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Indonesia reports record rise in COVID-19 deaths
The country also reported 54,000 new coronavirus infections, taking the total number of cases to 2.78 million.
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Family members grieve at a cemetary in Tangerang, in the suburbs of Jakarta on July 2, 2021, as Covid-19 infections surged to record levels topping 21,000 per day in Southeast Asia's worst-hit nation. (AFP/Fajrin Raharjo)
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ndonesia reported on Friday a record increase of 1,025 deaths from COVID-19, bringing the country's total tally of fatalities to more than 71,000.
The country also reported 54,000 new coronavirus infections, taking the total number of cases to 2.78 million.
Meanwhile in Singapore, the country’s health ministry said it would retighten some restrictions on social gatherings, including allowing only two people to dine-in at restaurants, from next week to combat a recent rise in COVID-19 cases.
Read also: Indonesia braces for worst-case coronavirus scenario
However, authorities will allow fully vaccinated individuals to continue to eat inside in groups of up to five at restaurants that have sufficient checks in place.
Singapore police are investigating several karaoke bars for breaching coronavirus restrictions and have arrested 20 foreign women for alleged "vice-related activities" after an outbreak linked to the nightspots, authorities said, quoted by AFP.
The city-state has seen a spike in cases this week connected to the bars -- including a 10-month high of local transmissions on Wednesday -- and the number of infections in the cluster now stands at 87.
In Thailand, the government is considering bringing in tighter coronavirus curbs in a bid to contain soaring infections, as authorities reported on Friday a record number of cases despite imposing partial lockdowns in Bangkok and nine other provinces this week.
Since Monday, areas considered high risk in Thailand have been under the toughest restrictions in more than a year, with new curbs on movement and gatherings, the closure of malls and some businesses, and curfews between 9 pm to 4 am.
"After assessing the measures there are still concerns," said Apisamai Srirangsan, a spokeswoman for the government COVID-19 task force, quoted by Reuters.
"We may close more places and intensify the measures," she said.
Read also: Countries put Indonesia on travel ban list as COVID-19 crisis worsens
The government also plans to increase the number of COVID-19 tests which currently cover 70,000-80,000 people per day by introducing home-testing kits which will be available from drugstores next week, Apisamai said.
Thailand on Friday reported a daily record of 9,692 coronavirus infections and 67 new deaths, taking total cases to 381,907 and fatalities to 3,099, as authorities struggle to tackle the country's biggest wave of infections so far.
