COVID-19 AND POLICY UPDATES IN ASEAN [19-27MAY]
Thailand’s State of Emergency has been extended for two months until 31 July. Under the State of Emergency, the government can impose disease-control plans without requiring approvals from other related agencies. Cambodia has allocated USD613,000 to help 22 provinces, especially those along the border, implement Covid-19 prevention measures including introducing more designated Covid-19 quarantine and treatment facilities. The Malaysian Health Ministry issued a directive on 20 May requiring private hospitals to increase the number of beds in wards and intensive care units allocated to help treat the escalating number of Covid-19 patients that has overwhelmed government hospitals. The brands of Covid-19 vaccine being administered at vaccination sites will not be disclosed until after appointments have been made to overcome the preference for Western vaccines, after large crowds gathered at immunization sites offering doses of the Pfizer vaccine in Metro Manila, Philippines. As of 18 May, 69,730 Sinopharm doses have been given to companies registered in Indonesia’s “Gotong Royong” private company vaccination scheme. An additional one million doses will arrive in Indonesia in the second week of June. Vietnam on 26 May approved the Ministry of Finance's proposal of a VND25.2 trillion (USD1.1 billion) fund drawn from state and provincial budgets along with voluntary contribution from all private enterprises to purchase Covid-19 vaccines. The Shangri-La Dialogue scheduled to be held in Singapore on 4-5 June has been cancelled due to the worsening Covid-19 situation globally and in the country. The European Union on 23 May denounced a proposal by Myanmar's junta-appointed election commission to dissolve deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party. Full bulletin here
