Philippines to reimpose stricter coronavirus lockdown in capital as cases spike

23 Sept 06:25 Key points summarised by AI

The Philippines reimposes a stricter "Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine" (MECQ) in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces from August 4-18 to curb a significant surge in COVID-19 cases.
President Duterte's decision follows urgent calls from medical groups, as the country recorded its largest single-day infection increase, pushing total confirmed cases past 100,000.
To bolster the healthcare system, the government will hire 10,000 new medical professionals and provide additional benefits for frontline workers treating COVID-19 patients.

Flooding persists in Bangkok and 22 provinces

Today 16:00 Key points summarised by AI

Persistent flooding continues across Bangkok and 22 Thai provinces, though water levels are gradually receding in many affected areas.
Over 604,000 families, impacting approximately 1.83 million people, are still grappling with the widespread flood conditions.
The national flood death toll has reached 80 since mid-September, with fatalities reported across various provinces.
Major regions like Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, and Bangkok report significant numbers of affected households, with hundreds of thousands still in trouble.