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: Maids should still stay home on rest days, not meet up with friends from June 2, says MOM
Foreign domestic workers should still stay home on their rest days after the circuit breaker is expected to end on June 1, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Thursday (May 21). They should also not meet up with friends or gather in public spaces during Phase One of Singapore's reopening of the economy, much like the rest of the community. Detailing arrangements for maids during the Phase One period, which is expected to last at least a month from June 2, MOM said in a note to employers that domestic helpers can still go out to run essential errands and buy meals. However, they must return home immediately after that. If a maid still wishes to go out for a limited time on her rest day, she should arrange with her employer to do so only on a weekday, wear a mask, follow all safe distancing measures, and activate the TraceTogether app to facilitate contact tracing. – The Straits Times
Child returnee is latest Covid-19 case in Sabah
A child who was travelling back to Sabah with family members became the latest Covid-19 case in the state. Sabah Health Department (JKNS) director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi said the case was detected from samples taken at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport here upon arrival from Kuala Lumpur. "The case was quarantined at a centre when they arrived in Kota Kinabalu. "On May 20, the patient has been admitted to the Likas Women and Children's hospital for further treatment," she said in a statement. To date, Sabah has a cumulative 338 cases with 30 people still receiving treatment. As for the "Jom Balik" programme for students of higher learning institutes which resumed yesterday, Dr Christina extended her gratitude to relevant ministries for helping to prevent the spread of the infection. Among efforts taken include to ensure all students undergo Covid-19 sampling tests before being allowed to return. – New Straits Times
CCSA wants staggered schools reopening
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) is considering allowing schools in infection-free areas to reopen first in July. The proposal, made by the Senate committee on education, has been forwarded to the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha-led CCSA for a decision, Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan said on Wednesday. His ministry is conducting inspections to determine whether schools can reopen. They must prove measures to prevent a new Covid-19 outbreak can be adopted. Schools are listed among outlets posing the highest risk of disease transmission. Meanwhile, the government is preparing to distribute two million TV signal receivers to fix glitches that have disrupted its distance learning television (DLTV) broadcasts since Monday. Many children, mostly in remote villages, have been unable to view the content, which is part of a state plan to hold virtual classrooms in case the Covid-19 situation is still volatile. The ministry has set July 1 as the start of 2020 academic year but may change this if mass gatherings of students, teachers and parents when schools reopen are considered too risky. – Bangkok Post
Bonuses slashed, pay cut: Indonesian nurses fight pandemic, financial hardships
The majority of nurses at general hospitals and COVID-19 referral hospitals carry a heavy burden, as they are not only fighting on the frontline against the disease, but are also struggling with personal financial difficulties caused by the pandemic. Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, most hospitals are reportedly suffering financially due to a decrease in the number of patients, while their operational costs remain high. Ratna, not her real name, discussed the experiences of herself and her colleagues while treating COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit of the Fatmawati General Hospital in South Jakarta. The 26-year-old nurse, along with around 60 of her colleagues at the ICU as well as several other medical workers at the state-run hospital, saw cuts to their Idul Fitri holiday bonuses (THR). Such bonuses are traditionally sourced from the state budget and the hospital’s profit. – The Jakarta Post
Drilon flags ‘overpriced’ PhilHealth virus testing
Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) may have “overpriced” by P8.3 billion the cost of testing people for the new coronavirus, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Wednesday. Drilon raised his concern after Sen. Panfilo Lacson claimed during the online hearing of the Senate committee of the whole the day before that the Department of Health (DOH) bought medical equipment twice as expensive as those purchased by private groups. Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin also called on President Duterte late Tuesday to crack down on a couple who, she said, were cornering the importation and distribution of automated coronavirus testing machines, which she alleged they were selling at inflated prices. “I will tell the PhilHealth straight: This is a criminal act,” Drilon said, pointing out that the P16 billion that the state health insurer would spend for its coronavirus testing program should be reduced by half. – Philippine Daily Inquirer
ACV to invest in Tân Sơn Nhất airport’s new terminal
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has assigned State-owned Airports Corporation of Việt Nam (ACV) to be the investor of the third passenger terminal at HCM City’s Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport. The new terminal with a capacity of 20 million passengers a year has a total investment of more than VNĐ10.99 trillion (US$472.42 million). ACV’s investment will come from all corporate capital with no State budget money. The terminal with a lifespan of 50 years is expected to be completed within 37 months as assigned by the Government. According to ACV chairman Lại Xuân Thanh, the corporation will also invest in parking lots and related constructions for the new terminal at Tân Sơn Nhất airport. – Viet Nam News
Government Lifts Covid-19 Travel Ban on Six Nations, Reopens Museums
The government on Wednesday lifted a ban on travellers arriving from six countries, four days after the Health Ministry said the last remaining Covid-19 patient of Cambodia’s 122 confirmed cases had recovered from the virus. Foreigners traveling from Iran, Italy, Germany, Spain, France and the U.S. had been banned from entering the country since March 17, after officials flagged foreign travel as one of the main methods of Covid-19 transmission in the country. The removal of restrictions on entry went into effect on Wednesday. On Wednesday, the Health Ministry announced that museums would be allowed to reopen next month and issued health safety guidelines both for local businesses as well as people entering the country. – Cambodia Daily