Brunei reports virus recovery case as govt announces aviation industry loss lowest in Asean

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Brunei reported one more Covid-19 (coronavirus) recovery case on Saturday morning, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 135.

According to Brunei's Ministry of Health, no new cases of Covid-19 were recorded on Friday, with the national tally of cases standing at 141, marking the eighth consecutive day without new cases since May 7.

The number of active cases still being treated at the National Isolation Center decreased to five. Two patients remain in critical condition. The rest are in a stable condition.

There has been one death resulting from the Covid-19 in Brunei.

The ministry added that so far 101 individuals are still undergoing quarantine and a total of 2,578 individuals have completed their quarantine. Some 16,705 laboratory tests for have been conducted.

Brunei govt also announced its forecast to experience the lowest loss of revenue in the civil aviation industry among Asean member countries at US$114mil, with about 8,500 jobs expected to be lost, according to a recent report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

IATA has doubled-down on its March forecast of the challenges facing the international civil aviation industry last month saying that the lockdowns and border closures could cost ASEAN airlines US$38.2 billion in revenues this year and see the loss of some 7.2 million jobs.

The airline trade association forecasts that Covid-19 will see global passenger revenues drop by some US$314 billion globally this year, a 55 per cent year-on-year (YoY) decline.

Asia-Pacific Airlines is set to see the largest fall, with a drop of US$113 billion. In its earlier forecast issued in March, IATA had predicted an estimated US$88 billion loss for the year.

Passenger demand is similarly forecast to decline, with the full year expected to see a 50 per cent drop YoY, up from the 37% decline forecast in March.

Across ASEAN, air traffic passenger is expected to drop by an average of 49%, compared to 2019, with Thailand, Malaysia, and Laos expected to see the largest falls in passenger demand.

Thailand is forecast to experience the largest loss in revenue at US$8.289 billion, marginally ahead of Indonesia at US$8.225 billion, with more than four million jobs expected to be lost in these two countries alone. - Xinhua/Borneo Bulletin/Asian News Network