VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Japan plans to approve its first coronavirus antigen testing kits on Wednesday, a health ministry official said, to boost the number of diagnostic tests available to battle the pandemic. Fujirebio, a subsidiary of Japanese diagnostics and laboratory testing service provider Miraca Holdings, last month applied for government approval for its antigen kit. Antigen tests scan for proteins found on or inside a virus, and typically test a sample taken from the nasal cavity using swabs. The tests can detect the virus quickly but produce false negatives at a higher rate than the currently dominant PCR, or polymerase chain reaction, tests. Japan has reported about 16,680 confirmed infections, including 712 from the cruise ship previously quarantined in Yokohama, and 670 deaths to date, public broadcaster NHK said.

Although those tallies are relatively low given its population of 126 million, critics say the low rate of testing has made it difficult to trace the virus, which has led to a series of in-hospital infections, crippling some facilities. Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said that faced with criticism, Japan eased access to PCR tests this month. Antigen tests, once approved, will likely supplement PCR tests. Demand for rapid testing kits has surged with governments scrambling to contain the pandemic that has infected more than 4 million people worldwide and killed over 285,000//JP

Singapore’s COVID-19 situation may have started to improve, but the number of community cases could rise again as "circuit breaker" measures are gradually lifted, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong cautioned on Tuesday (May 12). Speaking at a COVID-19 multi-ministry task force press conference, Minister Gan outlined the progress Singapore has made in controlling the infection. With three weeks to Jun 1, when the circuit breaker restrictions are expected to end, measures have "shown promise" in reducing COVID-19 infections locally in the community.

"But we must not be allowed into complacency or let our guards down. As we gradually lift the circuit breaker measures, there is a risk that the community cases may rise again. This has been the experience of many countries which have seen a second wave of infections after relaxing their social distancing measures. Therefore we need to be very carefull, remain vigilant and minimize the risk of any sharp rise in cases or large cluster in the community" Minister Gan said. 

He added that even as the authorities progressively lift some of the tighter measures, other measures will remain, such as safe distancing and safe management at workplaces. Meanwhile, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said that the Government will be in a position to consider its next moves to ease some of the circuit breaker measures "if all goes well". 

"So we are now in a good position to plan forward and ease some of the ristriction, open more, allow more workers to resume work beyond the first of June. And then gradually take steps to reopen the economy. As we go about this exercise all of us have to be prepared that new cases maybe well emerge. And thats why we are building up our capacity for faster contact tracing, for more comprehensive large scale testing and with these enablers we will be able to have some convidence in opening the economy and easig the circuit breaker measures" Said Minister Wong

He added that the authorities will look at the evidence over the coming days and "assess the situation carefully". The number of new cases in Singapore has continue to fall. From an average of over 30 new cases daily in Mid-April to 8 new cases in the past weeks. Singapore use the technology to control the spread of the virus where people have to scan their identity cards or scan the SafeEntry QR code with their mobile phones when entering and leaving the building. The time of entry and the particulars of each shopper is captured to help in contract tracing in case of a COVID-19 infection. This is one of the technological solutions authorities have implemented to curb the spread of coronavirus in the community//NK

New coronavirus clusters have been reported in Wuhan city - where the virus first emerged - and the north-eastern province of Jilin in China. As quoted by BBC.com ( 11/5),  Wuhan reported five new cases on Monday, after confirming its first case since 3 April on Sunday. Authorities said the small cluster of cases were all from the same residential compound// China has been easing restrictions in recent weeks and cases had been declining. Health authorities and experts have warned that as countries emerge from strict lockdowns and people move around more freely, a rise in infections is likely// The small Wuhan cluster is the first to emerge since the end of the strict lockdown on 8 April.  One of the five cases reported on Monday was the wife of an 89-year-old man who became the first confirmed case in the city in well over a month on Sunday//BBC

Saudi Arabia unveiled plans Monday to triple its value added tax and halt monthly allowances to citizens as part of coronavirus-triggered austerity measures, while deepening oil production cuts to prop up sagging prices // As quoted by AFP.com (11/5)  the austerity drive, which state media said would boost state coffers by 100 billion riyals ($26.6 billion), comes as the petro-state grapples with the twin blow of record low oil prices and a virus-led economic slump// The steps could stir public resentment amid an already high cost of living and intensify scrutiny of lavish multi-billion dollar state projects and expenditure including the proposed purchase of English football club Newcastle United// Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said in a statement released by the official Saudi Press Agency that It has been decided the cost of living allowance will be halted from June 2020 and VAT will be raised from 5 percent to 15 percent from July 1// Jadaan insisted the measures were necessary to shore up state finances amid a "sharp decline" in oil revenue as the coronavirus pandemic saps global demand for crude//AFP