These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Redhill residents to undergo mandatory Covid-19 testing after viral fragments detected in wastewater
Residents living in Housing Board blocks in Redhill Lane and Redhill Close will have to undergo mandatory Covid-19 testing after viral fragments were detected in wastewater samples collected from some blocks. The Ministry of Health said on Monday (June 21) that it is investigating likely Covid-19 transmission in Redhill following the finding. Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of transmission, said the ministry. The affected blocks are 81, 82 and 83 Redhill Lane, and 87, 88, 89 and 90 Redhill Close. Testing is optional for those who have tested negative for Covid-19 infection from June 18. "In the event that a positive Covid-19 case is detected, MOH will isolate the case, identify all close contacts, test and quarantine them to protect the community from further transmission," said the ministry. – The Straits Times
Student vaccination seen as 'best way' to return to school
The vaccination of all students who will sit for major examinations next year is deemed the best 'way out', to enable them to return to school immediately even though the country is still battling a high number of daily Covid-19 cases. The announcement by National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin on Friday is certainly good news for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) 2021 candidates, to attend learning sessions at school till the examination. The first dose of the government-approved Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine, for children aged 12 and above, is expected to be administered to examination candidates in mid-July. Surely this effort also provides relief to teachers and parents to help improve preparations of the affected students, who had to follow the home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) method prior to this. Vaccination is the best shield for students, especially for candidates who will sit for examinations, to protect them from severe complications of the Covid-19 infection, said Universiti Teknologi Mara Sungai Buloh's Faculty of Medicine's Infectious Diseases Unit head, Dr Rosnida Mohd Noh. Although the findings show that the Covid-19 symptoms faced by children up to 17 years old are milder than adults, the vaccination will boost the students' confidence that they are protected before returning to school. She explained that students also have no need to worry about the vaccine's side effects, such as fever and headaches that some vaccine recipients may experience, as these were only temporary in nature. "By not getting vaccinated, the risk of Covid-19 infection is greater and can cause acute effects in the long run. "Most importantly, when students receive the vaccine, it will indirectly reduce disruption to the learning process, so students can continue their school sessions as usual," she told Bernama. Dr Rosnida said that based on the current situation and disclosure of information related to vaccines through various media channels, students are now seen to be more confident that the vaccination programme could be implemented successfully. "Generally, students who will sit for examinations such as SPM and STPM are intelligent and mature enough in finding accurate information about vaccines from verified sources. "They can make their own decisions and I think they (will) be more open to receiving the vaccine," she added. On the other hand, Dr Anuar Ahmad, a lecturer at the Centre of Community Education and Wellbeing, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, is of the view that vaccination of examination candidates should be more targeted. He explained that such an approach is necessary for students in need to be vaccinated first to ensure the continuity of learning. "An estimated 500,0000 students will sit for SPM and STPM this year. – New Straits Times
Dine-in curbs lifted; pools, libraries open
City Hall is lifting restrictions on dining at non-air-conditioned restaurants and increases the maximum seating limit at air-conditioned venues from Monday. As a result of the latest City Hall order signed by Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang on Sunday, non-air-conditioned restaurants can once again operate at 100% capacity, while air-conditioned venues are allowed to set aside up to 50% of their space for dine-in customers. Previously, eateries and restaurants – air-conditioned or not – were required to limit their seats to 25% of their total capacity. The order also allows eateries and restaurants in Bangkok to open until 11pm, up from 9pm previously, though the ban on alcohol consumption on restaurant premises remains in place. In addition to easing restrictions on dining out, the order also allows swimming pools and other water-sports facilities to reopen, along with education centres and science parks, and public and privately-run libraries. Sporting events without spectators are now allowed. The City Hall's order was issued in tandem with a new entry in the Royal Gazette which outlines restrictions which have been relaxed in provinces designated as dark red zones, including Bangkok, where heavy infections are reported. In Bangkok and other provinces sharing the dark red zone designation, entertainment venues including karaoke bars and pubs will remain closed, while department stores are allowed to operate until 9pm, although no promotional sales events are permitted. A ban on a large gathering of more than 50 people and the mandatory wearing of face masks in public places also remains in place. – Bangkok Post
Incoming 40 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine key to herd immunity – Galvez
The government has sealed what is so far its biggest COVID-19 vaccine purchase deal, with the signing of an agreement for the delivery of 40 million doses of the vaccine developed by American multinational Pfizer Inc. and German biotechnology company BioNTech SE. In a statement on Sunday, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said he and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III signed a supply agreement with representatives of Pfizer on Saturday. Galvez called this the “biggest and most decisive deal we ha[ve] for 2021.” “The vaccines from Pfizer will significantly boost our national immunization program and will enable us to realize our goal of achieving herd immunity by year-end,” said the chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19. To achieve herd immunity, the government aims to vaccinate up to 70 percent of the country’s estimated 110 million population. Galvez said the delivery of the Pfizer doses will begin in October. Officials of the task force did not disclose the purchase cost when asked, but said Pfizer would be paid directly by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), from which the Philippines borrowed $400 million for the purchase of vaccines. Galvez said the Philippines has purchased 113 million vaccine doses this year, including the 26 million CoronaVac, 10 million Sputnik V, 20 million Moderna and 17 million AstraZeneca doses. The COVAX global vaccine pool has also committed to ship in 44 million doses, which brings the total number of expected doses to 157 million – past the number of doses needed to achieve herd immunity. The country has so far received 9 million CoronaVac, 2.6 million AstraZeneca, 2.5 million Pfizer and 180,000 Sputnik V vaccine doses. Furthermore, negotiations are ongoing for the supply of an estimated total of 16 million doses from US companies Novavax and Johnson & Johnson. “Finally, the government has made the right decision. Let’s move quickly,” former government adviser Dr Tony Leachon said when reached for comment. More than 8 million Filipinos have so far been inoculated, but only 2.1 million have received their second dose, according to the National Vaccination Operations Center. Galvez said the target is to increase the daily vaccination rate from the current 322,929 to 500,000 in the next few months. – INQUIRER.net
Every citizen to have QR Code by 2025 in an effort to develop digital Government
Every citizen in Viet Nam will have a digital identity with a QR Code by 2025 in an effort to promote the development of digital Government. This will enable citizens, enterprises and other organisations to participate in the operation of Government agencies to improve transparency and service quality as well as improving social values. This was a key point in the e-Government development strategy towards building a digital Government in the 2021-25 period approved early this week. The strategy aimed to complete the development targets of e-Government by the end of this year to serve the formation of digital Government by 2025. As mentioned in the strategy, e-Government included online meetings, paperless document processing, contactless administrative procedures and cashless payments. Digital Government was a broader definition, which included e-Government with safe operation in the digital environment, ability to provide new services, ability to optimise resources and the ability to lead the national digital transformation and effectively handle big issues in socio-economic management and development. Digital Government was developed to let citizens, enterprises and other organisations participate in an appropriate way in the operation of Government agencies and interact to enhance transparency, improve service quality and together handle problems. In comparison, e-Government set targets of better serve citizens and enterprises. Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung said that the targets for forming e-Government would be basically completed in 2021 with the focus on enabling the provision of all public services at level 4. Level 4 is the highest level of online public services which allows users to fill and submit forms and pay fees online. By 2025, digital Government would be formed, which would enable the provision of Government services round-the-clock following demand while new services would be provided based on the open database. To promote the formation of the digital Government, the strategy set targets of completing the legal environment, developing the national digital infrastructure, the national digital platform, the national data and national apps together with ensuring network security and safety. Accordingly, policies would be put forward so that Viet Nam could be in the list of the top 50 countries in terms of digital Government development by the United Nations by 2025 and in the top 30 by 2030. Specifically, the strategy targeted that every citizen would have a digital identity with a QR Code and own a smartphone. Every household would have a digital address and could access broadband internet. Each citizen would have a digital health record, while medical examination and treatment facilities could provide remote examination and treatment and allow cashless payments and electronic prescriptions. Each student would have a digital record of their studies, schools allow cashless payments and provide digital learning materials. Each farmer will have the ability to access, exploit and use the digital platform for agriculture, reducing the dependence on intermediary stages from production to distribution. – Viet Nam News
Ministry bans sale of “unauthorised” COVID rapid test kits via Facebook shops in Cambodia
The Ministry of Health has banned the distribution, sale of COVID rapid testing kits that have been for sale via unregulated Facebook accounts. According to the Ministry of Health, 4 Facebook accounts have selling unauthorised and unregulated COVID rapid testing kits via social media: The Ministry listed them as Second Brother, Leng Kuchnika Pol, Srey Nit, and TMS-Trust. The Ministry of Health would like to inform the public that the rapid test for COVID-19 antibodies offered by the above Facebook accounts are not registered with the Ministry of Health and not recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, the results from the use of these tests are unreliable and potentially dangerous. The Ministry of Health requires that all individuals and owners of private medical services stop advertising and selling and using these quick tests immediately. To avoid causing social anarchy that undermines the government’s policy of vaccinating COVID-19 across the country, the Ministry of Health calls on the public to stop believing in propaganda, lies and deception. This must be stopped immediately. The Ministry of Health will take the strictest action against any private health service that sell rapid test kits to detect COVID-19 antibodies. – Khmer Times
More than 20 locals arrested after explosion in Bago
More than 20 locals were arrested over two days following an explosion outside the military council’s ward administration office in Hpa Do, Bago Region this week. Soon after the explosion occurred on Tuesday morning, police and soldiers arrived at the scene. A second explosion then took place, damaging the armed forces’ vehicles. “Not long after the bomb went off, police cars showed up. They were shooting. Usually, it would take about 10 minutes to get to the administrator’s office from the police station, but they showed up really quick,” a local told Myanmar Now. “In the evening, they started arresting people they suspected [of being behind the explosion],” he added. The military raided a home in Ward 5 at 2am on Wednesday. When they could not find the individual that they were looking for, they reportedly arrested his brother and sister. In the afternoon, former Hpa Do administrator Hla Aye and a local volunteer were also arrested. The military raided Ward 1 in search of another man and detained his neighbours when he could not be located, the local source explained. “They surrounded the house, carrying guns. When there was no one there, they took people from the house next door – for no reason,” he said. Locals say the military raided several houses in Hpa Do again on Friday. Family members of those detained say that they have had no contact with their relatives in junta custody. “Why they were arrested, where they are now, we don’t know anything. Absolutely nothing,” a family member told Myanmar Now. The military council has not made any statements regarding the arrests. The military council’s armed forces crushed a protest held in Hpa Do on March 27, now known as Anti-Fascist Revolution Day. At least one civilian was killed and many more injured. The momentum of the town’s anti-dictatorship movement decreased after the crackdown. At least 10 young people were arrested by the regime’s forces after another explosion occurred on the Yangon-Mandalay railway in Bago’s Kanyutkwin Town on June 10. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has reported that 4,999 civilians have been arrested and 196 sentenced as of June 19 since the coup. – Myanmar NOW
Indonesia steps up efforts to achieve herd immunity
The Indonesian government has administered nearly 35.1 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine as of June 19, 2021, with 12,212,906 people receiving their second jabs and 22,873,342 others receiving their first shots of the vaccine. The government is targeting 40 million people and giving priority to healthcare workers, public service officers, and senior citizens in the first and second phases of the national vaccination program. Overall, it aims to vaccinate at least 181.5 million citizens, or 70 percent of the population, to create herd immunity against the virus. To speed up vaccinations, the government is working to expand the capacity of vaccination services – offered to all citizens free of cost – with allocations from its budget as well as funding from the private sector, notably by encouraging company-funded vaccinations for employees. The government-funded vaccination program has been implemented since January 13, 2021, while the private sector-funded vaccination program called Gotong Royong kicked off on May 18 this year. "It (Gotong Royong) is aimed at expanding the COVID-19 vaccination coverage. The government's vaccination program and the Gotong Royong program will not use the same vaccines. Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Novavac, and Pfizer cannot be used in the Gotong Royong (vaccination) program," the Health Ministry's spokesperson for COVID-19 vaccination, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said adding that China's Sinopharm and Cansino vaccines will be provided under the Gotong Royong program. To vaccinate the targeted 181.5 million recipients under the national program, the government will require around 426 million vaccine doses. Hence, the Health Ministry has urged people to not be picky about the COVID-19 vaccines offered by the government, saying the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared all currently authorized and recommended vaccines as safe. At present, Indonesia’s total COVID-19 caseload exceeds 1.9 million and the number could spike due to the presence of new, more infectious COVID-19 variants. Therefore, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has directed that the vaccination program be accelerated, saying he is eager to see Indonesia achieve herd immunity by the end of this year or early next year. – AntaraNews.Com