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.
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First flight from Germany under quarantine-free scheme lands in S'pore
The first flight ferrying 100 passengers from Germany travelling under a quarantine-free scheme has landed at Changi Airport.
SQ325, operated by Singapore Airlines (SIA), touched down at 5.36pm on Wednesday (Sept 8). It departed Frankfurt at about 10pm local time on Tuesday, or 4am on Wednesday, Singapore time.
The plane was expected to land at Terminal 3 at 4.25pm on Wednesday, but arrived later due to a reroute to avoid Afghan airspace.
SQ325's landing marks the start of Singapore's Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme, which is open to Brunei and Germany.
Vaccinated travellers under the scheme will take up to four Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction tests in lieu of quarantine, and have to follow other conditions like taking designated VTL flights to Singapore.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said it has issued passes to travel under the VTL scheme to 1,412 travellers from Germany as at 11.59pm on Tuesday - 621 passes were issued to short-term visitors and the remaining 791 passes were issued to long-term pass holders.
Fully vaccinated Singaporeans and permanent residents do not need to apply for a pass to enter Singapore under the VTL. - Straits Times
'Airborne threat of Covid-19 at workplaces must be taken seriously'
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March last year, clusters linked to the workplace have been the chief contributors to the hike in cases in Malaysia.
In fact, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has reported that to date, workplace clusters comprised 53.2 percent or 1,549 of the total number of clusters recorded nationwide.
Local researchers have identified workplaces, especially in enclosed buildings, as having a high risk of being a hive of viral infections, including Covid-19. This is because studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes the deadly Covid-19 – can spread through the air.
Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned about the high risk of Covid-19 transmissions in indoor spaces with poor ventilation systems. - New Straits Times
FDA mulls jab for 3-year-olds
Children aged three years and above might be able to receive the Covid-19 jab, the Food and Drug (FDA) Administration announced on Wednesday.
Paisarn Dankum, FDA secretary general, said the Biogenetech company, the FDA-approved importers of Sinopharm, had on Sept 2 submitted a proposal to extend the age range for those who can receive the Sinopharm jabs from above 18 years old to above three years old.
He said the FDA is having the committee consider the proposal and will make a decision in less than 30 days.
The vaccine formula would be the same as the one which the FDA had approved before, Mr Paisarn said.
Currently, there are two vaccines that can be given to minors aged 12 years and above in Thailand - Pfizer and Moderna. - Bangkok Post
PH welcomes Afghan refugees
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. on Wednesday night confirmed that the country has welcomed the first Afghan refugees to the Philippines since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan three weeks ago.
"We stay steady where others waver: tonight we welcome Afghan nationals including women & kids seeking refuge. Our doors are open to those fleeing, conflict, persecution, sexual abuse and death," he said in a tweet.
Locsin, however, noted that no further information will be provided to the public for the refugees' safety and privacy.
"The matter is closed. We’re not interested in publicity or thanks. This is done so one can look at himself in the mirror. Period," he said.
Malacañang last August 17 stated that the Philippines’ doors are open to Afghan nationals fleeing Afghanistan to escape the Taliban's rule.
There is no specific quota on the number of refugees which may be taken in by the Philippines but Locsin earlier said the country will only accept refugees on a government-to-government basis. - Philippine News Agency
HCM City considers issuing 'vaccine green cards'
HCM City is looking into a “vaccine green card” system to allow eligible residents to travel and work under fewer COVID-19 restrictions, facilitating the economy’s recovery, according to Phan Van Mai, chairman of the city People’s Committee.
The city has formed a working group to focus on recovering the economy while staying safe from the pandemic after September 15, when the strict social distancing order is expected to be relaxed if the city is able to keep the outbreak under control.
After September 15, businesses and workers will have to satisfy safety regulations in order to reopen, including vaccinations for employees.
Medical and economic experts are currently researching vaccine green card systems and related requirements, and more details will be available at a later date. - Vietnam News
Cambodia reboots COVID-19 strategy and measures with evidence based response
World Health Organization in Cambodia has released the following statement with regards to Cambodia’s preparedness and response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Cambodia is in a new phase of the pandemic in which decreasing case numbers, high vaccination coverage, and a more transmissible circulating variant threaten a hidden surge. The government has thus rebooted its approach with an evidence-based and more focused strategy to suppress transmission, minimise social disruptions, and protect the people.
As of 8 September, more than 96,935 cases and 1,987 deaths have been reported. The daily reported numbers of both cases and deaths have been declining for several weeks. The declines have been reported across most provinces.
As cases have declined, vaccination coverage has increased. As of 8 September 2021, more than 96.67 percent of the originally 10-million target population in Cambodia have received at least one dose, including 98% of health care workers fully vaccinated, 95% of older people with one dose, and 84% of older people with two doses. The vaccination rollout has reached many vulnerable populations living in remote areas and those with underlying health conditions as well. Vaccinations are reducing severe disease, hospitalisations, and deaths due to COVID-19.
Although the data indicate an improving situation, the risk of a surge of COVID-19 is very high. Like many countries, Cambodia has been racing against more transmissible variants throughout 2021. The alpha variant was detected early in the year and dominated most of the outbreak. Recently, delta was detected among migrants returning through land borders and has now been detected among residents of most provinces. - Khmer Times
Fighting ignites between KIA and junta in Sagaing
Clashes broke out between the junta’s forces and resistance groups in both Sagaing and Tanintharyi regions on Tuesday as the National Unity Government (NUG) announced the start of a full-scale nationwide revolt.
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) reportedly attacked a Myanmar military base in Homalin Township, on the border between Kachin State and Sagaing Region, according to local sources and the Kachin State-based 74 Media.
Fighting took place in the Nant Thar area of Homalin from 7am until 10am, a resident told Myanmar Now.
“The KIA is currently launching a military offensive against a junta base. So far, no casualties have been reported. We heard that the fighting was intense,” the resident said.
In recent days, the junta had sent reinforcement troops to Homalin and Hkamti, according to locals, who also speculated that one of the reasons for the KIA’s military offensive was the NUG’s declaration of war. - Myanmar NOW
Indonesia targets 2.5 million COVID-19 vaccinations per day
The Indonesian government is targeting to increase the rate of COVID-19 vaccinations to 2.5 million per day in September this year, an official has said.
"Our target is to pursue 2-2.5 million vaccinations per day with targets in Java-Bali regions of 1.5 million each day -- optimizing the vaccination programs in seven agglomeration areas -- and one million per day for regions outside Java-Bali," Health Ministry’s spokesperson for the COVID-19 Vaccination Program, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said at a webinar entitled ‘COVID-19 Vaccination Now and Later’, accessed from here on Wednesday.
The challenge for the current COVID-19 vaccination program is the large demand, while the availability of the vaccines depends on their delivery from abroad and the process of producing the vaccine from semi-finished into finished form, she pointed out.
Hence, the rate of vaccinations can be increased by increasing the number of vaccines distributed, Tarmizi said.
So far, Indonesia has received 225 million vaccine doses, she noted. - AntaraNews.Com