20 September 2021. Phuket (Thailand) has begun mass Covid-19 testing in communities suspected to the source of the high number of new cases. Nine comprehensive Covid-19 response (CCR) teams were sent to search for infected people in target communities. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2184391/mass-testing-campaign-kicks-off-in-phuket

20 September 2021. Researchers are collecting samples from bats in the northern Cambodia in a bid to understand the coronavirus pandemic, returning to a region where a very similar virus was found in the animals a decade ago.https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/977503/Cambodia-bat-researchers-on-mission-to-track-origin-of-Covid-19

20 September 2021. A new study has found that changing weather patterns may be responsible for an increase in bacteria causing two types of typhus in Laos: scrub typhus (or bush typhus) and flea-borne typhus (murine typhus).https://laotiantimes.com/2021/09/20/climate-change-linked-to-increase-in-typhus-cases-in-laos/

20 September 2021. The departments of Health, Information and Communications, Planning and Investment of HCMC (Vietnam) had a working session on proposing the municipal People’s Committee to pilot the application of the “Covid Green Card” in the economic recovery in the city.https://www.sggpnews.org.vn/health/people-with-at-least-one-vaccine-dose-suggested-to-be-granted-covid-green-card-94785.html

20 September 2021. Chinese mainland reports 49 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 28 locally transmitted. According to the National Health Commission, more than 2.17 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered in China. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202109/20/WS6105d0f2a310efa1bd665bcc.html

20 September 2021. The Lao Ministry of Health has confirmed that the Covid-19 variant spreading through Vientiane Capital is the Delta Plus variant. The city was placed into full lockdown after outbreaks of Covid-19 at garment factories saw cases soar.https://laotiantimes.com/2021/09/20/delta-plus-covid-19-variant-spreading-in-vientiane-capital/

19 September 2021. In Cambodia, vaccinations for children aged 6 to 11 have reached over 14% of that population in just two days after kicking off on September 17. Covid-19 vaccinations for children were on a voluntary basis.https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/kids-jabs-be-voluntary-consent-guardians

19 September 2021. Vietnam has approved the use of the Abdala vaccine for emergency authorized administration purposes, developed by Cuba’s Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. Cuba would supply large quantities of Abdala to Vietnam and transfer the production technology by the end of the year.https://outbreaknewstoday.com/vietnam-taps-cubas-abdala-vaccine-for-country-vax-program-27547/

19 September 2021. Cambodia Minister of Health urged the Phnom Penh municipal governor and his provincial counterparts to promote greater community awareness and participation in the Covid-19 fight, amid an eight-day trend of over 600 new daily cases.https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/covid-surge-prompts-anti-covid-education-campaign

13 September 2021. Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island will be the country’s first tourist destination reopened to fully-vaccinated foreign visitors beginning in November. https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2181003/vietnam-to-open-phu-quoc-for-vaccinated-foreign-tourists-in-nov