BEIJING, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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BANGKOK -- Thailand's top virologist on Monday warned that the COVID-19 mutated G strain, found amongst Thai returnees from abroad, is highly contagious.

The mutated G strain which is prevalent in the United States and Europe, is more contagious than the S strain, said Dr. Yong Poovorawan, medical professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University. "Thailand identified the S strain when COVID-19 pandemic first started in the country, however the doctors have now discovered a more dangerous strain amongst Thai returnees. They are the mutated G strain which still is prevalent in the United States and Europe."

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AKARTA -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Monday that the country would most likely commence producing COVID-19 vaccine at the beginning of next year in cooperation with Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

President Jokowi, the popular name of the president, said about 170 million doses of vaccine will be produced next year, although it was short of the country's need of 347 million doses.

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TOKYO -- Japan will start a subsidy campaign to boost domestic tourism stricken by the COVID-19 pandemic, local media reported on Monday.

The Go To Travel Campaign will begin on July 22 though concerns remain over a resurgence of infections.

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CANBERRA -- The Australian Government has deployed more defence force personnel to Victoria to assist the state's response to the COVID-19 outbreaks.

Greg Hunt, the minister for health, told reporters on Monday that an additional 1,000 Australian Defence Force (ADF) members would be sent to Victoria to "serve in a variety of roles," a significant increase from the 350 previously deployed to the state.

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BEIJING -- Beijing on Monday lowered its COVID-19 risk level of more areas as the Chinese capital city was cleared of high-risk areas for the disease, according to local authorities.

The Huaxiang township, the only high-risk area in the city, had been adjusted to a medium-risk area after less than 10 local confirmed cases had been reported for 14 consecutive days, said Liu Xiaofeng, deputy director of the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, at a press conference on Monday.

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ABIDJAN -- Two senior officials of Cote d'Ivoire have tested positive for COVID-19.

President of Cote d'Ivoire's Senate Jeannot-Ahoussou Kouadio was diagnosed with COVID-19 after medical examinations in Germany where he continues his treatment, according to a press release from the Senate.

Another press release from the Ministry of the City revealed that Minister Francois Amichia contracted the virus.

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BEIJING -- Two WHO experts have arrived in China for cooperation on researching the origin of the COVID-19 virus, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Monday.

After consultation between the two sides, the Chinese government had agreed that the World Health Organization would send experts to Beijing to exchange ideas with Chinese counterparts on science-based cooperation in novel coronavirus origin-tracing, Hua told a press briefing.

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KUWAIT CITY -- Kuwait on Monday reported 614 new COVID-19 cases and three more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 55,508 and the death toll to 393, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Currently, 9,759 patients are receiving treatment, including 148 in ICU, the statement added.

The ministry also announced the recovery of 746 more patients, raising the total recoveries in the country to 45,356.

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DAMASCUS -- Three Syrians died on Monday from the COVID-19 infection, raising the death toll to 19, the state news agency SANA reported.

Meanwhile, the health ministry reported 23 new coronavirus cases in the government-controlled areas, bringing the overall number of infections to 417, including 136 recoveries.

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KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia reported seven new COVID-19 infections, the Health Ministry said on Monday, bringing the national total to 8,725.

Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a statement that six of the new infections are imported and the other one is a local transmission. Enditem

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