Health News Roundup: Indonesia reports record number of doctor deaths from COVID-19 in July; Thailand to halt local flights in COVID-risk areas and more

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

Indonesia reports record number of doctor deaths from COVID-19 in July

Deaths of doctors from COVID-19 in Indonesia rose sharply in the first half of July, according to the profession's association, as the Delta variant of the coronavirus fuelled a surge in infections across the country. A total of 114 doctors died during July 1-17, the highest number reported for any period of similar length and more than 20% of the 545 total doctor deaths from COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, officials from Indonesia's doctor's association (IDI) said during a virtual news conference.

Thailand to halt local flights in COVID-risk areas

Domestic flights to and from Bangkok and other provinces classified by the Thai government as high risk from COVID-19 will be suspended starting July 21, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said on Sunday. Exceptions are being made for medical flights, emergency landing aircraft, and flights in connection with the government's tourism reopening programs, the announcement said.

Olympics-First competitors in athletes' village infected with COVID-19

Tokyo Olympics organizers on Sunday reported the first COVID-19 cases among competitors residing in the athletes' village, as its population swells ahead of the start of the pandemic-hit Games next week. Two athletes from the same country and competing in the same sport staying in the village in the Harumi waterfront district tested positive for the virus, organizers said without providing further details.

Britain backs slew of 'long COVID' research studies

Britain is backing 15 new studies into the treatment and diagnosis of "long COVID", a condition that can include dozens of symptoms and last for months after an initial bout of infection with COVID-19. The projects, which will have nearly 20 million pounds ($27.54 million) of government funding, will focus on better understanding the condition, identifying effective treatments and the best ways to care for those suffering from it.

Australia, under lockdown, reports slight dip in COVID-19 cases

Australia's two largest states on Sunday reported slight declines in new COVID-19 infections, prompting authorities to say it could be days before tough lockdown measures showed progress in containing the spread of the Delta variant. The country's most populous city, Sydney, and all of Victoria state - totaling nearly half the 25 million national population - are under stay-home orders after a flare-up of the highly infectious virus strain began last month.

Russia reports 25,018 new COVID-19 cases, 764 deaths

Russia reported 25,018 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, including 4,357 in Moscow, taking the official national tally since the pandemic began to 5,958,133. The government coronavirus task force said 764 people had died of coronavirus-linked causes in the past 24 hours, pushing the national death toll to 148,419.

COVID response runs underground in junta-ruled Myanmar

For a week, 21-year-old student Phoe Thar has been out by dawn to gather oxygen cylinders from the homes of coronavirus sufferers in Myanmar's second city of Mandalay. He and fellow volunteers line the tanks up outside charities for filling and returning, trying to save lives in a country whose health system has largely collapsed since a Feb. 1 coup and which now faces its worst surge of COVID-19 infections.

Singapore reports 88 new local COVID-19 cases, the highest in 11 months

Singapore's health ministry reported 88 new locally transmitted coronavirus cases on Sunday, the highest daily toll since August last year, driven by growing clusters of infections linked to karaoke bars and a fishery port. The outbreak at karaoke or KTV lounges and bars had led the city-state to tighten some restrictions on social gatherings just a week after easing them.

Nigeria puts six states on COVID-19 red alert, curbs gatherings

Nigeria has put six states on red alert after seeing a "worrisome" rise in COVID-19 infections, a government official said, urging people to curb gatherings and hold prayers outside mosques during this week's Muslim festival Eid-el-Kabir. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, is like most parts of the continent now facing a COVID-19 third wave after detecting the more transmissible Delta variant.

India's daily COVID-19 infections rise by 41,157 - health ministry

India on Sunday reported 41,157 new coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 31.1 million, health ministry data showed. The number of deaths rose by 518, taking the total to 413,609, according to ministry data.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)