BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Brunei confirmed the presence of the COVID-19 Delta variant in the country on Thursday after sending 20 samples overseas for genetic testing.
"The results from the laboratory testing have shown that all of the 20 samples that were sent are of the Delta variant," Brunei's health ministry said in a press statement.
"The Delta variant is known to be two to three times more infectious than other variants. However, the prevention and control measures of any COVID-19 variant remain the same," said the ministry.
Before the detection of seven local cases on Aug. 7, Brunei had kept a record of 457 days without community infections. Facing a new wave of outbreak and an increasingly difficult pandemic situation, the country has introduced the strictest control measures ever within two days.
Besides closing religious places, schools switching to online learning, no dine-in for restaurants, and closing indoor and outdoor sports facilities, leisure centers and cinemas, Brunei also banned most of the mass gatherings, requiring all non-essential sector workers to do work-from-home and barring all residents from leaving their houses unless with important matters.
Brunei also reported two more COVID-19 related deaths and 106 new cases on Thursday, bringing the national tally to 10 deaths and 2,265 confirmed cases.
All the new cases were local infections. While the source of infection of 47 local cases is still under investigation, there are a total of 40 active clusters already confirmed and two new clusters reported on Thursday.
It also marked the eighth consecutive day that daily cases exceeded 100.
There are currently 1,678 active cases being treated and monitored at the National Isolation Center, with five of them in critical condition requiring respiratory assistance and 30 other patients under close monitoring.
Brunei also reported 41 recoveries on Thursday. There have been a total of 578 recovered patients reported so far in the country. Enditem
