Philippines allows foreigners to enter, Singapore tightens rules on travelers from some countries

• Tokyo sets daily infection record for second day in row; India cases exceed 1m.

• Global cases have reached 13,589,273, according to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

• The worldwide death toll has hit 584,990.

The Philippines will allow the entry of foreign nationals with long-term visas into the country from Aug. 1, the presidential spokesman says. Foreigners with valid and existing visas will need to undergo quarantine upon arrival. Applications for new entry visas will not be accepted and returning Filipinos will have priority on inbound flights, given existing caps on airport capacity.

Singapore will strengthen rules on travelers coming from coronavirus hot spots, including Japan, Hong Kong and Australia’s Victoria state, mandating quarantine in dedicated facilities for those who had been in those regions in the 14 days prior to arrival. Affected travelers will no longer be able to quarantine at their residences.

Here is how the disease has spread today, briefing by the Asia Insiders, based on a report on the Nikkei Asia.

South Korea approves an early-stage clinical trial of Celltrion’s experimental COVID-19 treatment, making it the country’s first such antibody drug to be tested on humans. It anticipates primary results from the studies by the end of the year and aims to commercialize the drug by early 2021.

Kyrgyzstan adds thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths to its COVID-19 tally, describing them as cases of pneumonia most likely caused by the coronavirus but not confirmed by testing. It reports a total of 23,783 confirmed cases and COVID-like pneumonia as of Friday, having previously reported 12,498 COVID-19 cases. Similarly, the number of deaths surged to 785 from 167.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says normal life will not fully return until November at the earliest, cautioning that nightclubs need to remain closed and wedding receptions capped. He said sports stadiums can bring back spectators in October.

British Airways, the world’s largest operator of Boeing 747s, is retiring its entire jumbo jet fleet. The company had been planning to retire the aircraft in 2024. “It is with great sadness that we can confirm we are proposing to retire our entire 747 fleet with immediate effect,” the company said in a statement.

Indonesia reports 1,462 new coronavirus infections, down from 1,574 a day earlier, bringing the total number of cases to 83,130. Fatalities from COVID-19 rose by 84 to 3,957.

Hong Kong authorities report 50 locally transmitted coronavirus cases on Friday, stoking concern about an escalating third wave of infections in the global financial hub.

The Philippines records 17 more coronavirus deaths and 1,841 new infections, with the capital, Manila, accounting for the bulk of newly confirmed cases and fatalities. Total deaths have reached 1,660, while confirmed infections have risen to 63,001.

Cathay Pacific Airways warns that it expects a net loss of $1.28 billion for the first half of 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. But the airline says it plans to add more flights, even as its outlook remains murky.

Urumqi, the capital of China’s far western region of Xinjiang, reports five new coronavirus cases. The city also reports eight new asymptomatic cases.

Tokyo confirms 293 new infections, sources tell Nikkei, marking the second straight day of record cases, following Thursday’s 286. The virus’s resurgence in the nation’s capital has forced the Japanese government to exclude Tokyo residents from claiming a travel subsidy aimed at reviving the domestic tourism industry.

India’s coronavirus cases cross the million mark on Friday, with yet another record rise of 34,956 in the previous 24 hours. The total number of fatalities has jumped to 25,602, up 687 since Thursday morning in the biggest single-day spike so far.

Australia’s second-most populous state of Victoria reports a record increase in daily new coronavirus cases for the second straight day. Victoria recorded 428 new infections, a day after logging its previous high of 317 new cases.

South Korea confirms 60 new cases, down from 61 a day ago, with total coronavirus infections reaching 13,672 and 293 deaths.

The U.S. confirms 71,229 new infections, topping 70,000 cases in a single day for the first time, according to the Covid Tracking Project. Florida and Texas lead the states by each registering more than 10,000 cases. The death toll also rises to 977 fatalities, up from 855 a day earlier.

@ Asia Insiders/ Nikkei

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Source: Vietnam Insider