1 of 7

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

External Situation Report #66

18 August 2021 Period of Report: 11 August 2021 to 17 August 2021, as of 18 August 2021, 10:00 (GMT+8)

-

Overall strategy The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific (the Regional Office)

encourages countries to improve detection of COVID-19 transmission, to respond to detection with quick and

targeted measures, and to focus efforts on preventing transmission among the vulnerable.

Key highlights

● New cases of COVID-19 were reported in 18 Western Pacific Region (WPR) countries or areas within the

past seven days (Australia 3 085, Brunei Darussalam 412, Cambodia 3 699, China 522, Fiji 3 331, French

Polynesia 7 728, Guam 277, Japan 124 685, Republic of Korea 12 451, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

(PDR) 1 772, Malaysia 144 503, Mongolia 7 957, New Zealand 30, Northern Mariana Islands 10, Papua

New Guinea 37, Philippines 89 391, Singapore 391 and Viet Nam 60 364).

● Six countries or areas in the WPR that had reported cases in the past have reported no new cases within

the past seven days (New Caledonia (18 days), Marshall Islands (273 days), Samoa (184 days), Solomon

Islands (130 days), Vanuatu (163 days) and Wallis and Futuna (103 days)).

● Eleven Pacific island countries and areas have not reported a case to date (American Samoa, Cook Islands,

Kiribati, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Niue, Palau, Pitcairn Islands, Tokelau, Tonga and

Tuvalu).

Epi update COVID-19

Member States

18 countries or areas reporting cases

in the past 7 days

17 countries or areas reporting ZERO

cases for more than 7 days

Cases

460 645 past 7 days

5 526 602 cumulative cases

Deaths

5 984 past 7 days

77 951 cumulative deaths

Deployments COVID-19 response

365 total

deployments

294 deployments

completed

28 actively supporting

country offices

12 actively supporting

regional office

31 currently supporting

remotely

Supplies and logistics for health care workers shipped to 38 destinations in the Western Pacific Region (as of 18 August 2021)

12 270 500 surgical masks

2 981 329

particulate respirators

736 910

medical gowns

313 610 goggles

1 075 012

face shields

3 499 100 pairs of gloves

24 294

alcohol-based hand rub (100mL)

682 312 laboratory tests

426 660

point of care tests

1 741 590

swab kits

309 ICU ventilators

1 969

Oxygen concentrators

15 645

pulse oximeters

2 of 7

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

External Situation Report #66

18 August 2021 Period of Report: 11 August 2021 to 17 August 2021, as of 18 August 2021, 10:00 (GMT+8)

Weekly situation updates

● In the WPR, 24 countries and areas have reported COVID-19 cases since December 2019. Between 11

August to 17 August 2021, a total of 460 645 cases with 5 984 deaths were reported, for a cumulative 5

526 602 cases with 77 951 deaths (proportion of fatal cases (PFC) 1.4%) as of 18 August 2021, 17:00

(GMT+8). Available data indicate that countries or areas in the WPR have identified imported cases1 or

localized community transmission, while subnational areas in some WPR countries and areas have

identified large-scale community transmission. Figure 1 shows the geographical distribution of cases

reported in the last seven days.

o Countries and areas with large-scale community transmission:

▪ Fiji (Central Division, Western Division), French Polynesia, Guam, Japan (Chiba,

Fukuoka, Hyogo, Kanagawa, Kyoto, Okinawa, Osaka, Saitama, Tokyo), Malaysia

(Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak,

Putrajaya, Sabah, Selangor), Mongolia (Arkhangai, Bayan-Ulgii, Bulgan, Darkhan-Uul,

Dundogobi, Gobi-Altai, Khentii, Khovd, Orkhon, Selenge, Tuv, Ulaanbaatar, Uvs,

Uvurkhangai, Zavkhan), Papua New Guinea (Madang, Morobe, National Capital

District, Western Province), and Philippines (National Capital Region, Region 3,

Region 4-A).

o Countries and areas with localized community transmission:

▪ Japan (rest of 38 prefectures), The Republic of Korea, Malaysia (Terengganu, Pahang,

Perlis, Sarawak), Lao PDR (Champasak, Savannakhet, Vientiane Capital), Mongolia

(Bayankhongor, Dornod, Gobisumber, Khuvsgul, Sukhbaatar), Philippines (rest of 14

regions), and Viet Nam (Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Ba ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Can Tho

a, Da Nang, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa, Long An, Phu

Yen, Tay Ninh, Tien Giang, Vinh Long).

Globally, 207 784 507 COVID-19 cases with 4 370 424 deaths have been reported in 223 countries or areas

(2.1% PFC) as of 17 August 2021 18:30 CEST. Recent daily new cases in the African Region, Region of the

Americas, and the Eastern Mediterranean Region appear to be increasing and remain high, however the trend

of daily new cases of European Region and the South-East Asia Region appears to have plateaued.

1 0-No cases—no cases detected and no clear signals of transmission for at least 28 days (or two incubation periods); 1-Imported cases—cases reported in the past 28 days are imported or linked to importation within 3 generations, and there are no clear signals of local transmission; 2-Localized community transmission—cases reported in the past 28 days are localized and cannot be linked to importations, though most are linked to a cluster, and there are no clear signals of large-scale community transmission; 3-Large-scale community transmission—most cases reported in the past 28 days have no known link to a cluster and are spread across the area, and there are clear signals of increasing transmission and severe outcomes.

3 of 7

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

External Situation Report #66

18 August 2021 Period of Report: 11 August 2021 to 17 August 2021, as of 18 August 2021, 10:00 (GMT+8)

Figure 1. Countries or areas with reported confirmed cases of COVID-19, covering the period from 11 August to 17 August 2021, as of 18 August 2021 10:00 (GMT+8)

Figure 2. Epidemic curve of confirmed COVID-19 cases in countries or areas with highest number of cases, as of 18 August 2021 10:00 (GMT+8)

4 of 7

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

External Situation Report #66

18 August 2021 Period of Report: 11 August 2021 to 17 August 2021, as of 18 August 2021, 10:00 (GMT+8)

Figure 3. Epidemic curve of confirmed COVID-19 cases in countries or areas with small number of cases, as of 18 August 2021 10:00 (GMT+8)

Table 1. Countries or areas with reported laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths, covering the

period from 11 August to 17 August 2021, as of 18 August 2021 10:00 (GMT+8) (n = 5 526 602)

Country or area New cases

(cumulative) New deaths (cumulative)

Change in 7-day average

Days since last reported case

American Samoa 0 (0) 0 (0) - -

Australia 3 085 (40 089) 26 (967) 130.29 0

Brunei Darussalam 412 (852) 0 (3) 44.43 0

Cambodia 3 699 (86 597) 116 (1 718) -21.14 0

China 522 (122 482) 7 (5 669) -53.00 0

Cook Islands 0 (0) 0 (0) - -

Fiji 3 331 (41 177) 78 (405) -254.57 0

French Polynesia 7 728 (32 705) 48 (224) 515.71 0

Guam 277 (8 750) 1 (144) 18.00 0

Japan 124 685 (1 179 176) 156 (15 467) 3 800.14 0

Kiribati 0 (0) 0 (0) - -

Korea, Republic of 12 451 (228 656) 43 (2 178) 24.57 0

Lao PDR 1 772 (10 648) 1 (9) -12.71 0

Malaysia 144 503 (1 444 270) 1 915 (13 077) 1 146.71 0

Marshall Islands 0 (4) 0 (0) 0.00 273

Micronesia (Federated States of) 0 (0) 0 (0) - -

Mongolia 7 957 (184 950) 21 (884) -51.86 0

Nauru 0 (0) 0 (0) - -

New Caledonia 0 (134) 0 (0) 0.00 18

New Zealand 30 (2 578) 0 (26) 0.86 0

Niue 0 (0) 0 (0) - -

5 of 7

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

External Situation Report #66

18 August 2021 Period of Report: 11 August 2021 to 17 August 2021, as of 18 August 2021, 10:00 (GMT+8)

Country or area New cases

(cumulative) New deaths (cumulative)

Change in 7-day average

Days since last reported case

Northern Mariana Islands 10 (220) 0 (2) -0.29 0

Palau 0 (0) 0 (0) - -

Papua New Guinea 37 (17 844) 0 (192) 1.43 0

Philippines 89 391 (1 765 410) 1 242 (30 462) 3 693.43 0

Pitcairn Islands 0 (0) 0 (0) - -

Samoa 0 (1) 0 (0) 0.00 184

Singapore 391 (66 281) 3 (45) -26.29 0

Solomon Islands 0 (20) 0 (0) 0.00 130

Tokelau 0 (0) 0 (0) - -

Tonga 0 (0) 0 (0) - -

Tuvalu 0 (0) 0 (0) - -

Vanuatu 0 (3) 0 (0) 0.00 163

Viet Nam 60 364 (293 301) 2 327 (6 472) 269.71 0

Wallis and Futuna 0 (454) 0 (7) 0.00 103

Total 460 645 (5 526 602) 5 984 (77 951) 9 225.43 0

Data continues to be collected and may change according to Member States’ daily reports.

Table 2. Countries or areas in the Western Pacific Region that have reported variants of concern, as of 18 August 2021 10:00 (GMT+8)

Country or area

Variant detected

B.1.1.7 (Alpha)

B.1.351 (Beta)

P.1 (Gamma)

B.1.617.2 (Delta)

Australia X X X X

Brunei Darussalam X X

Cambodia X X X

China X X X X

Fiji X

French Polynesia X X X X

Guam X X X X

Japan X X X X

Lao PDR X X

Malaysia X X X

Mongolia X X

New Caledonia X

New Zealand X X X X

Papua New Guinea X

Philippines X X X X

Republic of Korea X X X X

Singapore X X X X

Viet Nam X X X

Wallis and Futuna X

6 of 7

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

External Situation Report #66

18 August 2021 Period of Report: 11 August 2021 to 17 August 2021, as of 18 August 2021, 10:00 (GMT+8)

New Guidance

● On 9 August 2021, WHO Headquarters published an interim guidance for surveillance of SARS-CoV-2

variants. This document aims to describe a minimum set of surveillance activities recommended at the

national level to detect and monitor the relative prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants. It also outlines a set

of activities for the characterization and assessment of risk posed by these variants. A set of indicators

is also provided to standardize monitoring and public reporting of variant circulation. It complements

the interim guidance on Public health surveillance for COVID-19.

New communications materials

Staying at home as much as possible is the right

thing to do now. Limiting gatherings with

people outside your household can reduce the

spread of #COVID19 and its variants, including

the Delta variant.

Protect yourself and others. Stay home when

possible.

View the Facebook post.

7 of 7

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

External Situation Report #66

18 August 2021 Period of Report: 11 August 2021 to 17 August 2021, as of 18 August 2021, 10:00 (GMT+8)

Helping others in their time of need is good for

both the person receiving and the person giving

support.

Research shows that when you lend a hand to

others, you also experience improved health and

happiness.

#MentalHealth

#InThisTogether

View the Facebook post.

Key information and announcements

Information and planning

● The Regional Office continues to monitor COVID-19 incidence and transmission levels within countries

and areas across the Region. Updated information is available on the WPRO dashboard.

Strategic communication

● WHO Country Office in Cambodia has published a news release about COVID-19 vaccines not being a

“silver bullet” and urging people to continue practising other protective measures. It provides important

messaging that we continue to race against new variants especially the Delta variant. Read the news

release.

● A virtual press conference will be held at 10:00 am Manila time on Wednesday 25 August 2021, where

the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Takeshi Kasai, will provide an update on COVID-

19 in the Region. He will be joined by WHO Regional Emergency Director Dr Babatunde Olowokure,

Director of Programmes for Disease Control Dr Huong Tran, and Coordinator for Essential Medicines and

Health Technologies Dr Socorro Escalante. It will be posted on YouTube.

● WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific is hosting its first Health Futures Forum: Shaping the Future

of Health, from 24 to 26 August 2021. This virtual forum will focus on how our health systems can

emerge from COVID-19 fit for future challengers. This is for Member States, partners, stakeholders and

anyone interested in futures thinking. For more information including how to sign up, visit the Health

Futures Forum website.