid-19 cases in Thailand crosses 1 million with 1,009,710 confirmed cases. The death toll is at 8,826, according to the CCSA. 25,818,666 doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered nationwide.

August 24 (1) Cambodia has vaccinated 87.68 percent of the target population, according to the Health Ministry. More than 9.85 million people have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while about 8 million people have received a second dose. China had delivered 22.3 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Cambodia, including 3.8 million doses of donations, according to the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia.

(2) Vietnamese Prime Minister sends a letter to the head of the WHO and urges the COVAX to prioritize Vietnam as the country has fully vaccinated only 2 percent of 98 million people.

August 25 4,456,857 people have been vaccinated in Myanmar, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports. The Myanmar Chinese of Commerce (MCCOC) launches a vaccination program on August 24, according to the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar.700,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine will be delivered from China for the program. Myanmar reports 378,377 confirmed cases with 14,622 deaths.

August 26 China has banned all imports and exports at a border of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region that borders Vietnam to contain the spread of the Delta variant.

August 27 More than 2 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines had been administered in China, according to the NHC. More than 889 million people have been fully vaccinated. 76 percent of the population have received at least 1 dose of Covid-19 vaccines.

August 29 2 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine arrive in Thailand, according to the CRA.

August 30 The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) of Thailand signs a purchase agreement for 8.5 million antigen test kits (ATKs) with Beijing Lepu Medical Technology Company. The public criticized the deal as the US had banned the Lepu test kits due to concerns about their accuracy. However, the product has been approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

August 31 (1) The WHO has been monitoring "Mu," a new coronavirus variant known as B.1.621. It was first identified in Colombia in January and classified as a variant of interest (VOI). The variant risks of resistance to vaccines need further studies.

(2) Cambodia receives a new batch of 2 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine purchased from China. The country has received 27 million doses of Covid19 vaccines from the COVAX and other countries. 24.3 million doses of them are from China.

(3) The CCSA reports 1,204,729 confirmed cases with 11,589 deaths in Thailand. The country has administered 31,771,819 doses of Covid-19 vaccines nationwide. There are 399,282 confirmed cases with 15,389 deaths in Myanmar, 15,015 confirmed cases with 14 deaths in Laos, 93,055 confirmed cases with 1,903 deaths in Cambodia, and 462,096 confirmed cases with 11,504 deaths in Vietnam. The NHC reports 94,879 confirmed cases in China. The death toll remains at 4,636.

September 1 Myanmar’s Ministry of Health reports that more than 2.1 million people have been fully vaccinated nationwide. The country has 402,640 confirmed cases with 15,490 deaths.

September 2 (1) Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin says that China will provide 110 million doses of Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines to the COVAX by the end of October. China and the WHO have reached an agreement on long-term vaccine supply. The Sinovac, nowa partner of the COVAX, has provided more than 1.8 billion doses of vaccines worldwide.

(2) Biogenetech, the licensed importer of the Sinopharmvaccine in Thailand, submits documents on using the vaccine for children aged 3 and above to the FDA.

September 3 (1) China has no new locally transmitted Covid-19 cases, according to the NHC. There are 94,954 confirmed cases with 4,636 deaths on the mainland.

(2) Thailand will slow down the purchase of the Sinovac vaccine for the rest of this year as it wants to focus on procuring vaccines that are safe for children, according to Deputy Director-General of the Disease Control Department Dr. Sopon Iamsirithaworn.

September 4 Cambodia receives 2 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine purchased from the Sinovac Biotech by the Cambodian government and 500,000 doses donated by the company, according to the Ministry of Health. China has been the main source of vaccines for Cambodia, according to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. The country reports 94,839 confirmed cases with 1,950 deaths.

September 10 The CCSA reports 1,352,953 confirmed cases with 13,920 deaths in Thailand. The country ranks 29th on the global list of most cases. The total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide is 38,873,359. There are 589,417 confirmed cases with 14,745 deaths in Vietnam, 427,516 confirmed cases with 16,353 deaths in Myanmar, 98,184 confirmed cases with 2,019 deaths in Cambodia, and 16,936 confirmed cases with 16 deaths in Laos.

September 12 (1) The NHC reports that more than 2.14 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines had been administered in China.

(2) 4 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine arrive in Thailand, according to the CRA. It is the 9th batch of the Siopharm vaccine since June 20, totaling 15 million doses.

September 16 Laos reports 18,059 confirmed cases with 16 deaths. The Lao government announces the extension of a lockdown until September 30.

September 17 Cambodia starts vaccinating children despite WHO cautions about vaccines for children under 12 years

old. The country plans to give 2 jabs of the Sinovac vaccine to children aged 6-12 years old.

September 20 (1) The CCSA reports 1,489,186 confirmed cases with 15,469 deaths in Thailand. The CRA begins inoculating schoolchildren aged 10-18 years old in Bangkok and neighboring provinces with the Sinopharm vaccine ahead of class reopening. However, the Sinopharm vaccine has not been approved for use on schoolchildren by the FDA.

(2) Cambodia has administered at least 1 dose of Covid-19 vaccines to 12.05 million people, accounting for 75.3 percent of the 16 million population, according to the Health Ministry. 64.4 percent of them have been fully vaccinated and 5.2 percent have received a booster dose. The country has received 29.6 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines from bilateral procurement, the COVAX, and donations, according to WHO Representative to Cambodia Li Ailan. 76 percent of them were Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines procured from China and 14.5 percent were donated by China to Cambodia.

September 21 Ruili City bordering Myanmar in Yunnan Province increases efforts against imported cases by rewarding notification about stowaways, smugglers, and drug traffickers. The local epidemic prevention and control headquarters encourage residents to discover and report border crimes.

September 22 3.471 million people in Myanmar have been fully vaccinated as of September 18, according to Myanmar’s Ministry of Health.

September 24 Cambodia receives 3 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine purchased from China. This batch will be used to inoculate children aged 6-12, according to the Ministry of Health. 80 percent of the 16 million population have been administered at least 1 dose of Covid-19 vaccines. 67 percent of them have been fully vaccinated and 5.34 percent have received a booster dose.

September 26 (1) Over 2.197 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses had been administered in China, according to the NHC.

(2) Myanmar receives 4 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine purchased from China, according to the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar. A total of 16.6 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been supplied by China. 3.9 million doses of them were donated. Over 3.72 million people have been fully vaccinated nationwide, according to the Ministry of Health.

September 28 Cambodia receives 3 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine purchased from China, according to the Ministry of Health. They will be used to support the booster dose campaign.

September 30 The NHC had received reports of 96,128 confirmed cases with 4,636 deaths in China’s mainland. The CCSA reports 1,603,475 confirmed cases with 16,727 deaths in Thailand. There are 464,076 confirmed cases with 17,735 deaths in Myanmar, 23,846 confirmed cases with 19 deaths in Laos, 112,651 confirmed cases with 2,319 deaths in Cambodia, and 790,755 confirmed cases with 19,301 deaths in Vietnam.

October 1 There were 14 fatalities and 12 severe adverse reactions of Sinopharmvaccine recipients, according to the CRA’s report. The CRA has administered 9,373,448 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine so far.

October 2 A batch of 4 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from China arrives in Myanmar. China has delivered 20.6 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Myanmar. 3.9 million doses of them were donations, according to the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar. Myanmar's Ministry of Health reports that 3.86 million people have been fully vaccinated nationwide, while more than 4.4 million people had received first jabs. The country has extended international flight restrictions until the end of October to contain the spread of the virus.

October 8 Laos reports 27,607 confirmed cases with 24 deaths. The country has imposed a lockdown in Luang Prabang Province until October 21.

October 9 Nearly 2.219 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines had been administered in China, according to the NHC.

October 10 Thailand reports 1,710,884 confirmed cases with 17,691 deaths, according to the CCSA. The country ranks 24th in the global list of most cases.

October 11 Cambodia starts giving the third jab of the Sinovac vaccine to people who received the second jab at least 4 months in 11 of 14 districts of Phnom Penh.

October 13 The WHO announces a new expert group of 26 scientists to investigate the origins of Covid-19 and other future outbreaks.

October 15 (1) The total number of confirmed cases in China’s mainland is 96,488, according to the NHC. The death toll remains at 4,636.

(2) The Lao government extends national lockdown for 15 days until October 30. The country reports 31,188 confirmed cases with 36 deaths.

October 18 (1) Thailand will stop using the Sinovac vaccine when stock finishes, according to the Public Health Ministry. The country has used more than 31.5 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine since February. In the future, the country will only procure vaccines effective against new variants. The country reports 1,793,812 confirmed cases with 18,242 deaths. The total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide is 65,677,794.

(2) Cambodia’s Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication officially launches the “StopCovid QR Vaccine" QR Code to make it easier for the location of people involved in positive cases of Covid-19, quarantine control, and the individual vaccinationinformation.

October 26 Laos’ health authorities have launched a Covid-19 vaccination certificate with a QR Code for authenticity and digital verification. The Covid-19 vaccine database will record personal data and vaccine information before creating the QR code and put it on the back of the vaccination certificate.

October 31 The NHC had received reports of 97,151 confirmed cases with 4,636 deaths in China’s mainland. Thailand reports 1,912,024 confirmed cases with 19,205 death, according to the Ministry of Public Health. There are 500,073 confirmed cases with 18,697 deaths in Myanmar, 40,271 confirmed cases with 65 deaths in Laos, 118,522 confirmed cases with 2,788 deaths in Cambodia, and 921,122 confirmed cases with 22,083 deaths in Vietnam.

November 1 Cambodia starts to vaccinate children aged 5 years old with the Sinovac vaccine, according to the Ministry of Health. The country had vaccinated 85.86 percent of the 16 million population.

November 2 (1) 3.28 million people in Laos have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, accounting for 44.78 percent, while more than 2.8 million people or 38.38 percent were fully vaccinated. The Lao government extends lockdown for 15 days until November 14.

(2) The WHO reports 5,004,855 deaths of Covid-19 worldwide. The US has the highest number of confirmed cases and deaths.

November 7 Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC) reports that 20,092 tourists have entered the country since the country reopened 17 provinces to vaccinated foreign visitorson November 1, and 15 of them have tested positive for Covid-19 upon arrival. The country reports 1,975,591 confirmed cases with 19,703 deaths.

November 11 The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), a Myanmar ethnic rebel group, imposes a lockdown in a town bordering Yunnan Province, China due to the spread of the Delta variant across the country.

November 14 Cambodia announces no quarantine for fully vaccinated inbound passengers starting from November 15, according to Prime Minister Hun Sen.

November 16 More than 2.396 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines had been administered in China, according to the NHC.

November 17 Cambodia reports 119,687 confirmed cases with 2,881 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. The country has administered at least 1 dose of Covid-19 vaccines to 14.08 million people, accounting for 88 percent of the 16 million population. Cambodia has received a total of 40 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines from bilateral procurement, the COVAX, and donations. 90 percent of vaccines were purchased from or donated by China.

November 20 Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health reports that there are 2,057,575 confirmed cases with 20,358 deaths. The total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide is 88,330,952. The country ranks 24th in the global list of most cases.

November 22 As of November 19, 53.4 percent of adults in Vietnam were fully vaccinated. Almost 108 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines had been administered as of November 20, according to the Health Ministry.

November 26 The WHO declares the B.1.1.529 strain of Covid-19, first detected in southern Africa to be a variant of concern and named "Omicron." The variant was first reported to the WHO from South Africa on November 24.

November 29 (1) The WHO warns that the Omicron variant is likely to spread internationally and poses a very high global risk. It urges countries to accelerate vaccination of high-priority groups and maintain essential health services.

(2) Cambodia bans travelers from 10 African countries to contain the spread of the Omicron variant, according to the Health Ministry.

November 30 The NHC reports 98,711 confirmed cases with 4,636 deaths in China’s mainland. Thailand reports 2,115,872 confirmed cases with 20,771 deaths. There are 522,402 confirmed cases with 19,104 deaths in Myanmar, 73,738 confirmed cases with 170 deaths in Laos, 120,134 confirmed cases with 2,940 deaths in Cambodia, and 1,238,082 confirmed cases with 25,252 deaths in Vietnam.

December 2 The Sinopharm is conducting research and development on vaccines against the Omicron variant. The company has provided 2.5 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines to China and overseas markets and about 1 million doses have been provided to more than100 countries.

December 6 (1) Thailand detects the first case of Omicron from an American businessman who arrived in the country from Spain on November 30, according to the Public Health Ministry. The country is the 47th country to detect the Omicron variant.

(2) Cambodia starts to vaccinate 5-year-old children with the Sinovac vaccine, according to the Ministry of Health.

December 7 The NHC reports 99,297 confirmed cases with 4,636 deaths in China’s mainland.

December 10 Thailand's Ministry of Public Health reports 2,160,780 confirmed cases with 21,112 deaths. The total number of Covid-19 vaccines administered nationwide is 96,821,760. The country ranks 24th in the global list of most cases. The top is the US, followed by India, Brazil, the UK, and Russia.

December 13 Cambodia receives a batch of 300,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine through the COVAX, according to the Ministry of Health. The country has received a total of 40.8 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines from the COVAX, donations, and bilateral procurement. 90

percent of those were purchased from or donated by China. As of December 12, 88.7 percent of the population had received at least 1 dose of Covid-19 vaccines. The country reports 120,370 confirmed cases with 2,989 deaths.

December 14 (1) The WHO warns that the Omicron variant was spreading at an unprecedented rate. The variant had been reported in 77 countries. The first Omicron death was confirmed in the UK on December 13.

(2) Cambodia detects the first case of Omicron variant in a local woman who returned from Ghana via Dubai and Bangkok, according to the Ministry of Health.

(3) China detects the first Omicron variant in 2 patients in Tianjin and Guangzhou.

(4) Myanmar Chairman of State Administration Council and Prime Minister Senior General Min Aun Hlaing reveals that the country had administered 31,049,275 doses of Covid-19 vaccines. 12,693,945 people have been fully vaccinated. 5,661,385 people have received 1 dose.

December 18 (1) The Omicron variant has been reported in 89 countries. The number of cases is doubling in 1.5 to 3 days in the area with community transmission, according to the WHO.

(2) Myanmar’s Ministry of Health reports 528,101 confirmed cases with 19,213 deaths.

December 20 Thailand records 2,194,053 confirmed cases with 21,408 deaths, according to the Ministry of Public Health.

December 22 Myanmar’s Ministry of Industry and China National Biotec Group, affiliated with China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) sign a supply agreement for semi-finished vaccine products.

December 24 Secretary-General of the CRA Dr. Nithi Mahanonda reveals that 14,326,065 Sinopharm doses have been