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Ministry’s statistics show decrease despite claims of under-reported positive results

Fadley Faisal

The Ministry of Health’s statistics reveal consistency in the decrease in detected COVID-19 cases in the country, implying a real effect and not due to positive results being hidden.

Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar confirmed this in response to a query regarding claims of positive test results not being reported.

“We need to be optimistic and trust the community. In any case, there is a real consistency in the statistics showing the decrease of positive results from ART and RT-PCR,” the minister said.

He added that there might be a few instances where people do not report their positive results and urged the public to report such cases to the police with evidence.

The media also sought for an update on the children’s vaccine. “The children’s vaccine has arrived and we will hold an exclusive press conference for it,” the minister said.

“We will explain the situation surrounding COVID-19 infections among children and the need for the vaccine, to properly inform the public,” the minister said.

Iran says Kuwait-Saudi deal to develop gas field ‘illegal’

TEHRAN (AFP) – Iran yesterday branded “illegal” a deal reached between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to develop a disputed gas field in the Gulf, insisting on its right to also exploit it.

The energy ministers of the Gulf Arab states signed an agreement on Monday to develop the Arash/Dorra gas field, according to an official Kuwaiti statement.

The move comes with energy prices soaring on world markets in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the agreement as “illegal” yesterday, saying it was “contrary to current procedures and previously held negotiations”.

“Iran reserves its right to exploit the Arash/Dorra gas field,” the ministry’s spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement.

“Any action for the operation and development of this field must be done in coordination with and cooperation of all the three countries.”

The dispute dates back to the 60s, when Iran and Kuwait each awarded an offshore concession, one to the former Anglo-Iranian Petroleum Co, which became part of BP, and one to Royal Dutch Shell.

The two concessions overlapped in the northern part of the field, whose recoverable reserves are estimated at some 220 billion cubic metres. Iran and Kuwait have held unsuccessful talks for many years over their disputed maritime border area, which is rich in natural gas.

The Kuwaiti statement said the field was expected to produce one billion cubic feet of natural gas per day with 84,000 barrels of condensate daily.

Khatibzadeh said Iran was “ready” to discuss with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia “how to exploit the joint field” whose largest part, which is not demarcated, is located on the Saudi-Kuwaiti common maritime border.

Iranian drilling of the field in 2001 spurred Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to agree on a maritime border deal which stipulated that they jointly develop the natural resources of the offshore zone.

No significant COVID-19 uptick, says Philippines health official

PHILIPPINES DAILY INQUIRER/ANN – There is no significant uptick in COVID-19 cases in any part of the country, Philippines Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire assured.

However, Vergeire said there are areas where there is a slight increase in its COVID-19 one-week growth rate.

“We currently observe some areas where there is an increase in their one-week growth rate.

“But when we look into the increase, it is just small but it affects their population,” she said on TeleRadyo’s Kabayan.

“We do not see any significant uptick in the number of cases in different parts of the country.

We are closely monitoring the situation and we will inform the public if we observe a significant rise,” she added.

According to Vergeire, COVID-19 infections continue to drop daily with an average of 490 cases nationwide, 150 of which are in Metro Manila. Currently, Metro Manila and 47 other areas are under the most relaxed COVID-19 Alert Level 1 until the end of March.

Salah sets up win for Egypt over Senegal

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Prolific Liverpool scorer Mohamed Salah was the architect of the only goal as Egypt edged Senegal 1-0 in Cairo early yesterday in a high-profile World Cup play-off first leg.

Salah turned inside the box and slammed the ball against the crossbar with the rebound hitting Senegal defender Saliou Ciss and rolling into the net for an own-goal.

The eagerly awaited clash was a repeat of the Africa Cup of Nations final last month, which Senegal won 4-2 on penalties in Cameroon after 120 goalless minutes.

Sadio Mane, a Liverpool teammate of Salah and scorer of the winning penalty in the African title decider, was closely guarded by Egypt.

He did have a chance soon after half-time off a Bouna Sarr cross, but a close-range header flew just wide of the post.

The Cairo clash was one of three first legs decided by a solitary goal with Algeria winning 1-0 against Cameroon in Douala and Tunisia achieving a similar result against Mali in Bamako.

Ghana and Nigeria played a 0-0 draw in Kumasi and Morocco came from behind to hold the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-1 in Kinshasa.

The five second legs are scheduled for Tuesday and the aggregate winners will represent Africa at the World Cup in Qatar from November 21.

Sunday, March 27, 2022

His Majesty to attend world summit

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam will attend the World Government Summit 2022 at the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.  More details in Sunday’s Borneo Bulletin.

Movement restriction measure ends April 1

The movement restriction directive requiring the public to stay home from midnight to 4am under Operasi Peralihan, will be dissolved on April 1, six months after measures were rolled out to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Sultanate. “The announcement is made with the consent of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam,” Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong said at the press conference yesterday, adding that the “Early Endemic Phase under the National COVID-19 Recovery Framework will be extended until April 15.” More details in Sunday’s Borneo Bulletin.

COVID pills reach Brunei shores

Three thousand packs of Paxlovid to treat COVID-19 patients arrived in Brunei Darussalam from London, United Kingdom yesterday. The arrival was the first shipment of the expected 25,000 Paxlovid packs procured by the Ministry of Health (MoH) from Pfizer. More details in Sunday’s Borneo Bulletin.

Road traffic offender’s conviction, sentence quashed

An offender who had paid compound fines was freed from road traffic proceedings following the High Court’s recent revision of the Magistrate’s Court case. More details in Sunday’s Borneo Bulletin

Two isolation centres to close amid decreasing number of cases

With the current COVID-19 situation under control and the number of patients receiving treatment at isolation centres continuing to decrease, the Ministry of Health will close two isolation centres while the others will remain on standby. More details in Sunday’s Borneo Bulletin.

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Borneo Bulletin is the leading English daily in the country. It was first published by Brunei Press. Today, Borneo Bulletin has become the foremost source of information on local and foreign affairs, and the region’s business news.

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