Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha attended, on Tuesday, a Special ASEAN Plus Three Summit on the coronavirus outbreak. The conference included Japan, South Korea, and China, and was made via teleconference.
Thailand’s number of infected has begun to stabilize according to government statistics with the number of infected currently at 2,613 with 1,405 recoveries and 41 fatalities.
Other countries in the ASEAN have seen the number of infections increase, such as Malaysia with 4,817 confirmed cases and the Philippines with 4,932 cases.
Singapore is now facing its second wave of infections with 386 new cases on Monday.
Here are some measures put in place by ASEAN countries.
Malaysia
The Malaysia Movement Control Order (MCO) has ordered a nationwide lockdown since March 18 and extended it for two more weeks to April 14, with businesses and government offices ordered to be closed. The exceptions are convenience stores, supermarkets and petrol stations, but operating hours are restricted between 8pm-8am.
Malaysia has also closed all of its international borders and ceased domestic travel.
The country’s Health Director General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah stated that he was optimistic in containing the virus but believes the country might not be able to handle exponential rises in infections.
Philippines
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a lockdown extension until April 30 on Luzon island, where half of the Philippine’s 57 million people live.
President Duterte has also warned that people who defy government orders for the lockdown and “who create trouble” and threaten the lives of medical staff would be met with harsh government action. The leader responsible for a bloody drug war that has killed thousands of people said that he would “shoot them dead.”
Human Rights Watch also reported that there have been incidents where curfew violators are humiliated, where they are ordered to be put into dog cages.
Singapore
Singapore implemented, early-on, social distancing measures along with contact tracing to detect those who have come into contact with the infected. It drew praise from around the world and was hailed as an example of “good practice.”
That was until mid-March when cases began resurfacing again from residents traveling back to the country. Now the country has its hands full fighting a second wave of infection.
Laos
Laos reported its first infection on March 24 – a Laotian male returnee from Thailand. The country currently has 19 confirmed cases and 0 deaths and recoveries as of April 12. The country has done a total of 1,140 tests.
To fight against the virus, the country has canceled its 11th National Sports Game and the government has closed all international checkpoints to stop passengers from exiting and entering the country. Export and import trading at its borders are limited to Lao citizens only.
The country is notoriously secretive about internal measures and the outbreak may be worse than what is revealed in government statistics.
Cambodia
There are currently 122 infections, 91 recoveries and 0 deaths related to the novel coronavirus in Cambodia. The country has done a total of 3,768 tests.
Following the country’s shutdown of schools in its capital of Phnom Penh and popular tourist destinations such as Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen has now ordered the closure of all casinos in the country.
The government has been accused by the Human Rights Watch of arresting and detaining at least 17 individuals who expressed concern about the spread of the virus in the country.
