15 August 2021. In 2020, Vietnam was given many accolades over their apparent success in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic–very low cases and only a few dozen fatalities. Times have changed with the arrival of Delta variant back in April and former mitigation that was working in Vietnam has lost its favor.https://outbreaknewstoday.com/vietnam-covid-19-how-things-have-changed-79975/

15 August 2021. China is facing a new round of sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks, mainly caused by the Delta variant. Authorities have taken swift actions to curb the spread of the highly infectious variant. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202108/15/WS61184af4a310efa1bd668d1f.html

15 August 2021. In the 2 days following the government’s reopening of Cambodia border crossings with Thailand, more than 2,300 migrant workers have returned through checkpoints in four provinces and hundreds of them have tested positive for Covid-19.https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/thai-border-reopened-workers-many-covid

15 August 2021. Officials in North China’s Shanxi Province are reporting nine suspected human anthrax cases in villagers from Wenshui County. All of the patients were involved in the cattle industry, from breeding, to slaughter and beef sales.https://outbreaknewstoday.com/china-reports-9-suspect-anthrax-cases-in-shanxi-province-16843/

13 August 2021. Trần Đắc Phu, senior advisor to the Việt Nam Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC), talks to Việt Nam Government about the correct deployment of COVID-19 antigen tests to avoid waste and incorrect outbreak assessments.https://vietnamnews.vn/opinion/1010059/senior-public-health-expert-warns-against-careless-use-of-covid-19-rapid-test-kits.html

13 August 2021. Laos has confirmed 305 new COVID-19 cases across country, bringing the total of cases to 9,668. Laos recorded 20 community cases, including 7 in Vientiane Capital, 6 in Bokeo, 5 in Champsack, and 1 each in Savannakhet and Sekong provinces.https://laotiantimes.com/2021/08/13/laos-confirms-305-new-cases-of-covid-19/

13 August 2021. The Siem Reap Provincial Administration (Cambodia) has laid out five-point measures on public order and operations of both state and private markets to prevent community transmission of Covid-19.https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/siem-reap-enforces-covid-measures-markets

13 August 2021. In a bid to reopen its tourism industry, Hua Hin (Thailand) has set the goal of having at least 70% of its local population and 100% of its tourism sector workers inoculated against Covid-19.https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2164347/hua-hin-sets-vaccine-target-for-tourism

13 August 2021. Parts of mainland China have reported a resurgence in daily Covid-19 cases as the highly infectious delta variant spreads across the country. Locally transmitted cases reported in mainland China climbed to 878 so far this month.https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/13/covid-map-shows-latest-outbreak-in-mainland-china-as-delta-cases-rise.html

13 August 2021. Sekong authorities (Laos) have placed four districts under lockdown including Lamam, Thateng, Kaleum, and Dakcheung, following one new case of Covid-19 recorded in the province yesterday.https://laotiantimes.com/2021/08/13/sekong-locks-four-districts-after-new-covid-case-reported-in-province/