As of the 12th of September 2021, three thousand 835 cases were reported since the second wave began on 6th of August 2021, where three 1,791 or 98.9% were local transmission cases with 44 imported cases. The analysis were obtained by the Ministry of Health after conducting continuous monitoring of primary cases of infection in the country.

27 point 9 per cent of the cases were children and adolescents aged 19 years and below. The National Vaccination Programme is currently reviewing and considering the proposal to administer the COVID-19 vaccine injections to children, which if implemented, the Ministry of Health will acquire the appropriate vaccines.

Also shown was a graph showing the epidemic curve for the second wave, based on the dates the cases underwent swab tests. The graph shows that, although the second wave did not show a decrease, it was however stable and did not show an increase. The graph also shows the 'doubling time' whereby the period for the number of cases to double is 20.1 days, compared to 3 to 4 days when the second wave first occurred.

These findings are in line with the other graph which shows the reproduction number for the second wave, where the basic reproduction number (R-naught) which is the reproduction number when the second wave first occurred is at level 5. This means at that time; one positive case has caused 5 new cases. Currently, the effective reproduction number which is R(t) that is the reproduction number at this time is around level 1 which means that one positive case has caused 1 new case. The R(t) at level 1 also indicates a stable state of infection.

So far, most cases in the second wave were unvaccinated. Only 8.4% have completed their COVID-19 vaccination injection. Those who have received their COVID-19 vaccine can still be infected with SARS-Co-V-2 virus, although they usually experience mild signs of infection or no signs of infection at all.

Source: Radio Television Brunei