Note: A hyperlink is attached in each headlines for further reading of the original news.
Table of Contents:
1. United Kingdom News 2. Malaysia News
3. Global News
1. United Kingdom News
Date: 12th July 2020
Source: Yahoo! News
Monthly Visitors: 597,700,110
Summary:
COVID-19 has inflicted massive damage on immigrant communities in the UK.
The majority of deaths were found in those working in healthcare and social positions.
Qualified Zimbabwe nurses and doctors were long recruited to help UK's staff shortages.
However, the number of Zimbabweans working in health sector is small.
The House of Lords reported in January that 0.3% of Zimbabweans made up the total NHS workforce in England.
Over 10% deaths of frontline Zimbabwean workers were recorded.
There is a perception that Zimbabweans and other BAME health workers are treated less favourably than White staff members in the UK.
Less than 43% of BAME respondents said they had enough eye and face protection.
66% of White staff said they fell properly equipped with protection gear.
Headline: Coronavirus news: UK could be locked out of EU vaccine scheme, as Johnson refuses to apologise for care home comments Date: 9th July 2020 Source: The Independent Monthly Visitors: 21,398,100
Summary:
If the UK refuses to pay the increased EU budget contributions in 2020, then it will not join the EU coronavirus vaccine programme.
Boris Johnson refused to apologise for alleging that care home "didn't really follow the procedures" during the pandemic at the PMQs.
Wales' first minister, Mark Drakeford, warned wearing a face mask was is not fully bulletproof against COVID-19.
2. Malaysia News
Date: 11th July 2020
Source: The Star
Monthly Visitors: 2,966,910
Summary:
The article lists a number of activities classifying them into: High risk, Medium-High risk, Medium risk, Medium-Low risk, and Low risk activities.
The article is aimed at helping the public navigate their activities during the pandemic.
High risk activities: contact sports, attending concerts, sports events, going to bar, using public transport and air travel, religious activities (more than 500 worshippers).
Medium-High risk activities: gym, indoor restaurant dining and hair solon.
Medium risk activities: shopping, outdoor restaurant dining, visiting museum, taxi ride.
Medium-Low risk activities: "distanced" outdoor sports (tennis & golf), grocery shopping.
Low risk activities: Takeaway food, running, and walking outdoors, pumping petrol.
Date: 11th July 2020
Source: Soya Cincau
Monthly Visitors: 339,630
Summary:
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba assured the government is ensuring imported cases will continue to decrease.
He commented that most new cases in Malaysia were imported cases.
He also assured that border control measures are taken at KLIA, Sabah and Sarawak entrances.
Reopening Malaysian borders will be the final act implemented by the government in its strategy against COVID-19.
Date: 10th July 2020
Source: The Sun Daily
Monthly Visitors: 186,690
Summary:
Key Alliance Sdn Bhd (KASB) is now a licensed authorised representative, distributor and importer of in vitro diagnostics medical devices in Malaysia.
KASB obtained the license from the Medical Device Authority (MDA).
KASB is focusing on establishing and mobilising an immediate distribution network to supply its Wells Bio Care Gene COVID-19 RT-PCR test kit (The Test Kit).
As of 10th July, Malaysia experienced 8,683 confirmed cases.
The total test implemented in Malaysia is at 830,000/25,000 tests per million people.
The above point shows the obvious shortage of PCR test kits.
Key Alliance also appointed Seremban Premier Pharmacy Sdn Bhd & Custom Medz Sdn Bhd as its initial distributors for The Test Kit.
Headline: Envoy: Malaysia still a UK favourite
Date: 10th July 2020
Source: New Straits Times
Monthly Visitors: 1,289,550
Summary:
British High Commissioner, Charles Hay, stated Malaysia is the UK's 2nd largest partner in ASEAN.
Malaysia is the largest supplier of medical gloves and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Smith + Nephew (medical technology firm) announced last November it will establish an artificial orthopaedic (knee & hip) manufacturing facility.
The facility will be established in Batu Kawan, Penang.
Date: 10th July 2020
Source: The Star
Monthly Visitors: 2,966,910
Summary:
The COVID-19 Low-Risk Patient Quarantine & Treatment Centre (The Centre) at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serving (MAEPS) will officially close down on 15th July.
The Centre witnessed its last patient discharge on Friday (10th July).
The Centre was a collaboration between various agencies such as: - Natural Disaster Management Agency; - Malaysian Armed Forces; - Fire & Rescue Department; - Malaysian Civil Defence Force; - Works Department; - Welfare Department; - Immigration Department; - Malaysia Volunteer Corps (Rela); - Prisons Department; - Malaysia Genome Institute; and - MAEPS
By 10th July, MAEPS successfully treated 1,362 patients.
86% of patients comprising non-Malaysians and 14% Malaysians.
The Centre has a capacity for 600 patients.
It offers clinical services, wards for COVID-19 patients, resuscitation rooms, ambulances, pharmacy, X-ray, and pathology laboratory services.
Lastly, The Centre also treated undocumented migrants for COVID-19.
3. Global News
Date: 8th July 2020
Source: Rojak Daily
Monthly Visitors: 152,550
Summary:
In May, Donald Trump announced the USA will exit the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The country submitted a one-year notice where they will leave the organisation effective 6th July 2021.
However, the USA's departure from the WHO will not succeed if Trump loses the election in November.
The USA has been the largest contributor to WHO's funds for a long time.
If the USA leaves the WHO, there will be a shortage of funds to continue the work at WHO.
Between 2018 - 2019, the USA funded WHO an amount of USD 893 million.
Out of the UUSD 893 million, only USD 237 million was for membership dues, and the remaining sum was given out of freewill to WHO.
WHO's work will be impacted by reduced funds.