Brunei detects 15 local Covid-19 cases after more than a year

Bangkok, Aug 9 (EFE).- The small sultanate of Brunei, on the island of Borneo, detected 15 local infections last weekend after resisting the spread of Covid-19 in its territory for more than a year, having however registered imported cases.

Southeast Asia is experiencing a strong outbreak of Covid-19 and several countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam or Indonesia, record numbers of infections and deaths are being recorded due to the strength of the delta variant.

Brunei’s Health Ministry reported seven local infections Saturday and eight Sunday, among the latter, three with an unknown link and no history of travel abroad.

As a result of the outbreak, authorities implemented several control measures to prevent the spread of the virus Saturday for the next two weeks, such as the closure of religious venues, limiting meetings to a maximum of 30 people and the use of masks at all times.

In a statement, the ministry said the possibility that these infections detected within the territory “are due to (patients) having been in contact with imported cases” and asked the population to cooperate if they know people who have “illegally” crossed the border from Malaysia.

Malaysia has been experiencing a strong outbreak linked to the delta variant for months and has registered more than 20,000 daily cases and exceeds 200 deaths.

Brunei, with about 430,000 inhabitants, had not registered local infections since May 2020 and currently accumulates 364 cases of Covid-19, including three deaths, more than half were imported cases detected in mandatory quarantine centers upon arrival in the country.

After registering the community outbreak, authorities urged people over 60 with chronic diseases to become vaccinated at the soonest. The country so far has inoculated more than 8 percent of the target population with the full course, and 32 percent with at least one dose. EFE

nc/lds