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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Travellers to S'pore who test positive or receive risk warning to recover or isolate in hotel rooms
Travellers staying in hotels who have tested positive for Covid-19, or have been identified as a close contact of a Covid-19 case and received a health risk warning (HRW), should recover or isolate in their rooms by default from next Monday (Dec 20).
Those who have tested positive with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test are required to recover in their rooms and will be issued an isolation order (IO).
Those who are fully vaccinated will be issued an IO for 10 days, while those who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated will be issued an IO for 14 days. Thereafter, they will be discharged without further tests. - Straits Times
More than four million have received boosters
The country's Covid-19 infectivity rate, Rt, dropped further to 0.90 on Thursday.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said Negri Sembilan had the highest Rt among all states at 1.02, making it the only state with a Rt above 1.00.
Penang and Pahang recorded a Rt rate of 1.00 respectively, Terengganu (0.99); Labuan and Perak (0.98); Kuala Lumpur (0.97); Johor and Melaka (0.96); Selangor (0.95); Kedah and Perlis (0.93); Putrajaya and Kelantan (0.86); Sabah (0.83); and Sarawak (0.75). - New Straits Times
Thais want Asean title as New Year's gift
Former Thailand captain Siwarak Tedsungnoen on Thursday reaffirmed the War Elephants' resolve to wrest back the regional football crown as a New Year gift for the Thai people.
The Thai squad continued training for their last AFF Suzuki Cup Group A clash against hosts Singapore tomorrow, a match which could have a bearing on top two spots in the pool.
The War Elephants currently hold the No.1 spot and need a draw to win the group and avoid a looming semi-final battle with defending champions Vietnam, who are likely to take the top spot in the other group. - Bangkok Post
'Odette'-affected families top 11.8K
Typhoon Odette has so far affected some 11,859 families as it pummeled most of the Visayas and Mindanao, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Friday.
In its 8 a.m. update, the agency said these families, which are equivalent to 41,434 persons, are from 249 villages in Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and the Caraga region.
Some 192 evacuation centers are currently assisting 4,989 families while the rest are taking shelter with their friends and relatives. - Philippine News Agency
Quang Ninh to give booster shots to all adults by early next year
Among the first provinces reopening to tourism, Quang Ninh aims to give the third COVID-19 vaccine dose to all adults during the first quarter of 2022.
The information was revealed by Nguyen Xuan Ky, chairman of the Quang Ninh People’s Council, during a meeting of the province’s Standing Party Committee on December 6.
The meeting reviewed the COVID-19 situation and the number of patients under treatment in the locality. - Vietnam News
Complacent and nonchalant: Cambodia’s vaccination rates see no major uptick despite first Omicron case
After the country reported its first Omicron case, instead of the expected rush of people to get their jabs; the unvaccinated percentage of the population appears nonchalant and not at all concerned about getting their Covid-19 vaccine shots.
The percentage of vaccinated people against a 16 million population still remains in the 88 percentage with only minor increases reported. Reaching the elusive 91 percent would be a challenge as people in Cambodia presumably grow complacent about the importance of getting their jabs.
The campaign those the 18 years old and above and 6 to 12 years old both continue to grow despite reaching their targets. - Khmer Times
'Conflict rubies' sold by top jewellers fund Myanmar junta atrocities, campaign group says
Some of the world’s most famous jewellers risk funding Myanmar’s junta by selling rubies that are likely sourced from mines in the military-ruled country, according to a new report by a UK-based campaign group.
The report, released by Global Witness on Wednesday, says that Graff, Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Sotheby’s are among the companies that could be funding a regime that has killed at least 1,300 people since seizing power on February 1.
“Of more than 30 international jewellers, auction houses and mass-market retailers we contacted, most did not have adequate due diligence measures to determine the sources of the precious stones they buy,” said the group in its 71-page report. - Myanmar NOW
Omicron case: Minister asks people to stay calm
Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny G. Plate appealed to the public to not panic but stay calm and follow the health protocols after the first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant was reported in Indonesia.
“The government, through the Health Ministry, has announced the finding of the Omicron variant of concern (voc) in Indonesia. As we know, (the new variant) spreads very fast," he said.
In responding to this, the public will hopefully not panic, Plate said in a written statement that ANTARA received in Jakarta on Thursday. - AntaraNews.Com