Risk Assessment Report – 8 January 2021

COVID-19: Highlights and Situation Overview

• Worldwide, there have been over 88.3 million cases and more than 1.9 million deaths attributed to COVID-19.

• According to the Minister, Indonesia will impose two weeks of increased coronavirus restrictions in parts of its most populous

island of Java from January 11 to 25 and in the resort island of Bali to support hospitals and reduce fatality rates. Meanwhile,

Chief Economic Minister also said some of the measures include changes to opening hours for malls and limited capacity at

restaurants and places of worship. The announcement was made following the fact that the country has recorded its biggest

daily rise in COVID-19 infections with 8,854 on January 6 and 9,321 new cases on January 7, bringing the total number to

797,723.

• Malaysia reported a record 3,027 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday (January 7), the country’s biggest daily increase since the

start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only six of these were imported while the rest were local infections. About a third of the new

infections were reported in Johor, where health authorities recorded 1,103 new cases. This was followed by the Klang Valley

area, comprising Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, with a total of 1,022 cases. As of Thursday, Malaysia has reported a cumulative

total of 128,465 cases, of which 25,221 are classified as active or infectious.

• According to the according to Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration after going around 9 months without

a COVID-19 case, the Isaan province Buriram reported a local coronavirus infection. The new wave of infections has far

exceeded the first with now 5,048 active cases compared to April’s peak of 1,451. The Buriram patient worked delivering food

to people who frequented an illegal gambling den in Chon Buri which is a so-called “red zone” and under tight restrictions

due to the high number of COVID-19 infections. In addition, the nationwide Emergency Decree has been extended until

February 28. The decree gives the Thai government the ability to set policies and procedures to prevent the spread of COVID-

19 such as restricting travel and setting up road checkpoints. Government spokesperson said it is just an extension of the

decree that is currently in place that was initially set to end on January 15. The extension, adding on another 45 days, was

proposed by the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration and approved by a Cabinet committee on January 5.

• Japan's capital Tokyo began its first day under a coronavirus state of emergency on Friday (January 8) with much of life as

usual, including morning commuter trains shuttling crowds of mask-wearing people at bustling stations. The country’s Prime

Minister reiterated his request for restaurants to shorten business hours and for people to work from home. The emergency runs

through Feb 7. The declaration is asking restaurants and bars to close by 8PM while drinks will not be served after 7PM. It applies

to Tokyo and the three surrounding prefectures of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa.