These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Healthcare workers to receive Covid-19 vaccine from Dec 30, S’pore residents aged 70 and older from Feb ’21: MOH
Singapore’s Covid-19 vaccination exercise will begin on Dec 30 with healthcare workers at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, followed by the elderly aged 70 and older next February. Vaccinations will roll out to more healthcare institutions in the coming weeks, with public healthcare institutions and private hospitals to arrange for their staff to be vaccinated at their respective premises. This is in line with recommendations by an expert committee that front-line and healthcare workers and those most vulnerable to severe complications if they contract Covid-19 should be vaccinated first, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Sunday (Dec 27). The elderly will be vaccinated from February next year, followed by other Singaporeans and long-term residents who are medically eligible, said the MOH. This follows the Government's full acceptance of 14-member expert committee’s recommendations that were submitted last Thursday. "Vaccination is not a silver bullet that can end the pandemic immediately, but it is a key enabler to getting us back to a safer state of affairs," the ministry said. The MOH said vaccination will complement other "key enablers", such as safe management measures, testing and contact tracing, to mitigate any spread and to keep community transmission low. In its statement, the committee noted that Covid-19 patients aged 70 and older have worse health outcomes than those aged 60 to 69, and so it is recommended to start vaccination for the older group first. Protecting older people minimises Covid-19-related mortality and morbidity, as well as the potential strain on the healthcare system. The committee has also assessed that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which arrived in Singapore earlier this month, is suitable for use in people aged 16 and older for the prevention of Covid-19, it said, although taking the vaccine is still not recommended for pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals until more information is available. – The Straits Times
'Don't protect those involved in scandal'
There should be no attempts to cover up or protect any individuals, even VVIPs, if they are found to be tied to the activities of a meat cartel that is believed to have been passing off non-certified meat as halal meat in the country. Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wadji Dusuki said, in addition to the six recommendations made by the youth wing on the next course of action, the authorities should also disclose the names of all companies tied to the syndicate's activities. "This is crucial to restore the trust of the Muslim community in the halal status of imported meat in the market," he said in a statement on his Facebook page. Umno Youth had, on Saturday, forwarded six recommendations on how to tackle the issue, including setting up a special investigative team. Asyraf said this was a necessary step to establish the possibility of corruption and bribery within the authorities. "The special team should also involve agencies related to the monitoring and enforcement of halal standards, as well as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police." Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, who is a former minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), yesterday called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to be set up on the issue. Speaking at the Parti Amanah Negara convention yesterday, Mujahid, who is also party vice-president, said if the issue was not dealt with speedily, it could raise questions about the integrity and quality of the halal labels issued by the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim). He said the issue touched on two aspects, the first being the halal status and the second on corruption, which raised larger questions on national security. – New Straits Times
Covid situation 'more serious'
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Sunday admitted the current novel coronavirus outbreak is more serious than the first wave early this year and urged the public to comply with disease control measures so drastic measures would not be needed. Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the CCSA, said the number of infections jumped by over a thousand over a short period of time, suggesting the spread of the virus this time is far more serious than the first wave, which began at the start of the year. A total of 121 new Covid-19 cases were reported on Sunday, 94 of which were local transmissions. The number of accumulated cases rose to 6,141 on Sunday, compared with 4,331 before the outbreak in Samut Sakhon began in mid-December. Covid-19 cases linked to Talad Klang Kung (Central Shrimp Market) in Samut Sakhon have now been found in 38 other provinces, the CCSA spokesman said, adding Sukhothai, Lop Buri and Surin reported their first linked cases on Sunday. However, Dr Taweesilp said health officials are better prepared and more experienced than they were when the pandemic first hit the country. The public also have easier access to face masks now, he added. "So, whether or not the disease control measures will be intensified will depend on how much the public cooperates. If we cooperate, there will be no need to enforce the law, impose lockdowns or a curfew. The government doesn't want to impose restrictions," he said. Dr Taweesilp said everyone should continue wearing face masks in public and avoid large gatherings, saying they can still hold small parties with close friends and family members. He also took to task the gamblers in Rayong for withholding information about their activities, which could hamper health officials' efforts to contain the virus. As previously reported, in addition to Samut Sakhon's shrimp market, a new cluster of Covid-19 infections was found in Rayong, which is linked to a local underground casino in Muang district. The area has been declared a maximum control zone – where the tightest Covid-19 control measures apply – after 27 new infections were confirmed in a single day on Saturday. The number has increased to 85 as of Sunday. Dr Taweesilp said similar incidents have been reported in Japan, South Korea, and Australia, where new cases were linked to "grey" or possibly illegal activities. Authorities will pay special attention to illegal activities following the discovery of the Rayong cluster, he said, before calling on Rayong residents to comply with social distancing measures. "When there are confirmed cases, the impacts are vast. It's not limited to the infected people. Others are affected. The entire province is affected," he said. Dr Taweesilp said the Public Health Ministry will also speed up Covid-19 testing, after it was slammed for being slow in providing public updates relating to the new confirmed cases. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is urging the public to use the "Mor Chana" application to track Covid-19 cases around them, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said. – Bangkok Post
Locally made COVID-19 detector approved by Health Ministry
The Health Ministry has approved a locally made COVID-19 detector called GeNose for distribution. The device was developed by Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and was funded by the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the Research and Technology Ministry’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). GeNose research team head Kuwat Triyatno said the device was approved for distribution on Thursday. “Alhamdulillah [thank God], with support from various parties, GeNose has received approval for distribution, which is a recognition by the regulator, the Health Ministry,” Kuwat said in a statement on Saturday, as quoted by kompas.id. The COVID-19 detector was developed several months ago. GeNose detects possible COVID-19 infections through human breath. The machine, which uses artificial intelligence, produces results within a few minutes. Kuwat said that having received the ministry’s approval, his team would immediately distribute the first 100 GeNose machines, the first batch of a larger production effort funded by BIN and BRIN. The 100 machines are set to be distributed to hospitals, airports and train stations, among other places. The research team also plans to distribute some of the machines to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). GeNose is not yet available for personal purchase. Kuwat said he hoped the machine would help the government address COVID-19, especially as it only took three minutes, including taking the breath sample, to get a result. “Having the 100 units, we’re hoping to conduct 120 tests per unit, which equals 12,000 people being tested in one day. “The estimated 120 tests per unit is based on an average of three minutes in process for each test, including taking the breath sample. Therefore, in one hour, we hope we can test 20 people, and if it is used effectively, each kit can be utilized up to six hours per day,” said Kuwat. Prior to receiving the ministry’s approval, GeNose had undergone a test that used 600 samples from the Yogyakarta Police’s Bhayangkara Hospital and a COVID-19 emergency hospital in Bambanglipuro, Yogyakarta, kompas.com reported on Saturday. The test found that the device was 97 percent accurate. A GeNose machine is expected to be priced at Rp 40 million. A test will likely cost Rp 25,000 per person. – The Jakarta Post
Find best vaccine, set aside geopolitics, Zubiri urges Duterte
Malacañang needs to set aside geopolitics for now and give priority to finding the best coronavirus vaccine available, instead of giving preferential treatment to China’s more expensive and less effective Sinovac brand, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Sunday. Zubiri made the call a day after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to go ahead with the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) unless the United States guaranteed at least 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for the Philippines. He urged Duterte “to temporarily stop looking at our geopolitical relationship” with China and the United States, among other allies, and instead focus on the welfare of the Filipino people. “What I am asking Malacañang is to choose the best [vaccine],” the senator said in a radio interview, pointing out that even China recently ordered 100 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine codeveloped by Pfizer of the United States and BioNTech of Germany. “We have so few resources. Tax collection is down. Not enough cash is circulating. Let us [put our money] to maximum use. We need the most affordable [option] and most importantly, reviewed by science,” he said. Malacañang explained that the President only wanted a guaranteed share of US vaccines for the Philippines when he threatened to proceed with the termination of the VFA. The Philippines is also not asking for free vaccines, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a radio interview. “[W]e will pay for the vaccines. The problem is the supply. What the President is saying is at least give us supplies. We are not begging. We have money to pay for vaccines and we will pay,” Roque said. “In fact, the private sector, the local governments are allocating funds to buy vaccines. But the question is the availability of supply,” he said. “If the United States wants to renew the VFA for its national interest, it is important for the Philippines to secure US vaccines because that’s our national interest,” Roque said. “So that’s what the President wanted to say, that he would not allow the Philippines to be treated unfairly by its former colonial master. The relationship should be balanced. No vaccine, no VFA.” Zubiri expanded on his earlier statement asking the government to reconsider plans to procure the Chinese-developed COVID-19 vaccine following reports that its efficacy stood only at 50 percent, paling in comparison with other pharmaceuticals such as Pfizer-BioNTech and United Kingdom’s AstraZeneca. – INQUIRER.net
PM calls on nations to observe International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Sunday called on nations, organisations and individuals to observe the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness (December 27), an initiative started by Việt Nam and adopted by the United Nations at the beginning of December. In a message released to celebrate the occasion, the Vietnamese PM wrote: “In the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Việt Nam has marshalled the broad support and participation of its entire population, with medical workers at the forefront, and engaged in active cooperation with various countries and regional and international organisations. “Through such efforts, we have kept the pandemic under control, maintained social welfare, bolstered economic recovery and sustained remarkable growth.” He highlighted three key areas that need strong focus to further control and prevent COVID-19. “First, we need to forge stronger policy coordination and unity in action, attaching due importance to international cooperation and the effort of multilateral institutions for global governance centred around the United Nations,” his message reads. “This will enable us to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, prevent and combat epidemics effectively. “Second, we must place the people's interest at the heart of all policies and action, prioritising the protection of human health and lives above all. In the short term, we need to ensure affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatment drugs for people in all countries and territories. “Third, we should actively adapt to the new normal. This translates to a cohesive and holistic mix of solutions to promote economic recovery while fighting the pandemic, facilitate cross-border trade and investment, and maintain supply chains, especially of essential goods, food and medical supplies.” The PM also expressed a strong belief in a better future for the world. “Việt Nam is confident the international community shall be able to harness the will and strength of people of every nation, international solidarity and cooperation in order to together overcome current challenges and build a brighter future for every country and all citizens. “Việt Nam stands ready to play its part in this noblest of journeys.” Việt Nam’s resolution for the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness was approved by the United Nations General Assembly on December 7. The initiative is being co-sponsored by 112 countries. – Viet Nam News
Restrictions lifted: Health Ministry allows businesses involved in the ‘November 28 community incident’ to reopen
Effective yesterday, the Ministry of Health has lifted its restrictions on businesses that were ordered closed due to the “November 28 community incident”. The loosening of restrictions comes with a set of dos and don’ts by the ministry that was approved by Prime Minister Hun Sen. The Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng said all restaurants and shops can now operate as normal but must strictly adhere to the guidelines given by the ministry so as to protect their patrons from being victims of the COVID-19 virus. Among the Standard Operating Procedures that must be followed are to make sure their premises are clean and hygienic at all times, their staff and customers must wear their facemasks, their temperatures are taken and there is social distancing. Employees of Zando clothing shop in Boeng Keng Kang 1 commune opened its business while putting in place all the precautionary measures and safety guidelines given by the ministry. Sotheavy Ruos, Zando’s marketing manager, said their staff underwent the COVID-19 test thrice, and only when the results all came back negative they were allowed to report for work. “The staff were told to wear facemasks, gloves and were given instructions on what to do when customers come into the premises. If a customer comes in without a facemask, we give them one to wear. We will not allow anyone in who does not comply with the ministry ruling,” he said. Ruos said they have also re-organised their store to comply with the ministry ruling so that those who come in can maintain their social distancing with other customers while they shop. “We have also decided to disinfect our premise regularly as required by the ministry,” he said, adding that they hope their business will catch up again after the long closure and for that, they are offering a 50 percent discount for their goods as a way to attract customers. – Khmer Times