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.
Vietnam records largest increase in new coronavirus infections
The Ministry of Health on Sunday night announced seven more SARS-CoV-2 infections, adding to the 12 announced earlier the same day.
Sunday's 19 new infections are the largest single-day rise in the country and bring the total to 113.
The seven announced in the evening, all Vietnamese nationals, were in Hà Nội. – Viet Nam News
Sudden explosion of Cambodians returning from Thailand before border closure, will affect fight against Coronavirus
Ly Sovann, director of the MoH’s Communicable Disease Control Department, has on Sunday called on citizens, who have just returned from abroad, to self-quarantine at home for 14 days and to contact a hotline if they have any suspicious symptoms.
The call came after thousands of Cambodian workers in Thailand flocked to their hometowns on Sunday, a day before Thailand closes its border checkpoints with the kingdom to stem the virus spread. – Khmer Times
6 weeks of MCO needed, says expert
Malaysia needs to have the Movement Control Order (MCO) for at least six consecutive weeks to bring down the Covid-19 infections to a manageable level.
Epidemiologist Datuk Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud said there was a likelihood of at least four more waves attributed to mass gatherings held recently. – The New Straits Times
China launches new facilities in West PH Sea just as world’s eyes fixed on COVID-19
While the world is turning topsy turvy over the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that started in China, it’s still business as usual for the Asian giant in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Two research stations were recently launched on two of China’s large man-made islands in the West Philippine Sea — Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) and Zamora (Subi) Reef, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported on March 20. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
Thai, Asian markets sink as pandemic deaths soar
The main Stock Exchange of Thailand index was down 6.24% at 11.06am as Asian markets were mostly in the red in early trade Monday despite massive economic stimulus efforts worldwide, with investors spooked by the relentless march of the coronavirus pandemic.
The negative mood was fuelled by the failure of US lawmakers to agree on a trillion-dollar emergency package to help the reeling American economy. – Bangkok Post