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 Philippines detects first local cases of Delta variant
The Philippines has recorded the country's first locally acquired
cases of the more infectious Delta variant, prompting authorities to
reimpose stricter measures in some areas as health experts sought
bans on social gatherings.
The Southeast Asian country is battling one of the worst COVID-19
outbreaks in Asia, but infection numbers have been declining since
peaking in March and April, allowing for a gradual relaxation of
restrictions.
Sixteen people had been found with the Delta variant, including five
who had returned from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Britain
between April and June, health undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire
said.
Indonesia reports record rise in COVID-19 deaths
Indonesia reported a record increase of 1,025 deaths from COVID-19
on Friday, bringing the country's total tally of fatalities to more
than 71,000.
The world's fourth most populous country is struggling to slow
COVID-19 transmission even after imposing its toughest mobility
curbs yet, while its immunisation rate is low, with just 5.8% of its
270 million people fully vaccinated.
South Korea weighs tighter restrictions
South Korea's prime minister on Friday said tighter limits on
private gatherings may be needed as authorities reported 1,536 new
cases and treatment centres filled up, prompting calls for more
people to be allowed to receive care at home.
South Korea was for months a coronavirus success story as it kept
outbreaks under control with testing, tracing and social distancing,
but the Delta variant has fuelled a fourth wave of infection among
the unvaccinated.
Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum asked local governments to standardise
gathering limits to less than four people to avoid confusion in the
non-metropolitan area, after imposing a semi-lockdown in the greater
Seoul area.
Crisis could return quickly, England's chief medical officer says
England's coronavirus crisis could return again surprisingly quickly
and the country is not yet out of the woods, chief medical officer
Chris Whitty said on Thursday ahead of the lifting of legal
restrictions.
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 The government is removing most pandemic
restrictions in England from July 19, saying a
rapid rollout of vaccines has largely broken the
link between infections and serious illness or
death.
Whitty said that the doubling time for
hospitalisations was currently around three
weeks, and that low numbers of people in
hospital with COVID-19 currently could rise to
serious levels over the next couple of months.
Mask mandate returns to Los Angeles
 Los Angeles County will reimpose its mask
mandate this weekend in the latest sign that
public health officials are struggling with an
alarming rise in cases tied to the Delta
variant.
The county, home to 10 million people, is one of
several jurisdictions to recommend or mandate
wearing masks or other pandemic restrictions in
recent days as cases rise to worrisome levels in
many parts of the United States.
"We're requiring masking for everyone while
indoors at public settings and businesses,
regardless of vaccination status so that we can
stop the increased level of transmission we're
seeing," the Los Angeles County Department of
Public Health said on Twitter on Thursday.
Fiji's COVID-19 infections surge
The Pacific island nation of Fiji has recorded a
sharp increase in new COVID-19 infections and
deaths as the country's health services are
stretched by the Delta variant.
After keeping the coronavirus largely at bay
last year, Fiji registered a record 1,220 new
cases in one day and an additional five deaths,
health authorities said in a statement on
Thursday.
Like most Pacific island nations, Fiji closed
its borders to protect its population of about
900,000 people in the early stages of the
pandemic. Now it is one of a small but growing
number of countries in the region battling
increased infections, including with Papua New
Guinea.
(Compiled by Linda Noakes; Editing by David
Clarke)
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