These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Singapore hospitals tighten rules for those who have visited TTSH
Hospitals are imposing stricter restrictions on people who have visited Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) recently, in the light of the growing cluster there. At the weekend, hospitals started to decline entry to visitors, as well as those accompanying patients, if they had been to TTSH wards from April 18. This follows guidance that the hospitals received from the Ministry of Health. Hospitals are also on the lookout for patients who have been discharged from or have visited TTSH wards on or after April 18, and then wish to visit specialist outpatient clinics at other hospitals here. These patients may be able to be reviewed via teleconsultation. If not, urgent cases may be seen in a room that separates them from other patients, while non-urgent cases may be postponed for at least two weeks from the time they last visited TTSH, The Straits Times understands. Meanwhile, the TTSH cluster has grown to 35 cases. The hospital has tested all inpatients and 7,000 out of 12,000 staff, and will next be swabbing staff in clinical areas. By last Friday, the cluster had resulted in the hospital locking down four wards and putting 76 staff on leave of absence while they await quarantine orders. TTSH has since put more than 200 staff on leave of absence. The hospital has halted elective procedures and stopped admitting new patients, to focus on containing the spread and caring for existing patients. Hospitals have posted about their entry restrictions on social media. – The Straits Times
Covid-19: Pandemic fatigue setting in, public less vigilant
Despite the surge in new cases, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah noted that pandemic fatigue is setting in as the public has become less vigilant since the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) was rolled out. This, he said, was reflected in the rise of new cases and the increasing death toll since the beginning of April 2021. "Malaysia has recorded a rise of 61,984 new cases and 235 fatalities in just four weeks. The sudden spike in new infections and fatalities have increased the burden on the country's healthcare sector. "Consequently, the capacity of hospitals has been increased and more healthcare personnel have been mobilised to outbreak areas to sustain the rise in number of patients," he said. The rate of occupancy of critical beds, he said, has reached over 70 per cent in the Sungai Buloh, Kuala Lumpur, Ampang, Serdang and Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Klang hospitals. In order to curb the further spread of Covid-19, Dr Noor Hisham said genome surveillance by the Institute of Medical Research (IMR) has found three Variants of Concern (VOC) which are the B.1.351, B.1.1.7 and the B.1.1.28 variants, and one Variant of Interest (VOI) which is the B.1.617.1 variant. "International border control has also been tightened to restrict the entry of travellers from India. The quarantine period for travellers from countries that has encountered the local transmission of VOC has been raised to 14 days. "The border control at districts and states have also been tightened through nationwide roadblocks. Hospital and ICU capacity have been increased, the second phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme will be implemented, and enforcement efforts for SOP compliance has been stepped up with the help of several agencies. "We have also empowered the community to face the Covid-19 threat nationwide through ABC-19 (Covid-19 Eradication Agent)," he said. Apart from that, said Dr Noor Hisham, the ministry has also launched the Hotspots Identification for Dynamic Engagement (HIDE) in collaboration with Bank Negara Malaysia, to devise a targeted intervention strategy based on the prediction of "hotspots" nationwide. – New Straits Times
Red Alert
The Covid-19 infection cluster in the slum community of Bangkok's Klong Toey district has prompted the government to speed up its vaccination rollout there amid fears it could overwhelm the public health system if left unchecked. The cluster has sparked concerns about a widespread transmission because thousands of people live in the tightly packed residential area, many of them commuting across Bangkok and to nearby provinces. Speaking after a meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Monday, Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had stressed the urgent need to administer vaccine doses to community residents. The vaccination will begin at Tesco Lotus hypermarket's Rama IV branch and Klong Toey Withaya School at 1pm on Tuesday, Pol Gen Aswin said. About 1,000 people are expected to be inoculated by the end of the day and a further 2,000-3,000 in the coming days. Proactive mass testing will also be conducted on 1,000 people in the Klong Toey communities every day from Tuesday until May 19. By that time, about 20,000 out of 85,000-90,000 community residents are expected to have been tested, the governor said. He admitted that it would be more difficult to seal off the Klong Toey communities than the previous infection cluster in Samut Sakhon, which covered only a limited area and had a smaller population. Apisamai Srirangson, assistant CCSA spokeswoman, said that the Institute for Urban Disease Control had told the meeting the mass testing would cover 39 Klong Toey communities. Of the communities' 304 infected people as of Monday, 193 lived in crowded and dense areas, Dr Apisamai said, prompting the need to step up disease surveillance to prevent further transmissions. All the infected people have now been treated in hospitals, she said, identifying the three Klong Toey communities with the highest number of infections as Patthana Mai, 70 Rai and the community near Klong Wat Saphan. Mass testing from April 27-30 found 21 infections in the 70 Rai community, 29 in Klong Wat Saphan and 49 in Patthana Mai, Dr Apisamai said. She added that almost 1,000 people were considered to be at high risk of catching the virus and would be prioritised in the testing. Dr Apisamai said the CCSA meeting also discussed the situation in the Bon Kai community in Pathumwan district where 60 new cases were confirmed. Mass testing will be conducted there with an aim to test 4,000 people per day, she said. A spokesman for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, said on Monday that an investigation had found that the area's infection cluster originated with someone who lived locally and worked at a night entertainment venue in Thong Lor. The Klong Toey cluster mostly involved the virus spreading among family members and work colleagues, Pol Capt Pongsakorn said, adding that there were about 75,000 houses in the Klong Toey slums, and mass testing must be accelerated. Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich, spokesman for the Defence Ministry, said officials had asked the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) to convert its futsal stadium, known as Kodang Stadium, into a field hospital to accommodate infected patients from Klong Toey. On April 30, the Defence Ministry wrote to the PAT director to ask him to turn the futsal stadium into a field hospital, saying that Gen Prayut was worried about a new surge of infections in Bangkok's slums. "Klong Toey and nearby communities are large, crowded and densely populated," the letter said. "If infected people cannot be brought into the healthcare system in a timely manner, this will lead to quick and widespread transmissions which will overwhelm the public health system." – Bangkok Post
Lacson pushes for review of PH-China diplomatic ties amid WPS incursions
Senator Panfilo Lacson is seeking a review of the diplomatic ties between the Philippines and China, in the wake of the latter’s recent incursions in the West Philippine Sea. Lacson, who chairs the Senate committee on national defense, said a review of the diplomatic relations between the two countries is “timely and called for” as he asked: “What kind of friend – or benefactor – would take what is ours, bully us, and ignore our protests?” “All the diplomatic protests that the Secretary of Foreign Affairs filed have been ignored as if nothing was filed at all. The continued incursions and bullying finally got his goat,” Lacson said in a tweet late Monday night. In this light, Lacson said Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, the principal author and sponsor of a recently filed Senate resolution condemning China’s “illegal activities” in the West Philippine Sea, has accepted his proposed amendments. One of which is to “urge the Department of Foreign Affairs to consider a review of the long existing diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China” to send a “clear message that the incursions into our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in utter disregard of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the rule of law is totally unacceptable.” Lacson said the review should go hand in hand with seeking stronger alliances with the more militarily powerful countries like the United States, Australia, even Japan and some European Union countries to maintain the balance of power in the region. Meanwhile, Lacson said another amendment that Drilon accepted was to change the word “condemning” to “strongly objecting” in the resolution. “To condemn means some sort of eternal divine punishment. Hence, no matter how unlikely, in case China eases up on its aggressive stance, our condemnation cannot be taken back,” Lacson said in a statement. Lacson, likewise, said the Senate must also throw its support towards Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. who did not mince his words in telling China to “get the f*ck out” of Philippine waters as Chinese vessels continue to linger in the West Philippine Sea. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it has already protested the “illegal presence” of the Chinese Coast Guard in the Panatag or Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough) shoal as well as its “belligerent actions” against the Philippine Coast Guard. This, on top of the daily protests the DFA is filing over the lingering presence of Chinese vessels in various parts of the West Philippine Sea. Nonetheless, Lacson also said that the issue of the West Philippine Sea should not be connected with other issues, including vaccine donations. “We should have a united stand on the West Philippine Sea, and this should not be connected to any other issue except sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Lacson said. – INQUIRER.net
PM calls for extra vigilance against COVID-19
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on ministries, agencies and localities to enhance their COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control efforts. He made the request in an official dispatch sent to leaders of ministries, agencies and localities on Sunday. The dispatch said the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, the PM, Government and the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control had always paid attention to measures to combat COVID-19 and the pandemic is basically under control in Viet Nam. However, the pandemic is becoming more complex and unpredictable situations might occur, while some localities have lowered their guard against the virus and COVID-19 preventive rules have not been taken seriously, especially mask-wearing in public. PM Chinh ordered sectors and localities to continue complying with COVID-19 prevention direction of the Secretariat, the Government, the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control as well as the regulations of the Ministry of Health. He asked authorities to strictly punish any rule violators and to make clear the responsibilities of individuals and organisations in COVID-19 prevention work. He called for reviews of regulations related to COVID-19 prevention and control and said localities and agencies should take the initiative and be flexible in pandemic prevention work. While praising a number of localities including Vinh Phuc, Ha Noi, HCM City, Quang Ninh and Hai Phong who have responded quickly and taken effective measures in the work, the PM reminded several provinces and cities, namely Da Nang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Khanh Haa, to strictly comply with the guidance of the Ministry of Health (MoH) He asked authorities in Da Nang City and Ha Nam and Yen Bai provinces to clarify the responsibilities of individuals and organisations for failing to comply with the guidance and deal with them in a strict manner. The MoH must monitor the implementation of the PM’s direction and enhance the supervision of facilities and equipment for pandemic prevention in localities. The heads of ministries, agencies and localities were asked to tighten discipline, especially in immigration management. The interagency working group consisting of the health, foreign, defence, public security and transport ministries must be responsible for strictly controlling the entry of Vietnamese returning from abroad, foreign experts and high-tech workers. Local Party organisations and governments at all levels and press agencies were asked to continue to communicate about the pandemic and prevention measures. The MoH was told to review vaccine availability, accelerate the inoculation campaign and publish information about the role of vaccines via mass media. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, on behalf of the Prime Minister, will preside over all work related to pandemic prevention and control and submit a report to the PM if necessary. – Viet Nam News
Lockdowns end: PM announces lifting of restrictions from Thursday
The government has decided not to extend the lockdowns in Phnom Penh and Kandal province’s Takhmao city, except for a few areas with a high transmission of COVID-19. Interprovincial travel will also be allowed. However, Phnom Penh City Hall will continue the zoning system put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19. Prime Minister Hun Sen made the announcement on Sunday night in response to a plea posted on his Facebook page over the three-week lockdown due to end tomorrow. The Facebook account user named Tuo made the plea, saying: “Samdech, on May 5, please end the lockdown in the city. I have been stranded in the province for a long time, I have not been able to return to Phnom Penh, and I have to come up and get vaccinated. I am also almost broke.” In response, Mr Hun Sen said: “There is no reason to lockdown Phnom Penh and any province anymore. We will reopen the lockdown area, except that a province or capital can close a small area which has a high risk of coronavirus spread.” “The past few lockdowns were compulsory to reduce the infection and deaths of our people. Please understand the common difficulties of the nation,” Mr Hun Sen added. The government had decided to continue the lockdowns in Phnom Penh and Takhmao city until May 5 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Following the Prime Minister’s announcement, Phnom Penh City Hall announced yesterday that it would maintain the zoning system in the capital to control the spread of the coronavirus. Phnom Penh Governor Khuong Sreng said during a video conference that travel from one province to another would be allowed from Thursday. However, Sreng said Phnom Penh will still maintain the Yellow, Orange and Red Zone system and urged district authorities to strengthen measures in designated areas to avoid the spread of COVID-19 to other areas. “This morning’s meeting of the Unity Command aims to set up a new mechanism after the government reopens traffic in Phnom Penh, as in the provinces, with a series of decisions regarding the closure of the area in Phnom Penh,” Sreng said. “In the Yellow Zones, we continue to implement the same measures of not letting dine-ins at restaurants and other gatherings,” he said. “For the Orange Zones, certain prohibitions must be maintained, and for the Red Zones they must be strictly enforced. What we need to do is to reduce the size of high-risk areas with COVID-19,” Sreng added. – Khmer Times
Min Aung Hlaing hails ‘freedom of expression’ as his regime continues bid to destroy independent media
Coup leader Min Aung Hlaing said the media is “crucial” for freedom of expression and democracy, state newspapers reported on Monday, as the junta pushed ahead with its propaganda war and continued its efforts to crush independent journalism. He made the remarks at a speech on Sunday morning to mark the opening of the Myawady Media Centre in Yangon’s Yankin township, the Global New Light of Myanmar reported. “The media... plays a crucial role in enhancing the freedom of expression for democracy [and] improving the government’s transparency by distributing knowledge to the people,” the report said, attributing the comments to the Senior General. Local media ought to “prevent the broader infiltration” of ideas and culture from “developed countries” said the report, which was published on World Press Freedom Day. Last week the junta revoked the publishing license of yet another news outlet, the Kachin-based Myitkyina News Journal. The newspaper said in a statement on Sunday that it had suspended its operations, seven years after it was founded. “We pledge to try to service the public again if there is any chance to do so in future,” the statement said. The Mandalay-based Voice of Myanmar (VOM) also announced it was suspending its operations on Monday, a week after chief editor Nay Myo Lin and reporter Shine Aung were detained by the regime. “We regret to inform you that we have to suspend our operation temporarily because the two are still being detained,” VOM said on its Facebook page. Nay Myo Lin’s wife, Zarni Mann, told Myanmar Now that she has not been given a reason for the arrests. Her husband is being interrogated at a military base in Mandalay and has not been able to meet with family members, she added. “They said they had something to ask him and took him,” she said. “I still don't know anything about his condition.” At least 84 journalists have been arrested since the February 1 coup, and 50 of them are still in detention. While continuing its assault on independent media, the junta has also doubled down on its false claims about the deaths of protesters who were murdered by its police and soldiers. A Global New Light report last week claimed that several of the more high-profile deaths in recent months were caused by health problems or shooting from other protesters. It repeated the claim that other protesters shot Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing and Kyal Sin–two 19-year-old women whose images became icons of the anti-coup movement after they were murdered by the regime’s forces in February and March. Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing’s murder was captured on video, and several analyses of footage and images from the Naypyitaw protest confirmed she was shot in the head by a police officer. And there were several eyewitnesses to Kyal Sin’s murder in Mandalay in early March. One of them was a friend of hers. “I saw it with my own eyes, they shot at her,” he told Myanmar Now, requesting anonymity. “We didn’t have anything that looked like weapons. We were just peacefully protesting.” He and other protesters who were nearby when Kyal Sin was shot in the neck are wanted by the regime and are now in hiding. – Myanmar NOW
Health minister confirms three coronavirus strains in Indonesia
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin confirmed the entry of three new coronavirus variants into Indonesia, including those originating from India, South Africa, and the Great Britain. "It has been reported to the president that new mutations (of the coronavirus) have entered (Indonesia), including the mutation from India for which we have seen two incidents and both were in Jakarta, and one incident involving the South African variant found in Bali," Sadikin noted at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday. "Apart from the Britain variant, for which we have found 13 cases, two cases involving the Indian strain and one case involving the strain from South Africa were also detected," he revealed. The mutated coronavirus strain first found in Britain was named B117, while the variant initially found in India was identified as B1617, and the mutated strain from South Africa was named B1351. The minister remarked that the new coronavirus mutants are listed under the "variant of concern" category, highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO). "We need to manage this on account of the fact that the number is still small, as they can spread rapidly due to their higher infection rate as compared to other variants," he stated. Isolation measures should soon be applied by those having contracted the new coronavirus strains, and those who came in contact with them should be traced and examined at the earliest, he stated. The minister also recapped the criticality of applying health protocols to contain the transmission of COVID-19. "It is of utmost importance to wear a mask, wash your hands, and maintain distance. Whatever the virus or the strain is, if we are disciplined in implementing health protocols, infections should be averted," he stated. "To this end, I will continue to reiterate that health protocols should be followed by all of us, everywhere we are," the minister emphasized. – AntaraNews.Com