COVID-19 Report: Thais stranded in Malaysia to (slowly) return; Filipino HealthSec under fire

Thais in Malaysia in a photo posted Tuesday. Photo: Royal Thai Embassy, Kuala Lumpur/Facebook
Thais in Malaysia in a photo posted Tuesday. Photo: Royal Thai Embassy, Kuala Lumpur/Facebook

Thousands of Thais stuck in Malaysia since the latter went under lockdown will soon be able to return home – if slowly. 

An 80-year-old Malaysian man who died Tuesday tested positive posthumously for COVID-19 in Singapore but officials said that’s not what killed him, without elaborating, as confirmed infections rose to 3,699 after a record 447 new cases were reported there.

In the Philippines, the health secretary is under pressure to resign for mishandling the response amid soaring known infections. 

Lawmakers cited Duque’s “failure of leadership,” “lack of foresight,” and “inefficiency” could be blamed for the Department of Health’s “poor planning, delayed response, lack of transparency, and misguided and flip-flopping policies” in addressing the pandemic. No points for guessing whether Duterte is standing by his embattled deputy.

Infections surpassed 100 known cases on Bali as authorities urged citizens to avoid stigmatizing foreign workers as “disease carriers.” In a spot of good news, Hong Kong reported only one new case today. 

More updates from Coconuts’ newsrooms in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong:

Thailand

Indonesia

Philippines

Hong Kong




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