No Fresh Lockdown, Gov't Promises

Health authorities on Wednesday announced new measures to fight resurgent COVID infections but stressed that they do not include a fresh lockdown.

Testing of travelers from overseas will be tightened. Currently, they must have a PCR test within three days after arrival, but from July 25 they will have to have it within a day and stay home until the result comes back negative. Anyone who tests positive must self-isolate for seven days.

"We believe that if we keep the seven-day self-isolation rule in place, daily COVID infections will peak at 180,000 by late September, but if we shorten the period to three to five days, daily new cases would rise to 260,000 by mid-September. If we lift the rule, daily cases would jump to 300,000 by early September," a health official said.

But adherence to the guidelines on vaccination, wearing face masks and refraining from unnecessary private gatherings remains voluntary.

The number of dedicated hospital beds will also increase. Currently, they have dwindled to about 5,700 across the country as new COVID cases dropped. The government will now secure 1,400 more beds.

On Thursday morning, the daily tally of new coronavirus infections stood at 39,196, a day after climbing over 40,000 for the first time in about two months.