These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world.
Coronavirus: China's death toll rises to more than 1,700 as Hubei reports 100 new deaths
The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in mainland China reached 1,770, up by 105 from the previous day, the country’s National Health Commission said on Monday.
The number of new deaths in China’s central Hubei province from the coronavirus outbreak rose by 100 as of Sunday.
Henan province, which neighbours Hubei, saw three deaths on Sunday, with the remaining two in south-east China’s Guangdong, which is next to Hong Kong. – The Straits Times
ASEAN Chairman issues statement on response to COVID-19
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, as Chairman of ASEAN in 2020, issued a statement on ASEAN’s joint response to the outbreak of the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The statement expressed concerns raised by ASEAN leaders about the complicated development of the epidemic, which has seriously impacted people’s lives and the development of ASEAN countries as well as the region and the world as a whole. – Viet Nam News
The rescue of ‘Westerdam’ crew and passengers recalls 1970s
The excessive fear around Novel Coronavirus has turned a glamorous vista class Westerdam into a pariah vessel sailing aimlessly between ports searching for entry. She was denied permission to enter Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan, the US overseas territory of Guam, Japan and Thailand despite having no confirmed cases of infection since departure at the time. However, an 83-year-old female passenger who flew on to Malaysia was diagnosed with the disease upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur, imposing quarantine strictures on other passengers.
The brave action of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to allow the Westerdam with its 2,257 passengers and crew to dock at Sihanoukville has won commendation across the world, including the Western diplomatic community in Phnom Penh who have mostly been critical of Cambodia’s handling of domestic issues. – Khmer Times
Malaysia stands by its health protocol
The government stands by its "world-class" health protocol that confirmed an American passenger of a cruise ship docked in Cambodia having tested positive for COVID-19 when she arrived in Malaysia.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said tests conducted twice on the 83-year-old woman, who is now being treated at an isolation ward at the Sungai Buloh Hospital came back positive for the virus. – The New Straits Times
5G auction raises 100 billion baht
Around 100 billion baht was raised in the 5G multiband licence auction on Sunday with leading mobile operator Advanced Info Service (AIS), through its subsidiary Advanced Wireless Network (AWN), grabbing almost half the 49 licences of three spectra put up for auction.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) auctioned off 700-megahertz, 2600MHz and 26-gigahertz ranges in that order from 9.30am. – Bangkok Post