Supreme KTV at Far East Shopping Centre (left), Empress at Tanglin Shopping Centre (top, right) and Dolce at Balestier Point are part of the growing Covid-19 cluster. - ST
This Week's News Spotlight:
Brunei reports biggest daily rise of COVID-19 cases in 120 days, but still no local virus cases reported - The Star| Hundreds of Thai medical workers infected with COVID-19 despite Sinovac vaccinations - CNA| Indonesia expects COVID-19 situation to improve next week with emergency curbs, more hospital beds: Minister - CNA| Malaysia’s AirAsia to buy Gojek’s Thai business for US$50 million in shares - Reuters | Didi backer Temasek optimistic on China amid tech crackdown - Caixin
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Brunei reports biggest daily rise of COVID-19 cases in 120 days, but still no local virus cases reported - The Star
The country has logged a total of 275 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, with 255 recovered patients and 3 deaths.
Brunei reported seven new COVID-19 cases on Sunday night, its largest rise in 120 days, but all of the cases were imported ones. Five of the new cases arrived from Jakarta, Indonesia, and two out of five showed symptoms only after arrival. So far, Brunei has gone 431 days without any local COVID-19 cases.
Hundreds of Thai medical workers infected with COVID-19 despite Sinovac vaccinations - CNA
Out of the 618 vaccinated medical workers who have been infected, one has died and another is in critical condition.
More than 600 medical workers in Thailand who have received two doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine have been infected with COVID-19, according to the country’s health ministry on Sunday. The number is out of a total of 677,348 medical personnel who have received two doses of the vaccine, which means about 0.09 percent of those vaccinated have caught COVID-19.
Experts have recommended a third dose to boost immunity for those who are at risk, said senior health official Sopon Iamsirithawon. He also added that this would be from a different vaccine, either AstraZeneca or an mRNA vaccine, which Thailand will be receiving in the future.
Indonesia expects COVID-19 situation to improve next week with emergency curbs, more hospital beds: Minister - CNA
On Monday, Indonesia reported 891 deaths and a record high of 40,427 cases.
The COVID-19 curve is expected to flatten and the situation improve by next week, said Indonesian minister Luhut Pandjaitan on Monday. Over the past week, Indonesia has logged more than 240,000 cases and almost 6,000 deaths, leaving the country’s healthcare system overwhelmed.
He added that the country is taking steps to address hospital bed and oxygen tank shortages, accelerate the national vaccination drive, and reduce people’s mobility via PPKM Emergency curbs. The government is also trying to convert some public hospitals into facilities for COVID-19 patients, with the military agreeing to deploy its doctors and open emergency field hospitals.
Malaysia’s AirAsia to buy Gojek’s Thai business for US$50 million in shares - Reuters
AirAsia SuperApp provides travel, e-commerce, and financial services and is a subsidiary of AirAsia Digital group.
Malaysian budget airline AirAsia will buy Indonesian tech giant Gojek’s Thailand business via a stock swap, which will give Gojek a 4.76 percent stake in AirAsia’s lifestyle platform.
In return, AirAsia will acquire Gojek’s business for US$50 million worth of shares in AirAsia SperApp. This values the division at about US$1 billion, which is more than that airline’s current market value of US$868 million. This deal comes a week after AirAsia’s application for a digital banking licence in Malaysia.
The partnership may also give Gojek’s Thai business a much-needed boost, where it has trailed behind food delivery and ride-hailing competitors in the country. Gojek’s Thai outfit is its smallest overseas operation and its market share is far smaller than food delivery leader Grab.
Didi backer Temasek optimistic on China amid tech crackdown - Caixin
Temasek saw a 25 percent return in its latest fiscal year, the largest jump since 2010.
Singapore’s government-owned wealth fund Temasek Holdings remains optimistic about investment prospects in China, despite two of its major portfolio companies being caught up in the latest regulatory crackdowns.
Temasek holds more assets in China than any other country and has early-stage investments in fintech Ant Group and ride-hailing company Didi, both of which have been targeted by Beijing. Chinese companies also remain Temasek’s biggest market, with investments in China comprising 27 percent of its US$281 billion portfolio. Temasek’s China portfolio grew by S$14 billion last year. The wealth fund remains “optimistic” on Didi and Ant, said cohead for North America and telecom, media, and technology Mukul Chawla.