Covid-19 and Policy Updates in ASEAN [17 - 24 February]
Cambodia confirmed its largest Covid-19 community outbreak to date; aggressive track-and-tracing efforts are underway. Vietnam’s Covid-19 vaccination program will commence in March, targeting health workers and elderly above 65 years old amid rising community cases in Hai Duong province in the country’s north. Indonesia launched Covid-19 vaccination phase 2 with Sinovac’s vaccine, for government and security personnel, market traders, and elders aged 60 and above. President Joko Widodo announced that private-company vaccinations will launch in March 2021, pending technical regulations. Malaysia received 312,390 doses of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine on 21 February, and is set to roll out a national vaccination program on 24 February. Thailand and the Philippines approved emergency use for Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine. In Myanmar, a nationwide anti-military general strike, dubbed the 22222 Revolution, is underway. Singapore unveiled its 2021 budget worth SGD102 billion (USD77.4 billion), including SGD11 billion (USD8.3 billion) for an additional Covid-19 stimulus package; the city-state’s budget deficit is expected to reach 2.2% of GDP, sharply lower than the 13% in the 2020 budget. Continue reading
