Brunei on promising start to endemic phase

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/Asia News Network): Brunei Darussalam detected nine new cases of Covid-19 on the first day of Endemic Phase on Wednesday (Dec 15), bringing the total number of Covid-19 cases to 15,372.

This was said by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Mohd Isham Jaafar during a press conference on Wednesday, adding that, “With the start of this phase, minimal disruptions to the daily community activities is anticipated and the situation will gradually improve.

“With the beginning of this new phase, the format of reporting the current situation of Covid-19 in Brunei Darussalam will change and focus more on epidemiological and current indicators that are more leading towards the protection of the community as a whole,” he added.

Dr Md Isham revealed that the nine new cases was the result of a total of 3,781 laboratory tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

Therefore, the rate of positive cases today is at 0.2 per cent.

“One case is in Category 5 who is being treated at the intensive care unit requires artificial ventilation as well as an additional heart-lung machine (ECMO). There are no cases in Category 4.

Nineteen cases recovered yesterday bringing the total number of recoveries to 15,046, while the number of active cases stands at 226.

“As of Dec 14, 94.2 per cent of total population had received at least one dose of the vaccine while 90.5 per cent have completed the Covid-19 vaccination schedule.

“The rate of those who have received three doses of the vaccine is at 3.9 per cent, while bed occupancy rate at isolation centres nationwide is at 5.2 per cent.”