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: Efforts to rehouse foreign workers stepped up
Private property and parts of the Turf Club are among the new designated areas where foreign workers can be housed amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said yesterday that the former Chancery Court in Dunearn Road has been refurbished to house healthy foreign workers in essential services. Up to 1,200 workers can stay at Chancery Court, and some have already moved in. Property developer Far East Organization, which bought the site in 2018, had offered it to help contain the coronavirus outbreak. SLA said: "This move to ramp up facilities is part of a multi-agency effort to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. "All necessary measures are put in place, with on-site amenities and meals provided for the well-being of the occupants. The foreign workers will be provided transport to work by their employers and they will also be observing the circuit breaker measures." Chancery Court was previously reported to have 136 apartments and eight commercial units. – The Straits Times
Returning students, quarantine flouters among new Sabah Covid-19 cases
Returning students and individuals who flouted home quarantine rules are among 10 new Covid-19 cases confirmed by the state Health Department (JKNS) yesterday, bringing the tally of infections in Sabah to 327. The latest infections were detected based on seven samples taken at Kota Kinabalu and Tawau international entry points, and three samples taken at Sandakan airport. JKNS director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi said all the new infections are imported cases and were recorded in Keningau (2), Lahad Datu (4), Semporna (3), and Tawau (1). "Based on preliminary investigations, all cases were given Annex 14 Forms to undergo home quarantine, but a majority defied the order. "The (new) infections are two students, a child, and those working in the Peninsula. The department is currently conducting investigations on close contacts," she said in a statement. – New Straits Times
Deaf community hit by pandemic
The new coronavirus pandemic is continuing to wreak havoc on people from all walks of life. But perhaps no one has been hit harder in the Thai capital than a group of deaf people living underneath a section of the Rama IX expressway. While not every member of the 112-strong community is deaf, a large number, 43, are. Before the onset of Covid-19, several of them regularly toiled away at the nearby RCA night entertainment venue, either at restaurants or by selling flowers and other wares to nightclub patrons. Others simply collected bottles and other recyclables, which they later turned in for money. But after the pandemic hit, the venue was shuttered, leaving the members of this community without a way to make ends meet. They currently live three to four in 20-square-metre rooms, primarily fashioned from sheets of plywood. All of the deaf residents share bathrooms and toilets. Their common area is a path between rows of conjoined rooms. – Bangkok Post
Greater Surabaya extends social restrictions until May 25
East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has decided to extend the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in Greater Surabaya for another 14-day period up until May 25, vowing to enforce restriction rules in a repressive approach if necessary. Greater Surabaya consists of Surabaya and its satellite regencies, namely Sidoarjo and Gresik. "People's obedience and discipline toward the PSBB rules are the main key factor to the success of PSBB in curbing the COVID-19 spread," she told reporters on Saturday after meeting with Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini, Sidoarjo acting regent Nur Ahmad Saifuddin, and Gresik deputy regent Mohammad Qosim who together agreed to the extension. Khofifah said her administration would impose strict punishments on those violating health protocols during the pandemic, including wearing face masks and social distancing. – The Jakarta Post
Duterte says relaxing lockdown rules doesn’t mean virus threat gone
While he did not announce his decision about community quarantines in areas across the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte said easing lockdown restrictions doesn’t mean that the COVID-19 threat in the country is gone. In a taped message aired Tuesday morning, Duterte appealed to the people to continue to wear face masks when going out of their homes and observe social distancing rules even as the government relaxes some movement restriction in their localities. “Ganito ha for those who would be allowed to go out and work and for those na hindi pa talaga puwede [that are not yet allowed], remember na itong ‘pag…the easing up of the restrictions hindi iyan sabihin na wala na ang COVID [this does not mean COVID is gone],” Duterte said. Because we cannot afford… we cannot afford a second or third wave na mangyari,” he added. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
State-owned enterprises forecast revenue down due to virus
19 State-owned groups and corporations under the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC) expect to incur losses of some VNĐ26 trillion (US$1.1 billion) this year due to the coronavirus crisis. Their revenues for the whole year were forecast to slump by VNĐ280 trillion compared to the initial target, while their State budget contributions were likely to drop VNĐ33 trillion, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI). In the first quarter of this year, the total revenue of the 19 State groups and corporations fell an estimated VNĐ27 trillion compared to the same period last year. FDI enterprises were also heavily affected, mainly due to a sharp decline in consumption markets, according to the MPI. – Viet Nam News
FDA warns against buying unregistered flu vaccines online in Myanmar
The Myanmar Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the Fluarix Tetra 2020 Influenza vaccines being sold online are illegally imported drugs and warned the public not to buy or sell them. "These flu vaccines are being sold online. They have not been registered at the FDA. They came in the market illegally and as such, can be fake vaccines. Flu vaccines cannot be safe if they are not registered at FDA," Dr Khin Chit, Deputy Director General of the FDA, told The Myanmar Times. "The vaccines need to be stored in a temperature-controlled environment to be effective,” she added. The Ministry of Health and Sports was informed of the Fluarix Tetra 2020 Influenza vaccines being illegally sold online by the Central Myanmar Medical Association (MMA). Officials from the association have also delivered the information to State and Regional MMAs across Myanmar and other related medical associations under MMA. – Myanmar Times