SOUTH EAST ASIA’S LOCKDOWN EXIT STRATEGIES

South Korea: New infections have fallen into single digits, enabling South Korea to close some isolation facilities that were used for mild or asymptomatic Covid-19 patients. However, the government is wary of the number of cases arriving from overseas

Japan: Nearly two weeks after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expanded a state of emergency to the entire country, Japan has halved its rate of new infections, from more than 500 daily to under 300. The death toll has also remained low — only 435 as on April 29 — and the medical system has not been overwhelmed by severe cases requiring intensive care. Despite this apparent success, the Abe government is reportedly preparing to extend the state of emergency, currently scheduled to expire on May 6, by one month

Thailand: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha extended the state of emergency until May 31 including the 10 pm-4 am curfew and the ban on international arrivals, but left other details to provincial governors. Bangkok, for instance, will allow more restaurants, sports venues (but not team-based facilities), and markets to reopen. Phuket is ending many restrictions on intraprovincial travel, except for high-risk areas

Malaysia: Air Asia, the Kuala Lumpurbased budget carrier, will resume flights — first within Malaysia, then regionally. Businesses that have been allowed to operate at 50 per cent even during the movement control order can now resume at full capacity; the sectors include machinery and aerospace, the export-oriented auto firms and some construction projects